Police have announced a $250,000 reward for information about what happened to Marion Barter, whose inquest will move to the Northern Rivers next week

The then-51-year-old was reported missing to police in Byron Bay in October 1997. But her family are still searching for answers.

Police and the state government have announced a $250,000 reward for information into the disappearance of a woman 24 years ago.

Marion Barter, then aged 51, was last seen at a bus depot on Scarborough Street, near Railway Street, at Southport, Queensland, on Sunday, June 22, 1997.

Family members reported her missing to police in Byron Bay in October of that year and Tweed-Byron police began an investigation into her whereabouts.

An inquest into her suspicious disappearance began in Sydney on June 21 and will move to Ballina, then Byron, for its second week.

Marion Barter and her two children Sally and Owen.

A family member observed Marion leaving a service station on Ferry Road in Southport in a red Honda Civic Breeze with a tall male passenger in the vehicle in the weeks leading up to her disappearance.

At that time, inquiries found Marion had changed her name to Florabella Natalia Marion Remakel and left Australia for the United Kingdom on Sunday, June 22, 1997.

An outgoing passenger card stated Marion was divorced and intended to live in Luxembourg.

Investigators believe she may have re-entered Australia under the name Florabella Remakel on Saturday, August 2, 1997.

Then, her incoming passenger card said she was married and lived in Luxembourg.

Investigators believe an unknown person accessed bank accounts which belonged to Marion from Byron Bay and Burleigh Heads.

Detectives explored numerous leads in Australia and overseas.

Missing woman Marion Barter Picture: Supplied

Tweed-Byron Police District, the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and the NSW Department of Communities and Justice jointly conducted a formal review and the Homicide Squad’s Unsolved Homicide Unit then established Strike Force Jurunga – in collaboration with local officers and the State Crime Command’s Missing Persons Registry – to reinvestigate Marion’s disappearance.

As the inquest continues, a NSW Government reward of $250,000 for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons responsible for Marion’s suspicious disappearance has been announced today.

Police have meanwhile renewed their appeal for anyone with information that may help detectives to come forward.

Marion Barter and her two children Sally and Owen. Picture: Supplied by the family

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said Marion’s case had left her family and friends with many unanswered questions.

“For 24 years, family and friends of Marion have lived without any understanding of why she disappeared so abruptly,” Mr Elliott said.

“Marion’s daughter, Sally, has never given up her quest for the truth. The NSW Government hopes this new reward will encourage anyone with information, particularly in the time frame that police believe Marion returned to Australia, to come forward and speak to detectives.”

Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said strike force detectives had re-examined items from the original investigation.

He said he hoped this appeal and the upcoming inquest would encourage people with information to come forward.

Missing woman Marion Barter Picture: Supplied

“Marion’s behaviour leading up to June 1997 and following her departure from Australia has been described as out of character,” Det Supt Doherty said.

“We are particularly eager to hear from anyone who may have had any interaction with Marion Barter or Florabella Remakel from June 1997 onwards, particularly in late July or early August 1997.

“We are trying to piece together some of the missing links in Marion’s movements and her close connections to create a full picture of exactly what has happened,” Det Supt Doherty said.

Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Jurunga detectives is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.