Suzie Ratcliffe, of Leave a Light On foundation, more than 50 years since her sister’s disappearance still wants to support victims families

The sister of a young girl that went missing more than 50 years ago reveals why she hasn’t given up hope and why she continues to advocate for missing people across the country.

NETWORK USE ONLY >PLEASE SEE NETWORK PICTURE DESK Suzie Ratcliffe sister of Joanne Ratcliffe who was 11, disappeared exactly 50 years ago this year with her friend Kirsty Gordon. The two young girls had been in Adelaide to watch an AFL game, and were last seen with a man who was carrying Kirsty under his arm. Although Susie never met her older sister, she has decided to dedicate her life to help find missing people, through her organisation Leave the Light on. Picture: Tony Gough

Every year thousands of people go missing across Australia, and while many are found quickly, some leave the community stumped and families grieving.

Suzie Ratcliffe is one of those family members and has dedicated her life to preserving the memory and spreading awareness to missing people across the country, especially those who are long-term missing.

Suzie Ratcliffe, co-ordinator with Leave a Light On, in Melbourne, Thursday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: AAP Image/Joe Castro) NO ARCHIVING

Ms Ratcliffe set up Leave a Light On in 2015, an organisation dedicated to being a “voice” for those classed as missing long term, which is a police term for more than 90 days missing.

In Australia there are over 2500 people who are classed as this, including Ms Ratcliffe’s sister, Joanne.

Joanne Ratcliffe and a friend, Kirste Jane Gordon, attended a Norwood v North Adelaide Aussie rules game at Adelaide oval in 1973, and were never seen again after going to the toilet together. They became one of South Australia’s most infamous cold cases.

More than 50 years after her sister’s disappearance, Ms Ratcliffe’s mission to help spread awareness over missing persons cases continues.

In 2024, over 50 years after Ms Ratcliffe’s sister and Ms Gordon disappeared, she says “her front light still burns brightly”.

“After her disappearance, my parents would leave the front porch light on in the hope if she came home she would know we were waiting for her. Even though it is now more than 50 years, the search for Joanne still continues,” Ms Ratcliffe said.

Ms Ratcliffe said by working alongside other missing persons organisations they can promote cold cases and raise awareness of the needs of ongoing support for families and friends dealing with the ambiguous loss of a missing loved one.

Keeping memories alive is crucial to solving cases which have had a significant amount of time pass.

“One of the greatest fears for a family of a missing loved one is they will be forgotten. It is inevitable the media and police will move to more recent news if there is no new information coming forward,” she said.

“As an advocate for the families, we aim to be a voice for their missing. Unfortunately, the media quite often focus on the cases filled with more intrigue or ‘sensational’ -such as young socialite women or cute kids- we advocate for all missing persons as each and every single person is as special as the next.

Suzie Ratcliffe – sister of Joanne Ratcliffe abducted from Adelaide Oval 43 years ago and never seen again – enters the Oval for the very first time. (Photo: Matt Turner)

“It shouldn’t matter the age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity or skeletons in the closet. They are all someone’s loved one, they are still missed and still missing.”

Ms Ratcliffe retells a story which occurred during her day job in retail which happened in 2018.

“A woman came in regarding some signage, (and) we got on to the subject of Leave A Light On and our aims and ambitions – any chance I get, I talk of Leave A Light On and how important it is to never forget our missing loved ones,” she said.

“While talking with this woman I noticed another lady standing quietly to the side, listening to our conversation, when she suddenly blurted out ‘my son is a missing person, we haven’t seen him in 17 years,’” she details.

“I asked her if she wanted to talk about him, if we could share his story, raise awareness of his case and she was very agreeable. I then asked if I could give her a hug and she replied ‘I would love one’.

“While I wrapped this woman up in a massive hug, I felt her shoulders shake as she tried to hold back tears, but in the end we both shed tears. For the son she has lost, for the pain she and her family feel, for the anguish and grief they will live with for the rest of their lives. The whole time she kept repeating ‘I’m sorry, sorry for crying.’

Ms Ratcliffe told the mother not to feel sorry for the grief she feels, or the tears, or for wanting to talk about her son.

“Don’t ever feel you cannot speak his name, share your memories, speak of him with love,” Ms Ratcliffe said.

“As she left my workplace, I thought of my sister, of the beautiful families I have made contact with since Leave A Light On started, and the many loved ones who remain missing. Sadly, this woman’s story today is but one of many, but we all feel the same grief, the same heartache, the same fear, will our loved one be forgotten?”

“If you know someone with a missing loved one, let them share their memories and talk about their loved one. Assure them we will never forget them.”

Originally published as Suzie Ratcliffe, of Leave a Light On foundation, more than 50 years since her sister’s disappearance still wants to support victims families