Australia Australia - Joanne Ratcliffe, 11, & Kirste Gordon, 4, Adelaide, 25 Aug1973

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startsat60.com

Police mark the 50 year anniversary of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirstie Jane Gordon’s disappearance

On the 50-year anniversary of the abduction of 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe and four-year-old Kirstie Jane Gordon, South Australian Police have reaffirmed their commitment to finding answers.
startsat60.com startsat60.com
On the 50-year anniversary of the abduction of 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe and four-year-old Kirstie Jane Gordon, South Australian Police have reaffirmed their commitment to finding answers.

Ratcliffe, 11, and Gordon, 4, went missing while attending a match at the Adelaide Oval in 1973, in a case that was referred to by the media as the Adelaide Oval abductions.
 
what i wonder is whoever it was di they go looking to find a child to kidnapp or did they go there to watch the match and just do it on the spiur of the moment a football match isnt the sort of place child predeters normally look or victems
 
mrC said:
what i wonder is whoever it was di they go looking to find a child to kidnapp or did they go there to watch the match and just do it on the spiur of the moment a football match isnt the sort of place child predeters normally look or victems
Click to expand...

Good question. The perpetrator had an interest in football as well as children, it was an opportunistic crime, it's the one type of crime many people find harder to understand. Or, the perp was in the vicinity, walking round the streets and purposely entered the grounds to spy on kids or steal belongings left unattended. jmo
 
1692968841906.jpeg
On August 25, 1973 — 50 years ago today — 11-year-old Joanne and four-year-old Kirste were last seen at Adelaide Oval during a football game between state league sides North Adelaide and Norwood.

The suspected abduction and murder of the girls remains one of the country's most agonising and perplexing unsolved cold case mysteries.

Over the years, it has triggered investigations, an inquest, false trails and fresh leads.

"In the 50 years that have passed, police have conducted thousands of lines of enquiry into the disappearance of the girls," Major Crime Detective Inspector Mark McEachern said.
Black and white photos of Kirste Gordon.

www.abc.net.au

Joanne and Kirste have been missing for 50 years — the sister of one wants to 'help guide the girls home'

On August 25, 1973, 11-year-old Joanne and four-year-old Kirste were last seen at an Adelaide Oval football game. The suspected abduction and murder of the girls remains one of the country's most perplexing unsolved cold case mysteries.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au
 
Missing Person Joanne Ratcliffe

Missing since: Saturday, August 25, 1973
Last seen: Adelaide SA
Responsible jurisdiction: SA
Year of birth: 1962
Age now: 61
Gender: Female
Reward offered: 1000000


Missing Person Kirste Gordon

Missing since: Saturday, August 25, 1973
Last seen:
pAdelaide SA
Responsible jurisdiction: SA
Year of birth: 1968
Age now: 55
Gender: Female
Reward offered: 1000000

Circumstances​

Joanne Ratcliffe aged 11 and Kirste Gordon aged 4, went missing from Adelaide Oval, SA while attending an Australian Rules football match on 25 August 1973. Joanne and Kirste were sighted a number of occasions up to 90 minutes following their disappearance leaving the oval and in the surrounding area in the company of a man. Joanne and Kirste’s disappearance, and presumed abduction and murder, remains one of Australia’s leading unsolved child abduction cases

Kirste GORDON

Kirste Gordon aged 4 and Joanne Ratcliffe aged 11, went missing from Adelaide Oval, SA while attending an Australian Rules football match on 25 August 1973. Kirste and Joanne were sighted a number of occasions up to 90 minutes following their disappearance leaving the oval and in the surrounding...
www.missingpersons.gov.au www.missingpersons.gov.au

Joanne RATCLIFFE

Joanne Ratcliffe aged 11 and Kirste Gordon aged 4, went missing from Adelaide Oval, SA while attending an Australian Rules football match on 25 August 1973. Joanne and Kirste were sighted a number of occasions up to 90 minutes following their disappearance leaving the oval and in the surrounding...
www.missingpersons.gov.au www.missingpersons.gov.au
 
mrC said:
seems to be the only real clue the police had Fears held for safety of missing SA girls - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 27 Aug 1973
Click to expand...

mrC said:
a bit from les HUNT IS STILL ON MISSING CHILDREN: ‘We haven’t given up hope’ — parents - Hills Gazette (Port Adelaide, SA: 1973 - 1984) - 31 Jul 1974
Click to expand...

Interesting new (to me) info in these old newspaper reports.

1. Ladies toilets were near a bar.
2. Finding 2 empty cans of Fanta (Joanne’s favourite) and a half eaten pie ( child size bites on it) in an empty train carriage in a goods yard nearby.
3. Man dressed in women’s clothes near the (same?) women’s toilets.
 
The Missing Australia Podcast with Meni Caroutas.

omny.fm

Snatched at the footy | 6 - The Missing Australia

Confronting claims are made about the abduction of two children, Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon To unlock bonus content from The Missing, and listen to episodes early and ad free, subscribe to Crime X+ on Apple Podcasts For more on these cases go to themissingaustralia.com.au Click here...
omny.fm omny.fm

There is a link to the last interview with the parents which unfortunately is under a paywall.


The Podcast includes a talk with Suzie Ratcliffe who started the Leave A Light On Inc for a voice for long term missing persons in Australia.
 
Last edited:
i think the podcasts a bit to focused on hart though he hes a decent suspect i cant rule him out
but other avenues need to be explored as well
 
www.thesun.co.uk

How a hat could be crucial clue to missing girls, 4 & 11, who vanished at footie

THE small handmade clay ashtray in her spare bedroom isn’t much to look at – but for Suzie Ratcliffe it’s one of her most precious possessions. Her sister Joanne had made it at school f…
www.thesun.co.uk www.thesun.co.uk
  • Bethan King, 16 Jun 2024
  • 1718540982343.png
  • A police sketch of the man believed to have abducted Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon
  • 1718541077261.png
  • The police sketch bears a striking resemblance to known paedophile Stanley Arthur Hart, who died in 1999
  • ''Determined to keep the case in the public eye Joanne has set up a group called Leave a Light On Inc to share Joanne and Kirste’s story and those of other families of missing persons, so their loved ones aren’t forgotten.''
 
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