More than 50 years after Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon vanished from Adelaide Oval, journalist Bryan Littlely is still chasing their story not for headlines, but for a promise he made.

After decades in newsrooms, Bryan left behind the daily grind to follow one of South Australia’s darkest mysteries. Now, with a small team of volunteers and the girls’ sister, Suzie Ratcliffe, he digs through red dust, old police files, and decades of silence in search of answers the system couldn’t or wouldn’t find.

What began as an investigation has become something deeper: a personal mission to honor the missing, challenge authority, and give voice to those long ignored. This is a story about truth, trust, and the people who refuse to let hope fade.

 

More than 50 years after Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon vanished from Adelaide Oval, journalist Bryan Littlely is still chasing their story not for headlines, but for a promise he made.
After decades in newsrooms, Bryan left behind the daily grind to follow one of South Australia&rsquo;s darkest mysteries. Now, with a small team of volunteers and the girls&rsquo; sister, Suzie Ratcliffe, he digs through red dust, old police files, and decades of silence in search of answers the system couldn&rsquo;t or wouldn&rsquo;t find.
What began as an investigation has become something deeper: a personal mission to honor the missing, challenge authority, and give voice to those long ignored. This is a story about truth, trust, and the people who refuse to let hope fade.
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For more than 25 years, Sally Leydon has been waiting for answers about her missing mum, Marion Barter.

In Season 2, Sal steps beyond her own story to speak with other families enduring the same unthinkable reality—the ambiguous loss of a loved one who has vanished without explanation.

These are raw, intimate conversations about hope that refuses to die, grief that never finds closure, and the strength it takes to live in the in-between. 

If you know someone who is dealing with a missing person, and would like to share your story, contact Sally at info@themissingmatter.com

 

For more than 25 years, Sally Leydon has been waiting for answers about her missing mum, Marion Barter.
In Season 2, Sal steps beyond her own story to speak with other families enduring the same unthinkable reality&mdash;the ambiguous loss of a loved one who has vanished without explanation.
These are raw, intimate conversations about hope that refuses to die, grief that never finds closure, and the strength it takes to live in the in-between.&nbsp;
If you know someone who is dealing with a missing person, and would like to share your story, contact Sally at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@themissingmatter.com">info@themissingmatter.com</a>
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Just when you thought the story was over, the questions only deepen.  In The Missing Matter: The Next Chapter in the Search for Marion Barter, Sally Leydon and investigative partner Joni Condos team up to reopen the 1997 disappearance of award-winning teacher Marion Barter. Across a global retracing of Marion’s final steps, never-before-heard evidence and interviews with key insiders shed fresh light on cash-trail anomalies, legal briefs, and unanswered questions.

The Missing Matter

Just when you thought the story was over, the questions only deepen. 

In The Missing Matter: The Next Chapter in the Search for Marion Barter, Sally Leydon and investigative partner Joni Condos team up to reopen the 1997 disappearance of award-winning teacher Marion Barter. Across a global retracing of Marion’s final steps, never-before-heard evidence and interviews with key insiders shed fresh light on cash-trail anomalies, legal briefs, and unanswered questions. The ad-free first episode lands on Apple Podcasts on 12 May 2025, with the full series opening up to all listeners two weeks later.

Just when you thought the story was over, the questions only deepen.&nbsp;
In The Missing Matter: The Next Chapter in the Search for Marion Barter, Sally Leydon and investigative partner Joni Condos team up to reopen the 1997 disappearance of award-winning teacher Marion Barter. Across a global retracing of Marion&rsquo;s final steps, never-before-heard evidence and interviews with key insiders shed fresh light on cash-trail anomalies, legal briefs, and unanswered questions. The ad-free first episode lands on Apple Podcasts on 12 May 2025, with the full series opening up to all listeners two weeks later.

The Promise with Bryan Littlely 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/cd844ef6-9396-4ffd-a041-b38700010878/transcript