National

Reward offered in Indigenous mother's disappearance

By AAP Newswire

Apr 12, 2023

A reward is being offered for information about the disapperance of 23-year-old Allison Bernard. -PR Handout Image

A $500,000 reward is on offer to solve a young Indigenous mother's disappearance in Queensland's remote Cape York more than a decade ago.

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Mother-of-two Allison Bernard disappeared after a night out at a hotel in far north Queensland in February 2013.

The 23-year-old had been at the Exchange Hotel in Coen before disappearing between nearby Archer River, and her hometown Kowanyama.

Queensland police conducted a large-scale search of the area but no trace of Ms Bernard has been found.

An inquest last year was told the last person to see Ms Bernard was quarry caretaker Thomas Byrnes who denied any involvement in her disappearance

Ms Bernard is described as Indigenous, 155cm tall, with a slim build and brown hair.

Detective Superintendent Sonia Smith believes the community holds the missing piece of the puzzle to help find Ms Bernard.

"We will not give up. Ms Bernard's disappearance has had a devastating impact on this community and together we won't stop until we find answers," Supt Smith said.

"We would like to thank the local community who continues to support our ongoing investigations and urge members of the public to continue spreading the word – anyone with information should immediately contact police."