The sister of a Sydney woman who went missing 26 years ago has welcomed a new $1 million reward for information on her suspected murder.
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Revelle Balmain was 22 years old and had "everything going for her" when she was last seen in the Kingsford area of eastern Sydney in November 1994.
The model and dancer was meant to fly to Japan with her dance troupe the following week but hasn't been heard from since.
Ms Balmain's personal property - including a make-up bag, keys and a shoe - were found scattered near her final known location.
It was later revealed Ms Balmain had also been working part-time as an escort, and was about to leave that job when she disappeared.
A coroner ruled in 1999 she had likely been murdered.
Police and the NSW government on Friday increased the reward to help find out what happened to Ms Balmain from $250,000 to $1 million.
Ms Balmain's half-sister Suellen Simpson said her disappearance was "devastating" for her parents, who had already lost one child when son Matthew drowned in the family swimming pool at 15 months.
"Revelle found Matthew our brother floating in the backyard swimming pool," Ms Simpson said.
"I remember (father) Ivor just totally destroyed when Revelle went (missing). I remember him breaking down when he was next to me."
Ms Simpson said she'd pleaded with police and politicians for her sister's case to be revisited and is grateful the reward has been increased.
NSW Police Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said the fresh investigation into Ms Balmain's disappearance would include the re-examination of DNA evidence with contemporary technology.
Detectives are looking at everyone who has been involved in the case from the beginning, including those named at the coronial inquest.
No one has ever been charged in relation to Ms Balmain's disappearance.
"Over the years, the support from the community in the pursuit to locate Revelle Balmain and piece together her last movements has been very beneficial to police," Det Supt Bennett told reporters.
Ms Balmain's parents died without knowing who was responsible for their daughter's suspected murder. Her mother Jan died in 2020.
"For many years, our family worked tirelessly to find out what happened to my sister - but sadly both our mother and Revelle's father, Ivor, passed away without ever knowing what happened," Ms Simpson said.
"Losing someone that is close to you ... you're never the same person again."
Australian Associated Press
