Sixteen years ago Laura Haworth went missing during a Summernats weekend. She was last seen at her friend’s house on Collett Street, Queanbeyan, on January 5, 2008.

Laura left in her red Mazda 121 and has not made any contact with family or friends since.

The car was later found in Reid. Despite a significant search of the area, Laura was not found.

On Friday police issued a renewed call to the Canberra community and surrounding districts for information. Senior Constable Shannon Pugsley urged anyone who has information surrounding Laura’s disappearance, including those who were visiting from interstate for Summernats 21, to come forward and speak to investigators.

“We believe there are people in the community and surrounding areas that have information about Laura and her movements that weekend in January 2008,” she says.

“Given Summernats was also taking place in Canberra at the time Laura was last seen, there may be people who were visiting from interstate who may have information.

“We are appealing to those people to come forward to assist in the investigation, and in turn Laura’s family.

“Any piece of information, no matter how small, could be of importance to investigators.”

In a statement, Laura’s family says: “Sixteen years ago today, our lives changed unexpectedly. Our beautiful Laura disappeared. Laura is a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend and we ache to know what has happened to her.

“Every day we live with what ifs, whys, and maybes. The pain of not knowing what has happened to Laura is brutal and has a huge impact on our daily lives.”

Anyone with information call 1800 333000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.