Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Michael Gallacher has today announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Danuta Bilski.

The 38-year-old mother of two was killed while she worked in her Disposal store in Queanbeyan on June 29, 1979.

Ms Bilski's family has lived for more than 32 years not knowing why this happened to her, Minister Gallacher said.

It's a tragedy that her two sons have had to grow up without their mother.

Officers from the Southern Region Unsolved Homicide Team are committed to investigating this case, to bring justice to Ms Bilski's family.

I hope that by offering this reward of $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an offender or the offenders of this crime, it will encourage someone with information to come forward to Police, Minister Gallacher said.

Detective Sergeant Steve Morgan from the Southern Region Unsolved Homicide Team welcomed the reward announcement.

Ms Bilski had migrated to Australia in the hope of starting a new life; she was by all accounts a hardworking, loving, wife and mother.

We do not know the reason why she was killed and we are appealing to anyone with information to come forward and assist Police.

Detectives have today issued a COMFIT image of a man seen at a Disposal Store on Crawford Street at Queanbeyan, about 11.45am on June 29, 1979.

He is described as being about 40 years of age, with brown collar-length hair, wearing a dark coloured, heavy woollen 'Battle style jacket' at the time (close fitting to the waist, open at the front).

A male of similar description was reportedly seen to leave the vicinity of the store about 11.55am on June 29, 1979, carrying a long thin object wrapped in cloth, Detective Sergeant Morgan said.

Police would like to speak with the man depicted in the COMFIT image in relation to this matter.

One of the hardest things a family can go through is not knowing the reason this happened to their loved one, so I'd urge anyone who may have information that could close this case, to come forward, so Ms Bilski's family can move forward, Minister Gallacher concluded.

Do you have information that can help police with this case?

Any information you have about this is worth giving to police, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

You can provide information to police via any of the methods below:

Any information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Your help may give police the clue they need to close this case and provide some comfort for the families of victims.

How to claim your reward

  1. Contact Crime Stoppers or your local Police Station.
  2. Identify yourself and indicate you have information about a crime and that you wish to claim a reward.
  3. You will then be put in contact with a police officer involved in the investigation of that case.