Letters To David Tyrwhitt, Formerly Exploration Manager,  CEO of Newmont Australia

(Address supplied)
Western Australia
 

DS Tyrwhitt & Associates
PO Box 422
SOUTH YARRA
VIC 3141
 

2005 June 14, Tuesday
 

Dear Mr Tyrwhitt,
 

I note there are numerous internet sites that credit you with the discovery of  the Telfer gold mine, yet you omit all mention of  Telfer from your CV posted on the Mineral Industry Consultants Association website.

I write to ask if there is any particular reason for that omission?

I understand from reading the book,  The Golden Rule, by R. Sheppard (2002) and your own, Desert Gold, that Mr Jean-Paul Turcaud claims the credit for the discovery of the mineralised outcrops that were subsequently developed as the Telfer mine.  I believe on assessment of the evidence that posterity will rightly record Mr Turcaud as the discoverer, and that it is appropriate and important that his achievement should be so recognised within the West Australian community within his lifetime.

As it is now thirty five years removed from that event is there anything you would like to add to the public record in respect of that discovery?

Your  response would be greatly  appreciated.

Thank you,

Yours sincerely,

Don  Findlay.
 

Reply received by letter dated 14th July, 2005, in which Mr Tyrwhitt acknowledges Jean-Paul Turcaud's priority to visiting the area and in taking Anglo American and Western Mining Corporation to the site in 1971, but reitterating his vestment of priority to discovery in being the person to have actually staked the claims in 1972, as "..no mineral tenement tenement existed in the Great Sandy Desert within over 50km radius of what became Telfer".  Mr Tyrwhitt also posted copies of his letter to Mr Larkin, CEO of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and to Bob Adamson, Newmont's chief geologist at the time of the discovery of Telfer.

 

DS Tyrwhitt & Associates
PO Box 422
SOUTH YARRA
VIC 3141
 

July 29th 2005
 
 

Dear Mr Tyrwhitt,

Thank you indeed for your reply of the14th July, and your clarifying points.

If you don't mind, I'd like to put your letter up on my website  <http://users.indigo.net.au/don/tel/> and address your points there.   If there's anything you might like to add of course, I'll be happy to post it too.   Or even an altered version of your letter if you would rather (in view of its wider exposure).

Your own account and that of Mr Sheppard (2002, The Golden Rule) are records that speak for themselves.  Readers will  be able to judge the fairness or otherwise of my comments in support of Mr Turcaud.

To some, my site might seem tinged with reproach.  However I hope there will be reason to make it more inclusive and reconcilliatory as those in a position to recognise Mr Turcaud's achievement are encouraged to do so.   In this regard the admiration you express for Mr Turcaud in your letter is welcome.

Your permission re posting of your letter would be appreciated.  If email is a more convenient way for you to respond than by letter, then please send to <don@tower.net.au>

Yours sincerely,

Don Findlay.
http://users.indigo.net.au/don/tel/

In a reply dated 22nd August 2005, Mr Tyrwhitt declined permission for his letter to be posted, but reitterated his priority to discovery in being the person to have actually staked the claims in 1972 on the basis of checks for gold of samples collected by Ronnie Thompson of Day Dawn Minerals nine months earlier, emphasising that "...This (failure - *by others* -  to assay for gold) was and remains the key flaw in the discovery process".  Mr Tyrwhitt suggested however that pages of Chapters 3 and 9 of his book, Desert Gold covering his own version of the role of Jean-Paul Turcaud in the discovery of Telfer be posted instead.  Notwithstanding eschewing publicity of his letter, Mr Tyrwhitt again forwarded a copy of his letter to the CEO of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

*Including Newmont (twice).

Permission from Louthean Publishing to reproduce here Chapters 3 and 9 of David Tyrwhitt's book, Desert Gold,  is awaited.