(Address supplied)
Western Australia, 6951
The Honourable Dr. G.I. Gallop,
Premier of Western Australia,
Minister for the Public Sector,
24th Floor, 197 St George’s Terrace,
Perth, WA, 6000Open Letter to The Premier's Office, Government of Western Australia.
May 20th 2005
Dear Dr Gallop,
Thank you for your letter dated 10 May 2005 in response to mine of the 22 March in which you say that "no evidence has been found to support the many claims and allegations made by Mr Turcaud", and that "...this State Government does not feel that further inquiries are justified."
However, there is in fact considerable evidence detailing Mr Turcaud's claim to priority in the discovery of the Telfer Gold Deposit in the carefully researched account by Mr Sheppard (2002), a copy of which I believe was given to you when the book was launched. In view of your further intimation that ... "In view of the above no further correspondence will be entered into on the issue" I am therefore replying to you by way of an open letter, as I believe there is a matter of public concern that requires resolution.
With regard to your mention of further enquiries, I alluded to none since I believe any reasonable person would conclude from Mr Sheppard's account that Mr Turcaud's priority in respect of the Telfer discovery is unquestioned, and that any further enquiry would be superfluous. There may indeed be relevant questions concerning events surrounding the transition from discovery to possession and ownership of that deposit, however that is not my direct concern unless it becomes relevant to the point of discovery.
In developing a web page to support and publicise Mr Turcaud's claim to discovery I intend to post a correction to your letter. In doing so I wish to engender a tone of inclusiveness and openness in order that with the passage of time those involved might welcome the opportunity to acknowledge their various roles in the history of that affair. It would be particularly welcome were those such as yourself and the board of Newcrest, who by virtue of inheritance of positions of standing are distanced from those events, able to provide an independent perspective that would ensure Mr Turcaud's role in the discovery of very significant wealth to the State is properly acknowledged. Unfortunately your letter seems to support Mr Turcaud's contention of many years that there is broad and deliberate intent to negate his role, by those with an interest in doing so.
Mining and mineral exploration concerns a large section of the Western Australian community who value and respect fairness and trust in dealings between the public, mining companies and government, and who are rightly concerned wherever there appears to be transgression. It would seem grossly unfair and a poor reflection on the elected representatives of a country substantially dependent on its mineral resources were the achievements of its independent prospectors such as Mr Turcaud to be ignored. Mr Turcaud's own case is unusual and compelling because of the remoteness of the Telfer deposit, its richness, the particularly bold and courageous determination required for that solitary undertaking of discovery at that time, and for the number of persons from whom the subsequent events can be recollected. From a historical perspective it would be a bizarre and crude distortion of fact for anyone to maintain as your letter states, and as successive previous governments have said, that there is no evidence of Mr Turcaud's claims regarding the Telfer deposit. Since the Telfer Deposit contains both copper and gold in such mutually intertwined paragenesis, for any distinction to be drawn as regards occurrence and for that to form the basis of denial of Mr Turcaud's claim of discovery (as some have previously stated) is as asinine and objectionable as it is devious. I understand Telfer currently replaces the Golden Mile in significance to the State. Therefore were your letter to remain as your government's officially recorded position not only would that be highly unjust, but it would remain a rancourous stain on the history of the State that would forever demand correction.
In view of Mr Sheppard’s carefully researched account it is inevitable that Mr Turcaud's priority will be finally acknowledged. In any case and with respect, your position of "no evidence" is simply wrong and begs correction. It is now 35 years since that discovery, not merely "over twenty" as your letter states, and Mr Turcaud is now in advanced years. The issue therefore concerns posterity and as such is larger than any transitory government term of office. Your government has an opportunity to lead and I beg you please to take it. Your government's recognition of Mr Turcaud's discovery could go a long way towards this and provide a basis for resolving the long-standing dispute that Mr Turcaud has had with the owners of that deposit in respect of a settlement that would be fair to himself and fair in the perception of the community at large for his accomplishment. Surely it should be possible to focus on this as a story of achievement and heritage that Australia can rightly own.
Since you have indicated you will enter into no further correspondence I expect none, but trust you will keep appraised of the information posted on my website that you may come to recognize the error inherent in the advice you have received and acknowledge Mr Turcaud’s priority.
Yours faithfully,
D. Findlay
http://users.indigo.net.au/don/ore/telindex.htmlc.c. The Editor, West Australian Newspapers
Liam Bartlett, ABC Radio Perth
PO Box 526
South Perth
Western Australia, 6951
The Honourable Dr. G.I. Gallop,
Premier of Western Australia,
Minister for the Public Sector,
24th Floor, 197 St George’s Terrace,
Perth, WA, 6000September 12th, 2005
Open Letter to The Premier's Office, Government of Western Australia.
Re. Discovery of the Telfer Ore deposit
Dear Dr Gallop,
I refer to your letter of the 10th May, 2005 in answer to mine of the 22nd March.
The advice you have received concerning Jean-Paul Turcaud's claims regarding the discovery of the Telfer ore deposit is false, and stands in direct contradiction to the recently published record as compiled by Mr Sheppard from interviews of those involved at the time. My website broadens the public exposure of those events <http://users.indigo.net.au/don/tel/ >. Mr Turcaud's prospecting of that remote region was a feat of courage and endeavour and deserves the recognition of such by the people of Australia and, as their representatives, their government.
The record shows that neither Newmont staff nor those credited with 'discovery' carried out any prospecting in that region, and for them to claim discovery of the deposit is tantamount to a lie. It is unacceptable to the historical record and to the people of this State that their government should fail to recognise Mr Turcaud as the discoverer.
Surely it would be appropriate for your government to explore with Newcrest avenues that may allow Mr Turcaud to be properly recognised and rewarded. It is no longer acceptable to say that this as a private matter between prospector and mining company since the matter is also of historical importance. Telfer has emerged as the largest gold mine in Australia, and has contributed very substantially to its wealth. As well, Mr Turcaud's attempts to interest others in his discovery led directly to the opening of that entire region to exploration, resulting in the discovery of other mines, which are to the country's substantial benefit.
A very substantial debt is therefore owed to Mr Turcaud for his efforts, the denial of which has caused him much sufference over the years. It is unacceptable for government to remain silent or say, as your letter does, that Mr Turcaud's claim to discovery has no support. It is well recorded that he does, and that your advice is therefore in error.
I therefore write again to appeal to your sense of fairness and to ask for your support in representing to Newcrest Mr Turcaud's claim to discovery, and to help to find some means to recognise and reward him for his contribution to the State.
Yours faithfully,
D. Findlay.
cc. Newcrest Mining.
cc. The Editor, West Australian Newspapers.