A tribute to Bill Brook
Alegend in Fiji’s mining history was laid to rest in Nadi last month. Bill Brook, a seasoned exploration geologist famed for his discovery of the Tuvatu gold deposit in the late 1980s, served the mining and mineral exploration sector for over 50 years.
He founded Geopacific Resources Limited.
Mr Brook was 82 when he died of a heart attack.
He is survived by wife, Sulu of Uruone, Vanuabalavu, in Lau, and two sons.
“His last words were, “And the gate? Aren’t we going to close the gate?”
The couple were travelling to Nadi hospital when Mr Brook died.
His family described him as the quiet achiever who worked diligently.
“The funeral was just as he wanted – private and small,” Mrs Brook said.
Mr Brook once described himself as ancient – a fact he backed by his preference for a button phone, over a smartphone.
As managing director for mineral exploration company Mineral Exploration (Fiji) Pte Limited, he served as a senior consultant for a number of mineral resource companies.
He was the founder of Akura Limited – an oil exploration licence whose efforts were marred after Fiji became a signatory to an accord
that did not support the exploration effort.
In an earlier interview with SunBiz, Mr Brook said the oil and gas exploration company – which aimed to address the shortage of helium gas – was an effort that would die on the vine.
The company undertook oil and gas exploration in Fiji from 2006 to 2014, with encouraging results.
However, due to the proposed ban on fossil fuels, Akura has ceased all operations in Fiji.
Mr Brook then turned his complete attention to gold.
He arrived in Fiji in 1975, with the French group of mineral explorers, Aquitaine, for a United Nations conference on manganese nodules.
He remained in Fiji, apart from time in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
Mr Brook spent close to 60 years in the mineral exploration field in Australia, and the southwest Pacific.
His favourite place in Fiji was Udu Point beach in Vanua Levu, a place that lit up like diamonds, he once said.
His past roles
Mr Brook was a former executive director for the Australian listed Geopacific Resources.
He was also country manager for Canadian mineral exploration company, Thunderstruck Resources.
A private person, he enjoyed history as a hobby.
Lion One’s former managing director, Stephen Mann, said Mr
Mr Brook was known for his depth in history and geological knowledge of Fiji.
“He was instrumental in the discovery of Tuvatu and was a significant role player in the discovery of gold mineralisation in the Navilawa area,” Mr Mann said.
The Mining and Quarrying Council said Geopacific Resources continued with other exploration in Fiji, and eventually became listed on the Australian Securities Exchange with substantial Australian interests taking over the business.
“Bill retired from Geopacific in
about 2010, and set up Akura Ltd to explore for oil and gas in Fiji,” council member Harvie Probert said.
Minister for Land and Mineral Resources, Jone Usamate, said Mr Brook’s name was synonymous with Thunderstruck Resources.
Thunderstruck Resources is a Canadian
mineral exploration company that last month announced wrapping up an encouraging and active year of exploration on highgrade Liwa gold/silver prospect. Liwa prospect is east of Nadi.