General News
20 February, 2023
Mine shaft search receives government funding
Terry Floyd The mystery around 12-year-old Terry Floyd’s disappearance could be weeks away from being solved, with the Victorian Government funding the final push to excavate the mineshaft long-believed to be the boy’s final resting place. The...
Terry Floyd
The mystery around 12-year-old Terry Floyd’s disappearance could be weeks away from being solved, with the Victorian Government funding the final push to excavate the mineshaft long-believed to be the boy’s final resting place.
The State Government has contributed a total $145,000 to the search effort so far, including $35,000 this month to finalise the excavation of the Morning Star mineshaft near Avoca.
Last seen on the side of the Pyrenees Highway outside Avoca on June 28, 1975, a coroner determined in 2001 that Terry had been abducted and murdered, however no body has ever been found.
Terry’s brother Daryl has continued the search for his brother for decades and believes his body is in the abandoned mineshaft, located just a few hundred metres from where his brother was last seen.
Previous volunteer-led excavations of the mine have unearthed items of clothing believed to have belonged to Terry, including a piece of cardigan sleeve, elastic from a pair of underwear, a silver necklace and a shoe.
Mr Floyd, who’s been in conversation with the government regarding funding to finalise the mine search for some time said being so close to answers was a relief.
“It’s a major relief, it’s not just my search anymore because it’s grown into such a big effort, it’s everyone’s search,” he said.
“I can go to bed and sleep a bit easier at night now, you toss and turn about other things but this is something that’s not in the back of my mind anymore.
“There are still butterflies in my stomach knowing what the job ahead is and what the outcome could be, but we have to find
answers.
“To know I don’t have to worry about finding the money to fund this is significant — there was the option to walk away but that’s something you just can’t do, I’ve always said we have to finish what we started.
“I am very grateful to the Andrews Government, this has been a long time coming and I know things aren’t easy all the time, but I’m very grateful to the government for allowing this to happen.”
Over the coming weeks equipment, including security cameras and secure fencing, will be installed at the site while Mr Floyd meets with the professional mining team undertaking the works.
Mr Floyd said items previously found in the mineshaft have been sent away to be dated to determine whether it’s possible they belonged to his brother and remains confident the mineshaft is the only place to look.
“This is the only place we’ve had solid information to suggest Terry’s remains are here, there’s nowhere else to look,” he said.
“We’ve still got other avenues we’re pursuing around dating some of the items we’ve found in the mine so far, it’s a process of elimination to determine whether those items could have belonged to Terry.
“I want to give a big shout out to the people who do volunteer their time and come out to the mine site to help search efforts and the community, without their ongoing support it wouldn’t have been possible to get to where we are today.”
