Australian UFO Bulletin - 1978 05 - May

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, dated May 1978, is published by The Victorian U.F.O. Research Society and covers a range of UFO sightings and related phenomena reported from various locations in Australia and overseas.

Key Articles and Reports

Australian Reports

Northern Victoria Sightings:

• February 19, 1978 (Leathbridge): Following a previous sighting, a similar object descended slowly, causing livestock distress and leaving two circles in a paddock.
• March 7, 1978 (Echuca Village): Mr. and Mrs. Gilham reported a 'pillow of fire' in their driveway, accompanied by animal disturbances and blown dirt and gravel.
• December 15, 1976 (McDonald Swamp, Cohuna): Allan Foster observed an object flashing red and white, moving in a vertical circle. It later approached him at low altitude, causing him to flee.
• December 26, 1976 (Leitchville): Graham and Fay Fenton photographed strange circular markings on a track, described as approximately 12 inches wide around a 9-foot diameter circle, with consistent depth despite the road's contour.

Moe Sighting (October 24, 1977):

Mr. J. Reid interviewed witness Lance Baldwin, 14, about a sighting in Moe. Lance and two friends saw a white moving light that became an oval object with spinning colored lights. It hovered and then vanished, with 'legs' appearing underneath. No physical traces were found.

Chillingollah Sighting (January 7, 1978):

A young Swan Hill woman reported seeing a UFO land in a paddock. The object had 'greenish blue and red' lights of exceptional brightness, appearing to have a concave surface. Her friend's brother had seen a similar object earlier.

Benboyd National Park, Eden (October 23, 1976):

Three men preparing for a solar eclipse filmed elliptical, bell-shaped objects hovering over the water. The largest object appeared to rotate. The footage and stills were confirmed to contain the objects.

Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania (February 3, 1978):

Children at a youth camp witnessed a stationary object moving behind trees, described as an oval white light with spinning colored lights. No air traffic was reported in the area.

Pawleena, Tasmania (January 31, 1978):

A witness saw a star-like white light approach, then perform a circular movement over a paddock. The object was described as elliptical with sharp ends and bright white lights in the center.

Baladonia, Western Australia (February 5, 1978):

A truck driver observed a large diamond-shaped object with multi-colored lights. The object changed shape and stopped and started in sync with the truck.

Bowna, NSW (March 1978):

Two young farmers reported seeing two large, bright, silver objects hovering above a valley. The objects were described as chrome or mercury colored and cigar-shaped. A second, smaller craft shaped like a stingray joined the first, and they departed eastward at high speed.

Adelaide (January 29, 1978):

Mr. J. L. Duran saw a red and blue flashing light, which was followed by nine 'big solid silver' discs forming around it.

Latrobe, Tasmania (April 16, 1978):

Two high school students reported a circular object with red flashing lights hovering and descending behind a tree.

Far North Queensland Reports (May 1977 onwards):

UFO Research Far North Queensland reported numerous sightings, mostly nocturnal lights. One incident in Georgetown (December 24, 1977) involved a bright orange light surrounded by a bluish haze, which rose vertically and changed to an oblong shape.

Overseas Reports

Iranian Youth Abduction (April 2, 1976):

19-year-old Gholam Reza Bazargani reported being taken by a UFO while walking in the forest and landing in Isfahan two days later. Villagers also reported seeing flying objects. Authorities were baffled, and Bazargani underwent psychiatric examination.

Circular Imprints in Canadian Wheatfields (September 1977):

Four large, donut-shaped imprints were found in wheatfields near Rossburn, Manitoba. The circles were described as saucer-like, with some appearing to rotate. RCMP constables concluded they were made by unidentified flying objects.

Giant UFO Over Soviet Union (September 20, 1977):

Scientists in the Soviet Union were baffled by a huge mass of light over Petrozavodsk, described as a 'jellyfish' sending down beams. Grey clouds with a red aperture appeared later.

New Zealand Sightings (Late 1977):

Reports from Gisborne included a 'landing' in Waimata Valley with a 'bowler hat'-shaped object emitting a blue beam of light that illuminated a dead tree. Other reports involved pacing aerial craft, and a driver whose dashboard lights dimmed during an encounter.

Olivia Newton-John's Encounter:

Singer Olivia Newton-John claimed a close encounter of the first kind, describing a brilliant silver object that increased in size rapidly and moved with great speed and unusual maneuvers.

M*A*S*H* Star's UFO Scare:

Jamie Farr reported being chased by a UFO while driving in Arizona. He described it as a light that zigzagged and hovered near his car.

Menace From the Sky (Bell Island, Newfoundland):

Reports described an incident involving a 'racket' and balls of fire, causing damage to houses and electrical equipment. The event was unexplained by authorities, with suggestions ranging from lightning to ball lightning or meteors.

Romania - Ball of Light Phenomena (February-May 1977):

Several cases are detailed: Case 1 involved a red globe with concentric circles moving horizontally. Case 2 described an orangey-yellow spherical object with a reddish ring, causing dog reactions and leaving burned grass with unusual soil properties. Case 3 featured a brilliant yellow ball of light emitting a beam and three smaller balls. Case 4 reported a large bright yellow round ball of light moving over a river.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different geographical locations, the variety of reported object shapes and behaviors, and the persistent search for evidence, including physical traces. The bulletin appears to present these reports factually, often quoting eyewitnesses and citing sources like local newspapers and research groups. There's an underlying implication that these phenomena are real and warrant investigation, despite skepticism from some official bodies like the RNZAF. The inclusion of an astronaut's belief in aliens and a reported abduction suggests an openness to extraordinary explanations. The editorial stance seems to be one of documenting and disseminating information about UFO phenomena to a readership interested in the subject.

This document is the May 1978 issue of the Australian UFO Bulletin, Volume 10. It is published quarterly by the Victorian UFO Research Society and is dedicated to the objective investigation of the UFO phenomenon. The issue features a witness account of a ground mark, a review of the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' and administrative messages from the society.

Witness Account: Porter Property Sighting

The issue details an incident at the Porter property. Mr. Porter and his grandson were awakened by dogs barking and a blast of wind hitting the house. A sound similar to hail on a tin roof was heard. The next morning, Mrs. Porter discovered a ring-shaped mark in the paddock. Their cow avoided the ring for three days and showed apprehension when sniffing it. Mr. Porter spent considerable time showing the markings to visitors and subsequently suffered from a severe headache that persisted for several days, a condition he had not experienced before.

Another witness, a prominent businessman, provided a signed statement about an experience on the night of the 25th while returning from Melbourne. His car engine went silent as he passed the Porter property, and he observed that the sides of the road seemed clearer. Simultaneously, his car lights did not appear to brighten. Upon passing the property, the engine and vision returned to normal. His wife, who was asleep, awoke feeling strange. This witness learned about the Porter experience a couple of days later.

Film Review: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

Nada Richards reviews the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind.' While acknowledging its incredible visual impact and astounding photographic effects, Richards expresses disappointment from a research perspective. The review suggests that the film's depiction of UFO effects on the environment was grossly exaggerated to appeal to the paying public, offering little of interest to researchers. However, the review concedes that the film has significant entertainment value and is a remarkable cinematic achievement, potentially stimulating audiences to think more deeply about the topic of UFOs.

Message from the Vice-President

G. N. Richards, the Vice-President, addresses the members, thanking them for their news clippings and information. He apologizes for any delays in responding to mail and addresses criticism from a minority of members who believe the committee derives financial gain. Richards emphasizes that VUFORS is an entirely voluntary, non-profit organization. Subscription fees barely cover the cost of producing the Bulletin, and committee members often bear operating costs from their own pockets. No member receives remuneration. He explains that due to members operating in their strictly limited spare time, the publication of the Bulletin may not always be on time (quarterly: Feb, May, Aug, Nov), but assures financial members will receive four issues per annual subscription.

Sales and Subscriptions

The issue includes advertisements for back issues of the "Australian Flying Saucer Review" and the "Bulletin" (for members only), with prices listed in cents and US dollars for postage. Car stickers are also available for 20¢ each. Subscription fees for the Australian UFO Bulletin are detailed: $5.00 annually for adults and $3.00 for pensioners and juniors in Australia, and US$5.00 for overseas subscribers. A note indicates that subscriptions expiring with this issue will have an asterisk in a specific box.

An advertisement for the "Aerial Phenomenon Clipping & Information Center" (A.P.C.I.C.) is also present, promoting its monthly press coverage of UFO cases from the U.S. and Canada, including 4000 magazines and 700 daily newspapers. Subscription rates for A.P.C.I.C. are $5.00 per month in the U.S. & Canada and $6.00 per month for other countries (including air mailing).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings and investigations, with a focus on a specific case in Australia. The editorial stance, as conveyed through the Vice-President's message, is one of dedication to objective investigation by a volunteer organization, managing expectations regarding publication frequency and response times due to the voluntary nature of the work. The review of 'Close Encounters' suggests a critical yet appreciative stance towards popular media's portrayal of UFOs, distinguishing between entertainment value and research utility.