The Phenomenon Times

Magazine Overview

Title: The Phenomenon Times
Issue Date: December 2008
Publisher: UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia
Type: Bimonthly Journal

This issue of The Phenomenon Times, dated December 2008, focuses on an "INVESTIGATOR PROFILE" of Larraine Cilia, the Vice President of the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia (UFO-PRSA).

President's Report

Attila Kaldy, President of UFO-PRSA, welcomes readers to the final issue of the year. He reflects on the past 12 months, highlighting increased exposure due to the production and airing of "Paranormal Investigators—The Challenge," the launch of a new paranormal website, the overhaul of an existing one, two conferences, media coverage, and the hard work of team members. Looking ahead to 2009, UFO-PRSA plans new challenges and great initiatives. Season 2 of "Paranormal Investigators—The Challenge" has five new episodes filmed, with the last three scheduled for January 2009. The series is set to air on TVS (Television Sydney), C31 in Melbourne, and C31 in Adelaide. The paranormal research division is being reorganized, with "Division 2" replacing "PR2D" (Paranormal Research Second Division) to reflect the entity's growth and professional image. RACE (Research of Australian Close Encounters) is designated as Division 1, focusing on UFO phenomena, while Division 2 will handle paranormal phenomena like hauntings. The report concludes with holiday wishes and a note about the next meeting on February 11th, 2009.

Vice President's Report

Larraine Cilia, Vice President, addresses "Earthling and Alien friends" at the last meeting of 2008, an informal Christmas gathering. She notes the past four weeks have been busy, particularly with the filming of "Paranormal Investigators, The Challenge Series 2." A new trainee has been chosen, and five of the eight episodes have been filmed, with airing planned for 2009. The "Next Dimension" conference in Gosford on November 29th was a success, with a well-received day covering diverse paranormal subjects. Local newspaper "The Sun weekly" provided coverage, polling readers and finding 73% believed in alien craft visiting the area, which has led to an influx of reports. Cilia wishes members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Investigator Profile: Larraine Cilia

Larraine Cilia is the Vice President of UFO-PRSA and a senior researcher for RACE (Research of Australian Close Encounters), having been a member since 2000. She is also the New South Wales Director for AUFORN (Australian UFO Research Network), responsible for following up on NSW UFO sightings reported on the national hotline. Originally from the UK, Larraine has had numerous paranormal and UFO-related experiences, which prompted her to join UFO-PRSA. Her research in UFOlogy led her to develop an interest in counseling, assisting those perplexed by their sightings and close encounters. She observed that many counselors are not conversant in this subject matter and are in need of support. Inspired by the work of Dr. David Jacobs, the late Professor John Mack, and Bud Hopkins, Larraine is pursuing training in counseling to create an experiencer support group. She is also the co-ordinator and spokesperson for Project Bluewater, gathering reports from NSW coastal areas for a database, and has presented evidence at conferences. She is part of the "Paranormal Investigators" team filming its second series.

Kenmore Hospital: The Second Investigation

This section details a second investigation at the Kenmore Hospital complex. The team returned due to the diversity and large area of the hospital. The initial investigation aimed to approach the situation critically, avoiding the "psychological net of expectancy" and looking for prosaic explanations first. The first night involved investigating two wards that housed dangerous patients. They set up a base station in a two-storey Victorian building with electricity, using two IR light panel cameras to monitor the upper level. The team experienced an "orb" crossing the screen, which is explained as dust particles or insects reflecting infrared light. Later, a loud "thump" was heard upstairs, initially attributed to the wind, but no crew members were present. The upper level was found empty. Another, louder thud was heard, and the sound of piano music was perceived by the investigators. The report discusses potential explanations for auditory phenomena, including musical hallucinosis, infrasound, and misperception of random sounds. The investigation continued, with activity quieting down by 3:00 am. The second night involved investigating a neighboring building, a dilapidated ward, where nerve-straining occurrences were experienced. The results of the initial investigation are still being analyzed, with findings expected in 2009.

RACE Reports

This section presents several UFO sighting reports from the Central Coast region of Australia.

• Richmond (near RAAF base), 1995: A witness reported seeing five bright lights moving slowly over a mountain. Initially thought to be a plane, the lights changed formation from a straight line to a diagonal pattern, then to a three-light formation with two on top, before dipping below the tree line. The object made no noise and had no flashing lights. Attempts to locate the object were unsuccessful due to the terrain.
• Chittaway Point - Central Coast, July 29, 2008: A witness observed three bright lights racing across the sky in a triangular formation. The lights at the front and left of the triangle were dimmer than the one on the right angle, and the object disappeared without a trace.
• Lake Munmorah, November 5, 2008: A witness observed a very bright star-like object moving sideways and fading over 15 minutes, disappearing with a faint orange glow. The object returned at the same time and place for the past two weeks. The witness distinguishes it from conventional aircraft by its behavior and lack of typical aircraft lights.

The section also poses the question of whether new technology is being tested or if something else is at play, and includes an old Richmond report.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings, paranormal investigations, and the work of researchers in Australia. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, seeking prosaic explanations first but not dismissing the possibility of genuine unexplained phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on the activities of UFO-PRSA and its members, promoting their work through profiles, reports, and details of their investigations and media productions. The publication aims to inform and engage its readership on topics related to the unexplained, encouraging discussion and further research.