Phenomenon Times - 2011 10

Magazine Overview

Title: The Phenomenon Times
Issue Date: October 2011
Publisher: The UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia
Focus: Reporting on recent news and studies outside mainstream scientific endeavor, with a broad, cross-disciplinary approach to paranormal events.

President's Report

Larraine Cilia, President of the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia, opens her report with greetings and thanks to Sharon Hood for an interactive evening. She mentions that Debbie Malone was unable to present due to obligations with shooting 'The One' for major network television. Cilia then discusses recent sightings, including one from the North Shore where images were initially identified as a 'sun trail' caused by jet aircraft condensation during sunrise or sunset. She emphasizes the importance of analytical review of such images. Another significant sighting occurred in the Northern Territory, reminiscent of a past 'truck driver' report where an object followed a vehicle for many miles.

The report also announces upcoming activities. In October, the society will conduct an investigation of an abandoned complex for an 'Eerie Encounters 5th' episode, with filming of the weekend's experiences. In November, Mary Rodwell will lead the evening's presentations. An event on the Paranormal will be hosted by Urchin books of Marrickville on November 17th, 2011, with Tiffany and Kellie as MCs, where the Society will present its major works. The society's second DVD, containing episodes 3 and 4 of 'Eerie Encounters', is nearing completion and will be available for purchase. Excerpts can be viewed on their YouTube channel. The December meeting will be an informal buffet at the Arts Centre.

Cilia concludes her report by referencing the 'Alien letter' and expressing hope for future events, stating, "We hope you will enjoy our future events and remember, the future is in all our hands!"

Society Information and Meetings

The magazine provides contact details for the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia, including its PO Box, Editor (Kellie Pataky), and President (Larraine Cilia). It lists the Vice President as Kellie Pataky, Treasurer as Darren Broadie, and Secretary as Dominic McNamara. The UFO-PRSA Investigators team is also listed. The society was established in 2000 and was formerly known as the UFO Society of Western Sydney. Their website is www.ufosociety.net.au.

A Meeting Calendar for 2011 is provided, listing Wednesday meetings throughout the year, including February 9th, March 9th, April 13th, May 11th, June 9th, July 13th, August 10th, September 14th, October 12th, November 9th, and December 14th.

All meetings are held at the Campbelltown Arts Centre, Corner of Camden Road and Appin Road, Campbelltown, NSW 2560. The entry fee is $6.00 for members and $10.00 for non-members. Doors open at 6.45 pm for a 7.00 pm start, with coffee and tea provided. The next meeting on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011, will feature guest speaker Mary Rodwell. The Christmas party meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14th.

Information is also provided about the 'EERIE ENCOUNTERS DVD # 2', available for pick up from the December meeting, with pre-sale orders encouraged. Excerpts are available on their YouTube channel.

Vice President's Report

Kellie Pataky, Vice President, shares her report, starting with a quote from Michelangelo: "The greatest drama for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it". She recounts a recent nightwatch expedition to search the skies, noting the difficulty in finding clear nights and simultaneous availability of the group. During the watch, they observed strange lights over the mountains, but nothing lingered long enough for photos or footage. However, Darren Brodie managed to capture two photos of interest from random night sky shots, which were only visible upon computer review. Pataky notes that Dominic McNamara identified these as aircraft trails, but suggests they serve as an interesting example of elimination to show what such anomalies can look like with the right exposure.

Pataky also mentions attending an Eskimo Joe concert as a VIP. The group has used Eskimo Joe's Number 1 single "Black Fingernails, Red Wine" as their theme song for years, playing it during filming but without the band's permission. After spending time backstage, she obtained permission to use the song in their footage. The band has requested to see the produced material for their website and YouTube. The next meeting will feature footage from this event, potentially promoting the group on YouTube. The band's film clip for "Black Fingernails, Red Wine" was filmed in an old nunnery near Melbourne, and their interests in the paranormal have led them to various locations around Fremantle.

Index

• The index lists several sections within the magazine:
• Special Research Report: The Zanthus case by Keith Basterfield (Page 11)
• EERIE ENCOUNTERS (Page 19)
• PSYCHIC PERCEPTIONS (Page 24)
• CROP CIRCLE NEWS (Page 23)
• RACE (Research of Australian Close Encounters) (Page 11)
• Advertising (Page 29)

A Message from an Unknown Source

Pages 4-7 contain a lengthy message from an unspecified source, seemingly extraterrestrial or higher-dimensional beings. This message poses a direct question to humanity: "DO YOU WISH THAT WE SHOW UP ?"

The message explains that a decision is required from humanity, emphasizing free will and the power of collective choice. It suggests that a sincere request made with heart and will is perceived. The message warns against passivity and indecision, urging individuals to make a conscious choice. It posits that a collective favorable decision would lead to the materialization of ships and a significant shift in human certitudes and beliefs, potentially causing a cultural shock and upheaval in all fields of activity, leading to a change in values and the formation of a single human family.

The message discusses the concept of a "third party" that manipulates humanity and suggests that revealing this entity would be a step towards overcoming it. It frames the choice as a historical dilemma between two unknowns. Spreading this message is presented as a way to influence the future irreversibly. The source claims to be technically equipped to materialize, differentiating them from spiritual entities. They state that their arrival is contingent on humanity's collective choice, as they have not appeared before because such a decision has not been explicitly made.

The message urges individuals to trust their intuition and ask themselves if they want to see them with their own eyes or believe what thinkers say. It highlights that not choosing means undergoing others' choices, and remaining indifferent means giving up free will. The message concludes by stating that "The big medias will not be necessarily interested in spreading this message. It is therefore your task, as an anonymous yet an extraordinary thinking and loving being, to transmit it." It reiterates, "You are still the architects of your own fate..."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a belief in the unexplained, encouraging investigation and open-mindedness towards paranormal phenomena, UFO sightings, and related topics. The editorial stance is one of pioneering research outside mainstream scientific endeavors, seeking truth, and fostering a community interested in these subjects. The society actively engages its members through meetings, reports, and the dissemination of information via its journal and online platforms. There is a strong emphasis on personal choice, free will, and the collective power of humanity to influence its own future, as highlighted by the prominent message from an unknown source.

This document is a "Special Research Report" by Keith Basterfield, dated September 2011, which re-examines the "Zanthus, Western Australia, Aircraft Encounter of 22 August 1968." It details the event based on Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) documentation and a subsequent interview with one of the pilots.

The Zanthus Encounter of August 22, 1968

The report begins by referencing Leslie Keane's book "UFOs" and summarizing the common understanding of the Zanthus case: pilots Captains Smith and Gardin encountered a formation of one large and several smaller aircraft near Zanthus, Western Australia. Air traffic control reported no known traffic, communication was lost for several minutes, the larger object split, and the formation departed at high speed.

RAAF Documentation

The author accessed a two-page RAAF Department of Defence file containing Captain Smith's statement. Smith and Captain Walter Gardin were returning from Adelaide to Perth in an 8-place Piper Navajo (VH-RTO) at 8000' with a true airspeed of 190-195 kts, tracking 270 degrees magnetic.

At 0940 GMT (1740 WST), Gardin woke Smith, and they observed a formation of aircraft about 50 degrees to their right, at the same level. The formation consisted of one larger aircraft and four or five smaller ones, maintaining station with their plane. Not having been notified of this traffic, Smith contacted Kalgoorlie DCA communications, who reported no known traffic. Kalgoorlie then notified eastbound traffic of the unidentified formation 130nm East of Kalgoorlie.

During the sighting, communications with Kalgoorlie were lost, with only carrier wave, hash, and static received. Over the next ten minutes, the pilots attempted communication multiple times without success. They observed the main ship split into two sections, with smaller aircraft maneuvering between them, and the two halves joining and splitting. This cycle continued for ten minutes.

The shape of the main ship was described as changing from spherical to slightly elongated, maintaining a dark grey to black color. The smaller craft were cigar-shaped and very dark. Their movement was peculiar, appearing to travel out and back without turning like a normal aeroplane.

At 0950 GMT, the formation joined together and departed at tremendous speed, diminishing in size within 3-4 seconds. The weather was fine with no haze above 6000' and scattered altostratus cloud to the south.

Notes on UFO:

1. Distance: Impossible to gauge without knowing the size of the objects. The main ship was compared to a Boeing 707 from about 10 miles.
2. Communications: Radio communications were restored immediately after the UFOs departed.
3. Navigation Equipment: The pilots did not check their magnetic compass or automatic direction finding equipment.
4. Formation Behavior: The formation maintained the same distance and bearing from their aircraft throughout the sighting.

The pilots concluded that the UFOs were not balloons (due to distance and closure rate), not a trick of light (due to consistent color and shape), and likely aircraft, with the exception of the larger object's ability to split and change shape slightly.

What the RAAF did with this case:

Captain Smith's statement was attached to a memo from RAAF Pearce to the Department of Air in November 1968. The Department of Air requested Pearce to contact the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to see if any report was filed. Enquiries with DCA Perth showed no reports, and DCA Kalgoorlie was then contacted.

A telex on November 25, 1968, indicated that DCA Perth had no records. Further inquiries with DCA Kalgoorlie revealed that on August 22, 1968, aircraft VH-RTO (Smith and Gardin) had enquired about traffic near Zanthus and, upon being told there was none, reported sighting a UFO with six small disc-like objects approximately ten miles north of track FT80 KAL. The pilots confirmed this on arrival at Kalgoorlie and were advised to make a full report to RAAF Pearce.

My comments/analysis:

1. RAAF Records: The case was not found in the RAAF's published annual summary of UFO reports.
2. Further Information: No additional official documents or pilot comments have surfaced.
3. Investigation: No UFO group appears to have investigated the case.
4. Location: Smith's report placed the initial observation 130nm East of Kalgoorlie, near Zanthus (Latitude 31°02' S, Longitude 123°34' E).
5. Final Point: At 195 kts for 10 minutes, the final point would be approximately 100nm east of Kalgoorlie.
6. Formation Movement: The formation maintained a bearing of approximately 320 degrees magnetic relative to the aircraft, implying it traveled at 195 kts, tracking 270 degrees, paralleling the aircraft's path.
7. Astronomical Check: A sky check for 0940 GMT indicated the Sun had set, Venus was visible, but no astronomical objects were at the observed position (50 degrees to the right of the aircraft's track).
8. Mirage Hypothesis: The author references Martin Shough's article on the BOAC Labrador sighting, suggesting an unusual mirage as a possible explanation for similar sightings, including the Zanthus event. Shough noted that the lateral movements of smaller objects in a narrow band, without turning, and the splitting of the main ship could be consistent with an inversion layer affecting a mirage.

Conclusion: The case is interesting, and the author is undecided whether it was an unusual mirage or a "true" UFO.

A witness located and interviewed:

Keith Basterfield located and interviewed Walter Gardin (aged 77, 34 at the time of the event) by phone.

Interview notes with Walter Gardin (15 Sep 2011):

• Initial Sighting: Gardin initially thought the object was a balloon, as he had heard one was to be flown from Western Australia to Sydney.
• Formation Level: The formation was at the same level as the aircraft, not requiring looking up or down.
• Object Size: The larger object was considered one unit, with smaller objects being 1/10th to 1/5th of that unit.
• Constant Distance: The formation maintained the same distance for ten minutes, implying constant angular size.
• Maneuvers: Smaller objects flew out left and right (about 30 degrees total span, 2 smaller to the right, 4 to the left) and returned. The main ship split into two, and the smaller objects merged with the larger one by going underneath. The united object departed upwards at a 45-degree angle.
• Weather: Clear blue sky in the direction of the objects.
• Turbulence: No air turbulence.
• Post-Sighting: Police were present at Kalgoorlie due to concerns the aircraft might have crashed; Walter did not discuss the sighting with them.
• Kalgoorlie Traffic Info: Gardin concluded that Kalgoorlie's "no traffic" information was based on aircraft self-identification, not radar.
• Aircraft Radar: Their aircraft did not have radar.
• Other Observations: Kalgoorlie did not report receiving other unidentified traffic observations.
• RAAF Contact: No RAAF personnel spoke to Gardin or Smith about the observations.
• Pre-1968 Opinion: Gardin considered UFOs to be "bull" (disbelieved).
• Post-1968 Opinion: He changed his opinion, believing there are other inhabited planets.
• Sensation: Gardin experienced a strange sensation for six months, feeling "in the control of people gathering information on people on the earth."
• Radios: The aircraft had two UHF and one VHF radios.
• Cycles: The cycle of smaller objects going outwards and inwards occurred three times for Gardin and twice for Gordon Smith.
• Gordon Smith: Gardin did not know if Gordon Smith was still alive.

My final comments:

1. The united object departed upwards at a 45-degree angle, contrary to the initial statement suggesting it simply went out of sight on the horizon.
2. The smaller objects moved about 30 degrees away from the main object, a significant angular distance.
3. The smaller objects were 1/10th to 1/5th the angular size of the larger object.
4. The smaller objects merged from underneath the larger one, not from the sides as initially implied.

Given the data, the author does not believe the mirage hypothesis is valid and considers the event an excellent example of the "core" UFO phenomenon that deserved scientific investigation.

EERIE ENCOUNTERS

Pets in Heaven

This is a personal anecdote by Darren about his Fox Terrier, "Tiny." After the dog was unwell, Darren performed Reconnective Healing, and the dog recovered. Later, Darren had a disturbing dream about his parents and a bad feeling. Shortly after, he heard a dog bark in his office, where no animals are present. That morning, his mother SMS'd to say Tiny had died, leading Darren to believe Tiny was letting him know she was still alive in spirit.

Little Girl Lost

This story is about a friend named "A" who lives alone in a high-rise apartment in Camperdown, Sydney. During his first two weeks of moving in, "A" woke up to see a little girl in an old-fashioned white gown standing in his living area, looking towards his bedroom. She didn't speak, and "A" told her to "Go back to Mummy." The girl disappeared. Two weeks later, "A" learned from a friend that his apartment block used to be the Camperdown Children's Hospital, which was active from 1906 until its demolition in 1995. "A" had no prior knowledge of the building's history and has not seen the girl since.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary focus of this issue is the detailed investigation and analysis of the 1968 Zanthus UFO sighting, presenting both official documentation and new witness testimony. The author, Keith Basterfield, takes a critical stance, questioning the RAAF's lack of follow-up and dismissing the mirage hypothesis in favor of the event being a genuine, significant UFO phenomenon. The "Eerie Encounters" section shifts to personal paranormal or unexplained experiences, including a pet's spiritual communication and a possible haunting related to a former hospital site, suggesting a broader interest in unexplained phenomena beyond traditional UFOlogy.

Title: Psychic IP Perception
Issue: 23
Cover Headline: Past Lives
Author: Kellie Pataky

This issue of Psychic IP Perception, published by the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia, explores themes of life after death, near-death experiences (NDEs), UFO sightings, and historical paranormal investigations.

Near-Death Experiences and the Impact of 'Life After Life'

The lead article, 'Past Lives' by Kellie Pataky, discusses the profound impact of Raymond Moody's 1975 book 'Life After Life' on the public's understanding of death and the afterlife. Prior to Moody's work, NDEs were often dismissed as medical pathology or hallucinations. Moody's research, which involved listening to the experiences of individuals who had survived cardiac arrest, helped to legitimize these accounts. The article highlights how Moody inspired a generation of researchers, including Dr. Bruce Greyson (University of Virginia) and Dr. Peter Fenwick (British Royal College of Psychiatrists), who employed scientific methods to validate NDEs. These researchers concluded that NDEs are a real and natural part of the dying process, not caused by brain pathology or drugs. The influence of this research has led to NDEs being taught in medical schools across America.

Dr. James Whinnery of the National Warfare Institute is mentioned for developing an experimental technique to induce NDEs in fighter pilots under controlled conditions. The article notes the independent yet concurrent conclusions reached by Moody, Whinnery, and Dr. Melvin Morse, a pediatrician who studied NDEs in children at Seattle Children's Hospital. These children, too young to have preconceived notions about death, reported experiences consistent with those of adults.

The article emphasizes that NDEs can be transformative, leading to a reduction in anger and personality changes that may have contributed to heart attacks. Dr. Moody's book, which has sold over 13 million copies worldwide, is praised for addressing the loss of collective myths about death and the devaluation of the spiritual side of human existence. Dr. Moody now holds the Bigelow Chair of Consciousness Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

UFO Sighting Reports

The magazine features a section titled 'SIGHTING REPORTS' from RACE (Research of Australian Close Encounters), detailing several UFO encounters:

• Riverview (10-04-2011): A witness reported seeing a strange light in the sky that moved in an unusual way, later appearing as a triangular shape with flashing lights.
• Eagle Vale (09-09-2011): A bright light was observed in the night sky, followed by a sudden flash.
• Bowral, NSW (28-09-2011): A witness saw a bright light surrounded by moving objects circling it.
• Adelaide, SA (25-09-2011): A massive UFO, described as extremely bright and low to the ground, was sighted. This was followed by the appearance of helicopters, airplanes, and a military jet.
• Blue Mountains (1967-1968): A historical report from a resident who observed colourful lights in the distance that would move sideways quickly. The witness also recounts an intense experience in a pine forest involving a bright light that illuminated the area.

These reports suggest a recurring presence of unexplained aerial phenomena in Australia, with some witnesses noting potential interactions with power lines and electrical surges.

Crop Circle News

A section on 'CROP CIRCLE NEWS' highlights an impressive crop circle formation reported near Inkpen on the Wiltshire/Berkshire border in the UK. The formation, described as a huge serpent with a trident tongue, measured approximately 700 feet in length. The article notes the excitement it generated within the crop circle community, especially during the height of the season when many international visitors were present. However, the discovery was short-lived due to the farmer's threat to spray-paint visiting cars and subsequent cutting of the wheat from the main 'body' of the formation.

Fisher's Ghost Investigation (Part 2)

Michelle Uznik continues her investigation into the 'Fisher's Ghost' case in the 'FACTFINDER' section. This installment focuses on the results of mediumistic investigations and historical records. Despite attempts, mediums were unable to pick up on the spirit of Fred Fisher himself. However, one medium, Kellie, received a message from an entity who sounded drunk. This entity insisted that John Farley had testified incorrectly against George Worrall, and that Worrall was wrongly convicted of the murder. The message suggested that someone else was the true murderer.

The article references historical documents, including a Sydney Gazette notice from November 1826 offering a £20 reward for information on James Smith's alleged involvement in the murder of Frederick Fisher. It also mentions a report from February 1827 detailing the trial of George Worrall. Statements from other residents of the Worrall household at the time of the murder are cited, including a man named Laurence, who had received money from Fisher earlier that evening. Worrall himself claimed that some of these men committed the murder. The report questions the authenticity of Worrall's last-minute confession.

Uznik plans to research other spirit messages received during the investigation in the next issue.

Community Advertising

The issue includes advertisements for local businesses and services, such as Ivy Florist, Flowers by fax, and Elizabeth's Crystal Garden. It also features an advertisement for Michelle Usnik Family Research and encourages readers to connect with the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia on Facebook.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of the paranormal, unexplained phenomena, and personal experiences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and scientific investigation into subjects often on the fringes of mainstream understanding. There is a clear emphasis on validating anecdotal evidence through research, whether it concerns near-death experiences, UFO sightings, or historical mysteries like Fisher's Ghost. The publication aims to provide a platform for sharing such experiences and fostering a community of researchers and enthusiasts.