Recollections vol 3 no 4

Magazine Overview

Title: Recollections
Issue: Volume 3, Issue 4
Date: October 1996
Publisher: The Australian UFO Abduction Study Centre
Country: Australia

This issue of "Recollections" provides an extensive report on the Australian International UFO Symposium, held over three packed days. The newsletter details the various speakers and their presentations, focusing heavily on UFO abductions and related phenomena. It also includes reviews of new books, a survey on the after-effects of abduction experiences, and information on how to connect with the UFO research community.

Australian International UFO Symposium Report

The symposium is described as the largest gathering of Australians to date, focusing on both the general UFO phenomenon and specific aspects of UFO abductions. The first day featured speakers including Walt Andrus (US) discussing "The Brooklyn Bridge UFO Abductions," the author of the newsletter on "The After Effects of a UFO Abduction Experience," Pat Bailey (US) on "True Reasons and Objectives behind UFOs," Peter Davenport (US) on "UFO Reporting Centre: Cases and Sightings Across the USA," Alec Newald (NZ) on "Contactee Profile Missing Time," Ademar Gevaerd (Brazil) on "Capture of ET's in Brazil on 20 January 1996," Paul Norman (Aust) on "The Valentich Incident," and two unnamed ladies from Chile discussing "Research in Chile." Moira McGhee and Bryan Dickeson (Aust) presented "Lesser Known Australian Sightings."

The second day's speakers included Joe Lewels (US) on "Quantum Physics Discovers the Holographic Universe," Kelly Cahill (Aust) on "My Encounter Experience," John Carpenter (US) on "Angels, Aliens and Folklore," Jaime Maussan (Mexico) on "Evidence of a Reality," Warren Aston (Aust) on "Finding Answers to Earth's Greatest Mystery within a Scientific Paradigm," and Stanton Friedman (Canada).

The third day covered topics such as "Top Secret Majic," with presentations by Bill Chalker (Aust) on "The Oz Files," George Wingfield (UK) on "Mysterious Flying Triangles," David Summers (Aust) on "UFOs: The Political, Economic, Religious & Social Implications," Whitley Strieber (US) on "Breakthrough," Glennys Mackay (Aust) on "First Hand Encounters," and John Mack (US) on "Abductions: Human Encounters with Aliens."

Key Presentations and Speakers

Walt Andrus provided an overview of the "Linda Cortile" case in the US, noting that eight independent witnesses have been interviewed and details expanded upon in the book "Witnessed" by Budd Hopkins.

Keith Basterfield (the editor) presented findings from his research questionnaire survey and literature search, focusing on the after-effects reported by experiencers post-abduction. His examination covered psychophysical, belief, and lifestyle changes, as well as physical changes.

Alec Newald reported on his ten days of interaction with benevolent extraterrestrials in 1989, including being removed from a car, held for 24 hours in a preparation room, and communicating with ETs who predicted significant Earth changes within 20-50 years.

Kelly Cahill presented her own "Encounter Experience."

John Carpenter gave an overview of apparent mentions of abductions and UFOs throughout history, drawing comparisons across cultures and time to argue for a lengthy interaction between humanity and UFO phenomena.

Jaime Maussan presented "Evidence of a Reality."

Warren Aston discussed "Finding Answers to Earth's Greatest Mystery within a Scientific Paradigm."

Stanton Friedman (continued inside) was also a speaker.

Bill Chalker presented "The Oz Files."

George Wingfield presented "Mysterious Flying Triangles."

David Summers presented "UFOs: The Political, Economic, Religious & Social Implications."

Whitley Strieber discussed why he withdrew from research and his recent resurfacing, detailing information from his books "Breakthrough" and "Secret School." He also spoke about "implants," covering the work of Derrel Sims and Dr. Roger K. Leir, and organizing an implant removal and analysis program.

Glennys Mackay discussed her own observations and some Queensland abduction cases.

John Mack provided an overview of what he learned over seven years of involvement with the abduction phenomenon, noting that experiencers form a deep bond with alien species and are part of a larger scheme. He highlighted that aliens seem fascinated with human emotions and sexuality, and that interactions, though initially traumatic, can lead to personal growth. Mack posed the question of our resistance to accepting this phenomenon, suggesting it stems from a sense of powerlessness and lack of control.

New Books

• "Encounter" by Kelly Cahill (1996): This paperback details Cahill's close encounter with a UFO in 1993 near Melbourne, involving six people in three vehicles. It covers events prior to the encounter, dreams, visitations, after-effects, and her personal growth. The book is described as an excellent work from an experiencer's perspective.
• "The Oz Files" by Bill Chalker (1996): This paperback by an Australian UFO researcher and industrial chemist provides a broad overview of Australian UFO cases. Chapter 12 specifically addresses abductions, reviewing cases Chalker has been personally involved with since the 1970s. Chalker urges caution from a physical sciences perspective, stating that "the evidence for a physical reality behind UFO abductions is not as compelling as the so called mainstream UFO phenomenon." The book is considered a valuable addition to Australia's UFO history and calls for reasoned, scientific exploration.

Monthly UFO Reports

Keith Basterfield initiated a monthly collection of UFO reports abstracts from Australian organizations. He found that there was no national level listing of incoming UFO reports available. The resultant listing is now in its fifth month of production. He compiles the listing from reports sent to him and shares it with 25 groups. This listing is now available to interested parties at cost ($15 p.a.).

The After Effects Survey

Keith Basterfield reports on the results of a survey on the after-effects of abduction experiences. 130 questionnaires were distributed, with 46 completed (a 35% return rate). 23 respondents met the strict definition of an abduction, with 8 men and 15 women. The abductions spanned from pre-1985 to 1996.

Key findings from the survey include:

• Personal Experiences:
• "I have begun to channel information from some other source" (69%)
• "I feel I receive information somehow from elsewhere." (74%)
• "I feel I am more psychic than before." (78%)
• "I experience strange flows of energy through my body." (78%)
• "I sometimes get flashbacks to my experience." (70%)
• "I often know things are going to happen before they do." (78%)

• **Life Changes (on a score of 0-5, where 5 is a strong increase):
• "My desire to achieve a higher consciousness has" (5.0)
• "My belief in a higher power has" (4.8)
• "My interest in the possibility of extra-terrestrial life has" (5.0)
• "I feel I have a task to perform." (5.0)
• "I feel that major changes will occur to Earth" (5.0)
• "I feel I have been chosen." (4.9)

Basterfield plans to conduct further surveys and report back.

Networking Request

The newsletter seeks health professionals in each state willing to have individuals with unusual body markings referred to them for consultation, as these individuals feel unable to consult their own GPs.

Future New Book

The author has been commissioned to write a book dealing with Australian "close encounters," covering representative abduction experiences. The manuscript deadline is mid-November 1996.

On the Net

The Australian UFO Abduction Study Centre is now on the Internet, with the email address [email protected].

Feedback

Readers who completed the "After Effects Survey" questionnaire have received a copy of the analysis. The newsletter welcomes articles from health professionals, experiencers, and UFO researchers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed reporting of UFO symposiums, the personal accounts of UFO abduction experiencers, and the scientific exploration of the phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging reasoned, scientific investigation while acknowledging the profound impact these experiences have on individuals. There is a clear focus on Australian cases and researchers, while also incorporating international perspectives. The newsletter aims to connect researchers, experiencers, and the public through information sharing and community building.