TASMANIAN UFO INVESTIGATION CENTRE.

Magazine Overview

This document is the September 1976 Newsletter (No. 19) from the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC). The newsletter highlights the impact of recent media coverage on the Centre's intake of sightings and interesting cases from earlier years. It also addresses concerns about media sensationalism potentially distorting factual accounts of UFO events.

Sightings During 1976

The newsletter details several specific sightings from 1976:

• February 1st, 3:30 am, Highland Farm: Shooters observed an erratic light in the northeastern sky. A time-exposure photograph was taken, but the resulting print only showed a light track. Two prints were given to TUFOIC.
• May 18th, 7:30 pm, Bothwell: Two witnesses reported seeing a red light 100 yards off, which then reappeared, gliding through nearby bush as a white light about 3 feet from the ground. It passed 25 yards away, described as mini-tyre-sized, before disappearing.
• June 11th and 12th: John Dean, the Centre's Northern Representative, is investigating nocturnal lights, including one near Launceston Airport and another at Trevallyn involving multiple lights.
• June 22nd, 7:30 pm, Bothwell: A second report from the town described light beams shining through trees from a source in the sky, which turned on and off. A rotating beam was seen over pine trees before disappearing.
• July 29th, 8:40 pm, Springfield: A witness in a car park noticed a row of yellowish lights moving slowly west towards Mt Wellington. The formation consisted of six or more lights with a square light at the front, visible for five minutes before fading out.
• July 29th, 2:16 am, Mangalore: A lone motorist saw two stationary, yellow lights on a hillside. Upon glancing back, the lights were red, and the witness felt a heat effect on their face before the lights disappeared.
• July 29th, 9:30 pm, Bagdad: A motorist observed two rows of flicking yellow lights just above the ground in a roadside paddock. The lights gained elevation and speed, passing over trees and houses before disappearing.
• July 31st, 7:10 pm, Bagdad: Two women reported a round, fluorescent-type object diving at their car, seemingly filling the windscreen. The object then went over the top of the car and disappeared.
• August 2nd, 4:00 am, Ten Mile Hill: M. Wood reported seeing a screen-like projection filling his field of view, accompanied by a loud, distorted electrical music sound. The screen displayed a yellow light source and a figure in profile, wearing a black jacket and light-coloured trousers, which seemed to turn towards the witness. Wood braked, but the car seemed to drive through the screen.
• August 2nd, 4:45 pm, Boyer: At least four witnesses observed a strange black object moving in and out of the clouds west of the Newsprint Mills. The object appeared to change shape, from a balloon-like form to a football shape, leaving a vapour trail. It was described as more than moon-sized with a well-defined outline and was lost from view after dropping in front of distant hills.
• August 15th, 2:15 am, Boyer: Mr N. O'Brien and two other witnesses reported being paced by an object on the Boyer to New Norfolk road. A bright light was seen to the northeast. The object approached the vehicle, causing the witnesses to return to Boyer. The remaining two witnesses estimated the light came within 200 yards, shone a light into their vehicle, and caused their car radio to fade out. It was described as hat-shaped with a red strip and a beam from its dome.
• August 15th, 8:20 pm, Mornington: Two large yellow lights were seen approaching the Mechan Range near Warrane. One light passed in front of the hills, while the other went behind. The first light appeared to land or stop in front of the hill. The second light joined the first, both pulsing. Witnesses described a disc shape with a large light above and a smaller one below. The sighting lasted five minutes.
• August 22nd, Midnight, Hestercombe Downs: Three witnesses observed a yellow, moon-sized, pear-shaped object moving west low over a hilltop. The object changed to a saucer shape and left a long white vapour trail before disappearing.

UFOCON TWO and Statistics

The Centre will be represented at UFOCON TWO in Mt Gambier, South Australia, from October 24th to 26th, with Paul Jackson as the representative. The conference aims to discuss the UFO phenomenon in general.

Statistics compiled for 1975 indicate that 'nocturnal lights' were the most frequent reports, primarily from males aged 16-20. Sightings were most common between 6 pm and midnight, with Friday being the busiest day. The distribution of unidentified cases across Australia in 1975 was: Tasmania (32), NSW (18), Sth Aus (12), Vic (9), Qld (9), and West Aus (6). The Tasmanian total had grown to 36, with only 4 cases originating from persons under 20.

Media Mentions and Related Reports

The newsletter mentions that some of the Centre's 1974 sightings have appeared in US UFO magazines, sometimes with added emotive phrases or details not originally reported. It also includes clippings from other publications:

• 'WOMAN "BUZZED"BY SHAFT OF LIGHT' (South Western Times, Bunbury, 24/2/76): An Eaton housewife reported being buzzed by a bright shaft of light that hovered above her, causing a distracting effect.
• 'GIRL SEES LIGHT IN SKY' (Lithgow Mercury, 11/3/76): A young woman from Windsor reported an UFO following her car, described as reddish with a golden glow, flashing on and off, and eventually moving over to the left of her car.

Upcoming Meeting and Correspondence

The next meeting is scheduled for October 8th at 8 pm at the Scots Church Rooms, Bathurst St. Officers for the upcoming year will be elected. Correspondence should be sent to the TUFOIC Secretary at 366 Huon Rd, Sth Hobart, 7000. Sightings can be reported via telephone to the Secretary (23 6009) or the President (72 7479).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on detailed reporting of UFO sightings, emphasizing factual accounts and investigations. There is a clear stance against sensationalism in media reporting, advocating for accurate representation of events. The Centre actively collects and disseminates information on UFO phenomena, providing statistics and encouraging public participation through reporting and attendance at meetings and conferences. The editorial tone is informative and investigative, aiming to document and understand UFO occurrences.