TUFOIC Newsletter - No 032 - 1981

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO Tasmania
Issue: 32
Volume: 1981
Date: 1981
Publisher: Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre T.U.F.O.I.C.
Country: Australia
Language: English
ISSN: 0158-0590
Price: 80c

This issue of UFO Tasmania, dated 1981, provides an overview of UFO activity and investigations in Tasmania, focusing on the year 1980 and historical trends. The publication is produced by the Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre (TUFOIC).

Year's Sightings Statistics (1980)

The magazine notes a significant drop in investigations and unexplained cases in 1980, a trend that appears to have spread across Australia and potentially worldwide. The number of investigations returned to levels seen in the late 1960s. Due to the low number of cases, no distinct patterns could be identified for the year.

Investigations Comparative Figures

A table presents a comparison of UFO reports and unidentified percentages from Pre-1965 through 1980. Notably, 1980 saw the lowest number of reports (59) and unidentified cases (8) in the provided data, with an unidentified percentage of 14%.

Analysis of Investigations

The analysis of investigations in 1980 breaks down the cases into categories: Unidentified (8, 13.8%), Investigating/Insufficient Info (8), Astronomical (21), Aircraft (13), Satellites (2), Meteorological (3), Ground Lights (1), and Other Explanations (3). The total number of investigations for the year was 59.

TUFOIC Meeting Dates 1981

Meetings are held at the BP Theatrette, City Mutual Building, 47 Liverpool St., commencing at 8:00 PM. Prospective members and those with sighting information are welcome. Dates for 1981 meetings are listed for January, April, June, August, October, and November.

Sightings for 1980

First Report (March 10th, 1980)

An unexplained case occurred in Bagdad, Tasmania, involving three witnesses who observed a whitish oval to elliptical shape moving rapidly north. The object appeared to spin and later returned south at great speed. One witness reported a low whirring sound. A sketch by witnesses depicts the object as having a spinning section and lights.

Two April Sightings

Two more sightings occurred in April. One involved a motorist and three passengers who saw three lights low over trees near Middleton, moving with their car and changing colour before halting. Another sighting was reported at Buckland, where two witnesses saw a red light, appearing moon-sized, moving along the Tasman Highway.

A Frightening Experience (June 7th, 1980)

Two boys aged 13 and 12 had a frightening experience while shooting near Murdunna. They reported a white starlike light, followed by two square lights circling on the ground, and a silver moon-sized ball object in the sky. The incident lasted about a minute, and the boys returned home frightened. A similar object was reported in December 1969.

April Sightings from Page 2 (Buckland)

This section seems to be a continuation or clarification of the April sighting at Buckland, describing a red light near Buckland Church that appeared moon-sized and moved along the Tasman Highway before heading south-east.

More June Reports

Mid-June Report (June 16th, 1980)

A fisherman off Cadbury's Point reported seeing two Venus-sized lights travelling north, followed by a second sighting of similar lights approaching from the north-east and stopping for 10 seconds before disappearing. The process repeated 15 minutes later, with two smaller red lights appearing on either side of the main white light. The witness, experienced with aircraft, could not explain the phenomena.

Second Case (June 18th, 1980)

Two witnesses near Tunnel Hill on Hobart's Eastern Shore observed a large orange star-like light emitting an orange pencil-like streak. Two smaller orange lights joined the larger one before it disappeared instantly. A similar event involving streaks of light was reported at Maatsuyker Island in 1978.

Lights Again (August 11th, 1980)

Two witnesses at Geilston Bay reported a white light low to the north, which moved west and then reappeared before moving fast. They later observed a similar light near Risdon Vale.

Landing on the Plateau? (July 6th, 1980)

Two witnesses in a four-wheel drive vehicle in the high country north of Lake Sorell reported a light at ground level. They observed a long, green-yellow phosphorous-glowing object, about 8m long and 2m high, with side lights and a central red flickering light. It appeared to be rotating slowly and made a whirring noise. Upon firing shots, the object moved away and then shot vertically into the sky, disappearing instantly. Their dog exhibited agitated behaviour afterwards.

Landing in Huonville? (September 1978)

Mr. R of Huonville reported being awoken by incessant dog barking, leading him to discover a grey object with windows in his paddock. His dog's reaction convinced him it was not a normal occurrence.

Tasmanian UFO Resume

This section reviews historical UFO trends in Tasmania, noting that local reports follow patterns observed worldwide. It mentions that unexplained reports date back to 1948, but a noticeable pattern emerges from 1960 onwards.

The First Flap (Late 1960)

The first recorded flap occurred in late 1960 in the Northern Midlands, centered around Cressy, involving cigar-shaped objects and attendant discs. This flap ceased as suddenly as it began.

Centre Formed (1965)

The formation of TUFOIC in 1965 coincided with an increase in sightings globally. A highlight was nocturnal light activity at Maatsuyker Island from October 1965 to February 1966. Other sightings included a dome-like object at Hillwood and an object near ground level at Woodbridge.

Landings (1969)

The year 1969 saw reports of landings in Tasmania, occurring between March and June. Cases included a silver ball-like object at Southport Lagoon, a disc object rising from the ground at Kelvedon, and a dome-like shape rising rapidly from a backyard at Glenorchy.

Then Back to Business (Mid-1969 to Early 1971)

This period was generally quiet, with a few notable cases including a close encounter off the East Coast and a car pace event with radio effects near Scottsdale.

April 1971

A burst of strange events occurred, including landings at Norwood and Lynchford, and close encounters at Strahan, Cethana, and Ranelagh. Two more landings occurred at Wilmot.

1972/73

This period saw a flow of cases as the Centre became better known. Most cases were of low strangeness, though a report of figures in an object at Campania was noted.

A Massive Flap (1974-1977)

This was a period of overwhelming activity, with a massive number of 53 unidentified cases in 1974 alone. The flap involved various types of sightings, including car pace events and low-level objects. Gladstone was a focal point for banana-shaped objects.

Lake Sorell (1975)

The focal point shifted to Lake Sorell, with a spectacular disc-shaped object affecting radio reception and leaving a glow on the lake.

Maydena (February-April 1976)

This flap was covered by media and involved nocturnal lights over the town, with hundreds of witnesses. Sightings were also reported in the Derwent Valley and involved traces and possible figures.

All Quiet (1978-1980)

The last three years saw a high strangeness but a dwindling flow of reports. Notable events included the Valentich incident, a strange green shape affecting a car radio, and EMF cases.

Location Map and Flap Areas

Maps are included showing the locations of reported sightings and the areas and years of UFO flaps in Tasmania.

Table One: Year, UFOs, Total, Strangeness Average, Flap Areas

This table provides a year-by-year breakdown of UFO reports, total cases, average strangeness value, and flap areas from 1960 to 1980. It highlights periods of high activity, such as 1974-1977, and the low activity in 1980.

Table Two: Year vs. Number of UFOs (Graph)

A bar graph visually represents the number of UFOs reported each year from 1960 to 1980, illustrating the fluctuations in reported activity.

References

A list of references is provided, citing TUFOIC annual reports and files for specific cases and data.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently documents UFO sightings and investigations in Tasmania, providing statistical data and detailed accounts of individual cases. The editorial stance appears to be one of objective reporting and investigation of unexplained phenomena, acknowledging historical trends and patterns in UFO activity both locally and globally. The publication aims to inform members and the public about UFO reports and the Centre's activities.

Title: MERCURY
Issue: December 6.12.80
Volume: 11
Date: December 6, 1980
Publisher: The Australian Centre for UFO Studies
Country: Australia
Language: English

This issue of Mercury magazine, dated December 6, 1980, focuses on UFO reports from 1978 and 1979, with a brief mention of a radar incident in 1980. The publication is from The Australian Centre for UFO Studies (TUFOIC).

Detailed Reports

ANOTHER 1978 REPORT

This section details a case from Rokeby, Australia, occurring around 1 a.m. on December 28th, 1978. A wife and daughter observed a large, very white light in the north-west, described as moon-like in size, moving slowly south at a high elevation. Over approximately 20 minutes, the light moved west of their house and then halted to their south. The witnesses went outside and observed the object rotating in an anti-clockwise motion, with a distinct bright side and a dark side. The bright side was intense enough to illuminate the ground, trees, hill, and house. The object was estimated to be about 1 km distant and made no noise. The witnesses returned inside when the object reversed its path, moving south before disappearing rapidly north at high speed. The witnesses had no prior interest in UFOs and kept the case secret until contacting the Centre in 1980.

Second Light and Beam

A sighting from September 1979, occurring near Forcett at 4 a.m., involved a witness travelling to work. The witness noticed two white lights to the east, moving slowly across his field of vision. As he travelled about 3 km, the lights crossed the road ahead, estimated to be 50 to 100 meters away and about 200 meters up. The witness observed that the paddocks and trees below were illuminated by a wide area of light, about 100 meters in radius. As the lights passed over the road, the interior of his vehicle was lit up as if passing under a bright street light for about 10 seconds.

LANDING AT HUONVILLE (from Page 5.)

This report describes an encounter at Huonville. A witness, referred to as 'R.', observed an object sitting in a paddock about 25 meters from his fence. The night was cold but moonlit, and dogs were growling and barking. R. described the object as boomerang-like in shape, with a diffused light grey color. Its estimated length was 10 meters, and it was about 2 meters deep. The object had four windows, each 60x60 cm, with a dull light visible inside, though nothing could be seen through them. The top of the object was flat, and R. could not see beneath it. Due to the cold, R. returned inside to watch from a back room, fearing the object might disappear if he left. After about 2 hours, R. fell asleep and upon waking in the morning, found nothing in the paddock. There were no traces or marks left where the object had been seen. R. reported being laughed at the next day, but his dog's reaction confirmed his experience. The Centre had no other reports from the Huon area at that time, though the following month saw a 'rash of cases' including the Valentich incident.

SIMILARITIES IN 1979 REPORTS...

This section highlights similarities between UFO sightings reported to the Australian Centre for UFO Studies.

• Lawitta Case (February 5th, 1979): A witness experienced memory loss after their vehicle seemed to be halted by an intense white light that enveloped the car.
• Bruce Highway Case (February 9th, 1979): A motorist near Innisfail and Mission Beach (Queensland) saw a white light on the road edge. As he approached, the light rose vertically, and about 10 meters away, a blinding flash occurred. Upon regaining sight, the car's headlights and engine had stopped functioning. The engine started normally after he coasted to a stop.
• Bribie Island to Brisbane Case (May 6th, 1979): Four witnesses in a car reported bright orange lights ahead that illuminated the car's interior and caused the motor to chug. The group of lights then left the ground and disappeared.

PUBLICATIONS

Information is provided on obtaining back copies of Annual Reports (1978, 1979, 1980) for 60¢ each, and The Tasmanian UFO Landings Catalogue for $2.00, which lists landings and low-level reports from the Centre's files (excluding the 1981 Annual Report).

TAS. UFO INVESTIGATION CENTRE

Details are provided for the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC), founded in 1965. Its address is Box 99, P.O. N.Hobart, Tasmania, 7002. Contact numbers are provided for sightings (44 4041) and Investigations Co-Ordinator (23 6009 evenings). TUFOIC's aims include conducting investigations into Tasmanian sightings, collecting and disseminating evidence, and cooperating with similar research organizations. Membership is open to those who support the Centre's aims. Information on membership and meetings can be obtained from the Secretary.

PRINTED IN TASMANIA

This section notes that the publication was printed by INSTA/PRINT PTY. LTD., located at Collins Court Arcade, 132 Collins St., Hobart, 7000.

TUFOIC SUBSCRIPTION RATES

• Subscription rates for TUFOIC are listed:
• Tasmania: Full member $4.00, Student/Pensioner $3.00, Publications only $2.00.
• Australia: Publications only $2.00.
• Overseas: Publications surface mail $2.50, Air mail $3.50.

APPLICATION TO JOIN TUFOIC

Instructions are given for applying to join TUFOIC, including remittance details for full membership ($4.00, or $3.00 for Students/Pensioners) and publications only ($2.00 for two newsletters and Annual Report). A form is provided for name and address details.

UFOs tracked

This brief report from December 6, 1980, states that air traffic controllers at Perth airport tracked unidentified flying objects on radar for several hours. They also made two or three visual sightings between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. The objects, described as silver tumbling discs, were tracked on radar from over 8,000 meters up to more than 20,000 meters. No aircraft or weather balloons were in the area to explain the sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents witness testimonies of UFO sightings, focusing on detailed descriptions of the objects, their behavior, and the circumstances of the encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of UFO phenomena, as evidenced by the existence and aims of TUFOIC. The publication aims to collect and disseminate evidence, suggesting a belief in the importance of the subject matter. The inclusion of similarities between cases and the listing of publications and subscription rates indicate an effort to engage and inform a dedicated readership interested in UFO research.