TASMANIAN U.F.O. INVESTIGATION CENTRE OCTOBER 1981 NEWSLETTER

Magazine Overview

This document is the October 1981 Newsletter (No. 34) from the TASMANIAN U.F.O. INVESTIGATION CENTRE. It serves as a correspondence update, providing information on recent UFO sightings, investigations, and summaries from other UFO research organizations. The newsletter is primarily text-based, with no visible images on the scanned pages.

Investigations and Sightings

The newsletter begins by noting a decline in reported sightings compared to the previous year. In May, there had been an increase, but by October, calls to the Centre had fallen away. As of the report, only 4 unexplained cases had been received, compared to 8 in 1980, with the expectation that this figure would not change significantly before the year's end. The newsletter speculates that the prominence of Venus in the evening sky, which in earlier years would have led to more calls, had not resulted in an increase, contrary to predictions by UFO debunkers that increased media attention would lead to more sighting flaps. The extreme opposite seemed to have occurred.

Four specific unexplained cases are listed:

• February 9th (late pm to early am): NE of Flinders Island. NL (Nocturnal Lights).
• February 21st (02:00): Mt. Nelson. Six nocturnal lights.
• February 20th (20:00): Campbelltown. A ball over a roadside paddock.
• April 11th (20:00): Partridge Island. A light moving over the hills.

The year's investigations up to late September stood at 51, which was similar to the previous year's total of 52 at the same stage.

ACUFOS Yearly Summary 1980

The newsletter includes a summary from the Australian Centre for UFO Studies (ACUFOS) in Gosford, N.S.W., noting a global decrease in UFO reports for 1980. ACUFOS provided a variety of interesting events, summarizing 26 reports. These were classified under Hynek's system, including 13 nocturnal lights, 4 CE1 (Close Encounter of the First Kind), 2 CE2 (Close Encounter of the Second Kind), 1 radar visual, 3 identified cases, 1 photograph, 1 trace, and one daylight dot. Interested parties were directed to send a stamped addressed envelope to ACUFOS for publications.

A specific case highlighted by ACUFOS involved a large section of a tall pine tree at Stirling, Australia, reportedly demolished by a mystery craft. UFO Research (Sth Aust) investigated and found that the damage had a natural cause: a branch had broken off a weak knothole, bringing others down. The object was believed to be a misconception of dust and debris from the collapsing branches, with no evidence of a crash.

Two other cases from the ACUFOS summary defied explanation:

• Murray Upper: Investigated by UFO (FNQ). On December 3rd at 19:00 hours, Mr. G. Peel was a passenger in a vehicle heading north when he sighted a strange light to the left and rear. The driver also saw it. The car's engine died, the radio stopped working, and the lights flickered but did not go out. After 5-6 seconds, the radio made a noise described as static with morse code beeping, which continued until the object left. The object reportedly hovered over the car for about 30 minutes before moving off and then taking off away from the car. The two individuals did not exit the vehicle.
• Perth: Investigated by ACUFOS and Jeff Bell. On December 4th at 08:38 am, the Perth Airport Control tower reported watching a glinting object for 15 minutes. A matching radar paint was observed at 097 degrees, 6 nautical miles away, tracking at 150 degrees at 120 knots, but the target was lost. A witness reported seeing 4 discs tumbling overhead at 12:30 pm. The tower and radar observed 4 objects. Finally, at 1:20 pm, a radar return was detected, and the tower sighted the object high above one of the runways.

Meetings and Events

The newsletter includes a notice for the next meeting on Friday, October 9th, at 8 pm at the BP Theatrette, CML Building (3rd floor), corner of Liverpool and Argyle Sts. The meeting was to feature highlights from a tape received from New Zealand concerning the AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL during the famous New Zealand lights affair. A postscript noted that a tick on the line indicated that the subscription was due.

The Tinamba Circles

This section, credited to the Australian UFO Bulletin Journal of the Vic UFO Research Society, details an event in Tinamba, Gippsland. On April 4th, 1981, Mr. H. Gallatly's son observed a flashing red light about 800 yards from his house, flying at fence height. This light had been observed by other neighbours over the past 12 months. The red light switched off, replaced by a brilliant white light that sped off northerly.

On April 16th, Mr. Gallatly discovered three complete burnt rings, 17 ft in diameter, on his property, connected and forming a triangle. VUFORS arrived on April 21st, took soil samples, and found a white chalk-like substance scattered in the burnt areas. The sheep in the paddock had broken out in panic, and one sheep was missing. A horse was also visibly distressed and could not be caught for a few days.

Tinamba is located 8 km from the "White Acres" property at Rosedale, the site of a significant landing and trace event on September 30th, 1980. George Blackwell visited the Tinamba farm with VUFORS and mentioned seeing a similar red light at White Acres weeks prior. VUFORS then investigated a spot at White Acres and found another burnt circle.

Millthorpe Encounter

Credited to "Central Western" Orange, N.S.W. (6/4/81) and VUFORS, this section reports on an incident involving three Millthorpe youths who claimed to have been terrorized by a UFO while spotlight shooting between Panuara and Cadia. One youth fired a rifle at the object, and they heard the bullet ricochet off its side. The object was described as silver and dome-shaped. Chris Harvey and Dean Mitchell (year 12 students) and Kelvin Parker (Shire Council employee) reported the incident to the police.

The group was terrified when the object moved towards them and shone a huge white spotlight on them before speeding away. They attempted to chase it but lost it due to its speed.

Mr. Harvey reported that around 5:45 am, as daylight was breaking, he noticed what he thought was a big star. When they reached Wire Gully, they saw the object hovering in a paddock about 200-250 yards from the road. Mr. Harvey estimated it was about two car lengths long and one car wide. Using his rifle's telescopic sight, he observed it was a silver dome with a red light, two green lights, and several smaller white lights that could have been windows. These lights were suspended on bars from the dome's side. As they watched, the object moved upwards and hovered about 15-20 feet before moving across their path.

When the three got out of the car, Mr. Harvey said the object was about 50 feet off the ground and moving towards them when he fired. The object then moved back and upwards, coming towards them again and shining a spotlight two to three feet across on them. Mr. Harvey stated, "I was scared stiff and thought we were finished." The object then suddenly moved away at an increasing speed. The group followed it for about five miles down Cadia Road but lost sight of it.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this newsletter are the reporting and investigation of UFO sightings and related phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent record-keeping and investigation, presenting factual accounts of reported events, even those that are later explained by natural causes. The centre acknowledges the work of other UFO organizations like ACUFOS and VUFORS, indicating a collaborative approach within the UFO research community. There is a clear focus on unexplained cases, trace evidence (like the Tinamba circles), and close encounters, while also maintaining a critical eye by including cases that were debunked. The overall tone is informative and factual, aiming to keep members updated on the latest developments in UFOlogy within Tasmania and Australia.