TUFOIC Newsletter - No 043 - October 1984

Magazine Overview

This is the second newsletter for 1984 from the TUFOIC (Tasmanian U.F.O. Investigation Centre), issue number 43, dated October 1984. The magazine focuses on UFO sightings and investigations within Australia, with a particular emphasis on events in Tasmania. The cover headline highlights the 'Greens Beach UFO mystifies experts' case.

Year to Date UFO Activity in Australia

The newsletter reports a relatively quiet period for UFO activity in Australia in 1984, with few reports to investigate. The 'Re-entry' case on September 15th generated a number of telephone calls, but otherwise, the center had only one puzzling case from Greens Beach on July 15th. The Department of Aviation has become involved, providing details of the Greens Beach case, as the RAAF is now only interested in cases with defense or security implications.

Western Australia

Early in the year, Western Australia was the scene for several reports. A possible CE2 (Close Encounter of the Second Kind) was reported at Midland on January 20th. The same suburb saw a report of a youth attacked by 'ugly beings' while sleeping in a tent. A car pace report came from Hammersley, and a mist-swathed oval object was seen hovering over the roadhouse at Turkey Creek.

Queensland

Several reports of nocturnal lights were investigated in Queensland, mainly in March.

Victoria

By May, the focus shifted to Victoria, with a possible CE2 case mentioned in the WAUFOIC Newsletter. This occurred at Sebastopol on May 17th, where a car radio in a security van acted up when a green ball was seen above the vehicle. Other Sebastopol reports exist, but more information is needed.

South Australia

June saw reports of erratic lights near Hurray Bridge and a CE2 case at Hahndorf. In the Hahndorf case, freeway lights and a witness's car engine were possibly affected by a white light seen in the sky. July brought more dubious events in the Adelaide Hills, with general claims of UFO sightings and reports of animal mutilation and possible landing traces.

Tasmania and NSW

Tasmania had little activity in 1984, and NSW did not seem to feature prominently. The newsletter notes the difficulty in tracking UFO activity across Australia due to a lack of accessible detailed information from each state.

Specific Case: Greens Beach Sighting

The Greens Beach sighting occurred on July 15th and was reported to the center via an Unusual Aerial Sighting Form from the Department of Aviation. Initial checks ruled out aircraft and Army maneuvers. The object was described as a strange cloud moving into the southeasterly wind, slowing to a near standstill. It was later described as a large, dull, cigar-shaped object, at times becoming almost stationary, with the cloud swirling around it. The witnesses had the impression the cloud was a disguise. The object was estimated to be 5+ km away and was visible for about 10 minutes before disappearing behind hills. Other Tasmanian sightings from Palmerston, Hamilton, Collins Cap, and Mayfield in the 1960s and 1970s are mentioned, involving cigar-like objects with cloud/smoke, or discs swathed in mist.

Specific Case: 'A Media Flap' (September 15th Sighting)

On September 15th, the center received numerous calls about a brilliant light seen crossing the western sky. Initially, Hobart's Police Control Room reported sightings of a light for up to 15 minutes, later corrected to 15 seconds. Witnesses described a brilliant light with a long tail, seen low in the sky, heading south or southeast. The explanation given was a large meteorite or space junk burning up in the atmosphere over South Western Tasmania. The media coverage, however, focused on UFOs, and the center had to actively push its explanation. Radio interviews were conducted, and membership inquiries were received.

Vehicle Interference Cases

The newsletter includes an update on a November 1983 report from the West Coast of Tasmania, where a motorist claimed to have lost control of his car under a blue circle of intense lights. The event lasted 11 minutes and covered 30km of windy road. The witness's wife later provided more details, describing a brilliant light and a supersonic humming sound. Similarities are drawn to an August 20th, 1979 incident on the Murchison Highway, where a green light behind a car caused it to lose power, with the car clock and witness's watch stopping. International cases from Peoria, Illinois (1966) and Anapolis, Brazil (1971), as well as a case from Zimbabwe (1974), are cited, all involving vehicles losing control under unusual aerial phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter reflects a consistent focus on UFO investigations, particularly within Australia. TUFOIC aims to gather and analyze reports, often collaborating with government bodies like the Department of Aviation. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent investigation and a desire to provide rational explanations, as seen in the 'media flap' event. There's an underlying theme of the challenges in UFO research, including the difficulty in obtaining comprehensive data and the media's tendency to sensationalize sightings. The publication also highlights the importance of public reporting and the role of citizen investigators.