TUFOIC Newsletter - No 057 - 1989

Magazine Overview

Title: TASMANIAN UFO REPORT 1989
Issue: 57
Volume: 1989
Publication Date: 1989
Publisher: T.U.F.O.I.C. (Tasmanian Unidentified Flying Objects Investigation Centre)
Country: Australia
Language: English
ISSN: 0158-0590

Executive and Committee

The T.U.F.O.I.C. Executive for 1989 included Ron Jolly as President, Paul Jackson as Secretary/Liaison, and Keith Roberts as Head of Investigation/Files. Janine Hunt served as a Committee Member. The organization also had Area Representatives in Launceston (Don MacSween), St. Marys (Colin Fletcher), and Swansea (Jenny Lyne).

Meetings and Correspondence

Meetings for 1989 were scheduled to be held on Thursdays, starting at 7:30 PM, with specific dates mentioned for March 2nd, June 1st (date and venue to be advised), and September 7th. Meetings were held at the Derwent Regional Library in Glenorchy. All correspondence was to be directed to T.U.F.O.I.C., P.O. Box 99, North Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 7002. Telephone numbers for sightings were 23 6009 or 25 4054 (area code 002).

Organization Details and Aims

T.U.F.O.I.C. was founded in 1965 and is a member organization of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies. Its primary aims are to conduct investigations into Tasmanian sightings, collect and disseminate evidence and data related to the UFO phenomena, and cooperate with organizations engaged in similar research. Membership is open to all who support these aims. Further information could be obtained from the secretary or by attending meetings.

Statistics and Investigations 1988

The report provides a statistical overview of unidentified reports from 1965 to 1987, showing a fluctuating number of yearly reports and unidentifieds. For 1988, T.U.F.O.I.C. conducted a total of 107 investigations. These were categorized as: Unidentified (18), Insufficient Information/Investigating (8), Astronomical (47), Aircraft (12), Satellites (12), and Others (10).

1988 in Review

The past year was described as busy for the Centre, with a steady flow of sightings, queries, and membership enquiries. The group had settled into a new meeting location at the Derwent Regional Library. Media coverage varied, with the Nullabor incident receiving significant attention, while local cases were also mentioned. The report notes that the media often attributed UFO sightings to 'burn ups in the atmosphere,' despite advice to the contrary. The Centre's objective is to record and disseminate Tasmanian UFO sightings, with publications filed at the State Library and UFO cases on a TASCAT Computer file. Sightings are also forwarded to the Australian Centre for UFO Studies. The Centre acknowledges that finding definitive answers is beyond their capabilities but aims to show that sightings are worldwide and follow patterns.

The Nullabor incident of January 20th, 1988, was a major story, with the Centre investigating a sighting and vehicle buffeting experience from a Burnie man. A lights and effects report from a Tasmanian yacht off the NSW coast on the same night was also noted. The Nullabor was again in the news in October with another sighting. The report critiques expert explanations, noting they often stick to their own fields (e.g., meteorologists for dry lightning, astronomers for rising sun effects). The work of UFO investigators is described as a long-term task to provide reports months later.

The report mentions a lack of active UFO groups in Western Australia and notes that UFO research in South Australia was being re-activated. VUFORS operates in Victoria, and ACUFOS is based in NSW. The Centre hopes for more information on UFO reports from elsewhere in Australia in the coming year.

Sightings 1988

Publicity from the Nullabor sightings led to an increase in reports for the Centre. Several cases remained unexplained.

• January 26th, Gray, Tasmania: A witness reported an oval mass of orange light rising from behind a hill, estimated to be as large as a football field and stationary for some time before fading west. No sound was heard.
• January 28th/29th, Hobart: UFO reports were received by radio stations, but witnesses failed to leave identification. Publicity in the press brought reports from other locations, but the original callers did not contact the Centre.
• January 29th, Geeveston, Tasmania: An architect reported an oval shape that blotted out stars, which vanished within seconds. The sky was clear, and a full moon was present.
• January 31st, Cygnet, Tasmania: Two witnesses saw steady orange lights, one above the other with a smaller light behind, moving south. The lights were described as an oval mass of light moving together.
• February 3rd, Kingston, Tasmania: A couple saw a round ball of orange/flame coloured light that changed to a bright white starlike light and traveled east in about 10 seconds.
• March 5th, Huon Valley, Tasmania: Three lights (red, green, white) were seen moving up a valley. The white light remained stationary before disappearing.
• March 20th, Youngtown, Tasmania: A retired manager and his wife saw two lights that appeared to be an aircraft, with one circling the other. The Department of Aviation stated no other aircraft were involved.

More Sightings

• March 20th, Launceston Area: A retired manager and his wife reported lights that appeared to be an aircraft, with one circling the other. The Department of Aviation confirmed no other aircraft were involved.
• Car Looses Power (mid-1987, Derwent Valley): An ambulance lost power when a glowing shape was sighted near the road.
• March 23rd, Tamar Valley, Tasmania: A car lost power and the radio went dead after a bright light was seen. A beam of light shone through trees, illuminating the roadside bush, with four yellow square lights above. The lights covered an area about the size of a full moon.
• November 8th, Bridport, Tasmania: A medium pitched sound was heard for five hours, followed by a yellowish beam of light that lit up the area between the witness and the windows. Digital clocks stopped at 3:05 AM. An ammonia smell was present.
• November 9th, Nunamara, Tasmania: A mother and daughter saw a bright crystal coloured light dropping from the sky at high speed. It took up a position on the passenger side of their car, appearing as a round half moon shape with an orange glow, moving along with them.

Last Report

• November 25th, Bruny Island, Tasmania: Mr. H and his wife observed two large dim orange lights, with a brilliant white light in the center. A 'rocket' like light then came from the lights and appeared to travel straight at them, passing through gum trees without impact. The lights were stationary at an estimated 200m away, going out when a car approached and returning when the car left.

Drake Miners Duck a Colourful UFO

This section, sourced from 'The Northern Star' on August 27, 1988, reports on an incident involving gold mine manager Lee Rossetti and construction company manager Mike Goethel. On Thursday night, they observed an unidentified flying object near Casino. The object appeared as a whitish-yellow stationary light at about 1000 feet above the town. It then changed shape and color to aqua-green and shot up to between 2000 and 3000 feet, heading west-south-west towards Tenterfield. Mr. Rossetti's chief geologist also reported seeing a bright light in the direction of Casino that night.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of the Tasmanian UFO Report are the detailed accounts of various UFO sightings across Tasmania in 1988, with a focus on unexplained lights, vehicle interference, and unusual phenomena. The report emphasizes the investigative work of T.U.F.O.I.C., highlighting their efforts to collect data, provide explanations, and maintain a record of sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent investigation and reporting, acknowledging the limitations in definitively explaining all phenomena while aiming to present factual accounts and statistics. There is a clear effort to distinguish between genuine sightings and misidentifications, particularly concerning media reporting. The publication also serves as a platform for members and the public to report their experiences and seek information.

This issue of "Australian Sightings" from 1987/88, published by Australasian POST, focuses on the sensational UFO encounter reported by the Knowles family on the Nullarbor Plain. The cover headline, "Riddle of the alien dust," highlights the central theme: the scientific investigation into physical evidence left behind by a UFO.

The Knowles Family Encounter

The main article details the claims of the Knowles family – Faye, Sean, Patrick, and Wayne – who reported a UFO landing on their Ford Telstar car on January 20, 1988, while driving from Western Australia to Melbourne. They described the object as a large, bright, glowing "orange-colored, egg shaped light" that picked up their car, shook it, and slammed it to the ground, showering it with ash before flying away. Sean reported driving at 200kmh to escape the object. The family also claimed to have experienced a "time loss" of approximately four hours.

Scientific Investigation and 'Alien Dust'

Scientists from Melbourne's Monash University analyzed particles isolated from the Knowles' car, which were believed to be left by the UFO. These particles, primarily potassium chloride, were found to be "unusual" under an electron microscope. John Auchettl, a former pilot and investigator for the Victorian UFO Research Society, explained that the particles were "velocity particles" rather than normal crystal formations, indicating they were expelled at high velocity. This physical evidence was considered groundbreaking, being the first time physical evidence of a UFO encounter had been isolated globally.

Victorian UFO Research Society's Role

The Victorian UFO Research Society, described as the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, conducted a comprehensive investigation into the Knowles incident. The society, which focuses on the "nuts and bolts" of UFO sightings through computer analysis of photos and films, weather maps, and satellite data, found the Knowles family's account to be credible. John Auchettl, who led the investigation, emphasized the society's rigorous approach, aiming to distinguish real encounters from hoaxes. He stated that independent medical and psychiatric examinations of the family revealed no radiation effects, though Mrs. Knowles' hand still swelled at night. Under hypnosis, the family's story remained consistent, and Auchettl concluded they were not sophisticated enough to fabricate such a complex lie and maintain it under duress.

Corroborating Evidence and Scepticism

Auchettl noted that weather and satellite data for January 20, 1988, showed no atmospheric conditions that could explain the event. He also cited the testimony of a truck driver who reported being followed by an object in the same area prior to the Knowles' encounter. The investigation also considered the possibility of a second UFO, described by Sean Knowles as resembling a car and caravan, which may have been on the road at the time. The society addressed sceptics by conducting tests that confirmed the car's speedometer could register 200kmh if the wheels were off the ground, as might happen if the car was lifted.

TUFOIC and UFO Publications

The issue also includes information about TUFOIC (Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre), a civilian organization dedicated to investigating UFO reports scientifically and objectively. TUFOIC forwards authentic reports to ACUFOS for further research and maintains contact with other UFO groups globally. The page lists subscription rates for TUFOIC publications, including catalogues of Tasmanian UFO cases, documents on specific sightings, and magazines. Prices for various publications, such as the "Tasmanian U.F.O. Computer Catalogue - TASCAT 1988" and "UFO Tasmania Magazines: 1978 to 1988," are provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the importance of scientific investigation and physical evidence in understanding UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as represented by the work of the Victorian UFO Research Society and TUFOIC, is one of open-minded inquiry, rigorous research, and a commitment to separating credible reports from hoaxes. The article emphasizes that this particular case is significant because it involved more than just a "light in the sky" – it left behind tangible evidence.