TUFOIC Newsletter - No 078 - July 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: TUFOIC NEWSLETTER
Issue: Edition 78
Date: July 1996
Publisher: TUFOIC (Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre)
Country: AUSTRALIA
Language: English

This issue of the TUFOIC Newsletter focuses heavily on a surge of unexplained sightings in Tasmania, dubbed "The Flap We Had To Have?", and also covers significant UFO activity in Gosford, New South Wales. It includes a detailed list of reported sightings, updates on the TUFOIC committee, and reviews of UFO-related media.

Tasmanian Sightings: The Flap We Had To Have?

The lead article highlights a dramatic increase in unidentified cases in Tasmania, with numbers potentially reaching over 30 in the twelve months since August 1995. Many sightings occurred outside the Southern area, in the North of the state, which has a wider reporting area. The article notes that callers outside the 002 area faced difficulties and high costs when trying to report sightings, with one witness paying $32 for a call that did not assist the investigation. The cost of providing entry in local directories was also a barrier.

Witnesses have contacted local media and TUFOIC directly, with some reports being second-hand. Initial reports in 1995 were concentrated in the South, with three cases near Warrane and a fourth in early 1996. More recent sightings have come from country districts like the Derwent Valley, Lake Sorell, and the Tamar Valley area in 1996. TUFOIC investigators have made efforts to visit witnesses in Hobart and Launceston, and used telephone contact for those in country locations where visits were not feasible due to work and family commitments.

The delay in the newsletter was attributed to covering the numerous cases for the 1996 Annual Report. The Launceston Examiner's coverage of sightings encouraged more public reports. An item about the Mc Auley family cases also drew direct calls. Some sightings were controversial, with one suggestion that they were caused by paper templates carried by hot air devices, which were indeed reported from Launceston as orange lights. The Tamar Valley cases often involved bright white lights in a cylinder shape, sometimes surrounded by a cloud, which would disappear suddenly. One contact claimed to be from the Defence Department, prompted to call after seeing the Centre's number in a local newspaper.

Another call was allegedly from Richmond Air Force base seeking contact numbers to pass on public UFO sightings. The newsletter notes increased activity elsewhere in Australia, with reports from Gosford, New South Wales, and orange lights over Melbourne suburbs. However, Victorian groups are reportedly divided on whether these were hoaxes or genuine UFO cases.

TUFOIC has posted a list of its sightings on Paranet for Australian researchers but has not yet received a response.

Committee News

TUFOIC president Ron Jolly has stepped down due to ill health after 17 years of service. Three new members have joined the executive committee: Matt Whayman, Michael Whayman, and Ray Thomas. The executive committee structure is outlined, including roles for President, Secretary, Investigations Co-ordinator, Liaison Officer, and Librarian. Members are encouraged to take an active role and participate in the upcoming Bi-annual executive committee meeting to review administration and appoint a new President.

UFO Movies On The Way

Independence Day: This blockbuster film is described as having stunning visual effects, with a plot about invading aliens and global destruction. It stars Bill Pullman and Brent Spinner and was set for an Australian release in late August 1996.

The Arrival: Reviewed as a B-grade flick, it features invading aliens and a theme of 'strangers among us'. Charlie Sheen plays a Radio Astronomer who investigates alien signals, leading him to an alien HQ in Mexico. It was showing in Hobart at the time.

Skywatch

This section provides astronomical observations for August 1996. Jupiter is described as high in the evening sky, large and bright white. Venus is visible in the morning sky, about 20 degrees above the N.E. horizon. Saturn rises late in the evening and climbs to about 45 degrees due north by 4 AM. Comet Hale-Bopp is noted as becoming visible in binoculars, not yet naked-eye visible, and is located near Jupiter.

The OZ Files: The Australian UFO Story

This book by Bill Chalker is recommended as a factual account of Australian UFO sightings, described as the Australian version of 'The X Files' without the science fiction. It was released on August 1st, 1996, published by Duffy and Snellgrove, priced at $16.95, and has 246 pages. It is distributed by Tower Books.

Summary of Reported Sightings

A detailed table lists numerous UFO sightings reported in Tasmania between November 1995 and June 1996. The entries include date, time, type (NL - Normal Light, CE1 - Close Encounter 1, DD - Daylight Disc), location, and a brief description of the sighting. Locations mentioned include Exton, Bothwell, Fentonbury, Kingston, Claremont, Lake Sorell, Warrane, Windermere, Swan Point, Gagebrook, East Tamar Hwy, Robigana, Kettering, Roseberry, Carlton Beach, Kayena, Forest Vale, Evandale, Red Hills, Cornwall, Blumont, Hadspen-Prospect, Flinders Hwy, and Beauty Point. The descriptions vary from lights and objects of different shapes (silver light drops, bright round object, lights crossing sky, rectangle shape, flashing white light, pole-shaped object, silvery shape, gold cigar, orange light, blue ball, white lights, cone-shaped object, pink saucer, silver cigar, round light, cylinder shape) to associated phenomena like humming sounds, effects on TV, and rapid movements.

Gosford: Australia's Gulf Breeze

This article by Moira Mc Ghee details a significant UFO event in Gosford, New South Wales, between late 1995 and early 1996. Following Christmas 1995, residents reported loud sonic hums, vibrating furniture, and bright lights. On December 30th, 1995, motorists reported a strange craft hovering over the local freeway, with one car being paced for several kilometres. Similar reports came from Penrith on December 31st. Witnesses described large saucer-type craft, 20 to 30 metres in diameter, hovering over Brisbane Waters. When police or car headlights approached, the craft would disappear, only to reappear elsewhere. Residents reported humming sounds and bright lights illuminating the water.

TUFOIC appealed for witnesses, leading to an influx of reports, including five minutes of video footage. A meeting was held at the local RSL Club on February 24th, attracting over 300 people. Reports included sightings, contacts, abductions, and even a stranded alien. Two accounts of saucer-type objects from 1945, predating the Kenneth Arnold sightings, were of particular interest. A retired farmer reported his car being lifted off the road by a saucer. The article mentions INUFOR's efforts to trace a witness who allegedly drove under a car being lifted by a UFO. It also touches upon sacred sites in the area with harmonic values and correspondence with contactees.

The volume of information from Gosford is substantial, prompting plans for a book titled "THE GOSFORD FILES" to detail the reports. INUFOR is investigating each report, and a researcher has offered to loan the printing costs if a commercial publisher cannot be found. INUFOR Digest readers will be offered copies of the book at a minimal price.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the increase in reported UFO sightings in Australia, particularly Tasmania and Gosford, and the challenges faced by UFO investigation groups like TUFOIC and INUFOR in collecting and disseminating information. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and documentation of these phenomena, encouraging public participation and sharing of data among researchers. There is a clear effort to provide factual accounts, review relevant media, and keep the public informed about UFO-related activities and research.