TUFOIC Newsletter - No 079 - October 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: TUFOIC Newsletter
Issue: Edition 79
Date: October 1996
Publisher: TUFOIC (Tasmanian Unidentified Flying Object Investigation Centre)
Country: Australia

This issue of the TUFOIC Newsletter focuses on the resurgence of UFO activity, particularly in Tasmania and across Australia, dubbed the 'Northern Flap'. It details recent sightings, ongoing investigations, and broader UFO-related news, including international reports and a peculiar phenomenon known as 'cosmic slime'.

The UFO Scene

The newsletter opens by noting the increased public exposure to the UFO phenomena through sightings, films, TV shows, radio interviews, and press coverage. Despite skeptics' expectations, the number of calls has not overwhelmed the Centre. The flap of reports earlier in the year preceded much of the media coverage. The Centre's consistent approach has led to responsible articles in the Tasmanian press, with a specific mention of the Hobart Mercury's coverage of a Midland Highway sighting on June 10th, which included a factual story and a diagram.

Reports from around Gosford and Northern New South Wales indicate a significant increase in sightings. The newsletter mentions TV and Women's Magazine coverage of an abduction near Casino, noting this was one of many incidents in the area not widely reported. INUFOR has been investigating reports in the Gosford area from late 1995, holding public meetings that attracted large audiences, with a book titled "The Gosford Files" planned.

Two conferences were scheduled to be held by the time of publication: one in Brisbane by UFO Research QLD, and another by Queensland's MUFON representative, Rev. Glennys Mackay. Feedback from these events is anticipated.

Broader UFO activity across the country is highlighted, with information from Keith Basterfield's "Australian UFO Reports" and other newsletters indicating an increase, especially in New South Wales, where a large-scale flap has occurred. Sightings have also been reported from Canada, USA, and England, prompting questions about increased accessibility of information.

Strange happenings in Brazil are also noted, specifically near Varginha, where UFO reports were followed by alleged sightings of aliens in a city park. The area was reportedly sealed off, and live and dead aliens were allegedly captured by the militia. However, the Brazilian military denied these events, while Varginha residents formed a research group.

Locally, the Centre welcomes new executive members Matt and Mike Whayman, with Matt handling liaison matters and Mike investigating recent sightings. Ray Thomas has taken on the task of cataloging the TUFOIC library's extensive collection of books and publications.

Recent Reports

This section details several recent UFO sightings that the Centre has been following up:

• June 11th, 20:30, Bell Bay: A single witness reported a dull grey domed top object low over buildings, with lights beneath, as it curved towards the witness's location.
• July 20th, 21:00, Hobart Airport: A trainee pilot reported a bright white light that seemed to follow the aircraft, observed by ground witnesses.
• August 23rd, 20:30, Campbell Town: Two witnesses saw a silver/grey cigar shape low to the west of the road. It crossed the road and positioned itself over paddocks east of the highway before they drove past.
• September 10th, 22:30, Devonport to Launceston: A witness reported a traffic green light that appeared ahead, then disappeared behind trees, reappeared, and moved to the south and north of the highway.
• September 18th, 23:25, Burnie: A witness saw a set of five large bright orange lights over the sea alongside the highway. The lights were brief, appeared low and close, and were gone when the witness looked back.
• September 24th, 22:15, Burnie: Following an item in the Burnie Advocate, a witness reported an erratic light. While searching for satellites, a flashing orange/yellow light was seen low to the south. It shot up to a 60-degree elevation, fell back, and then shot off to the north-west.

The section also includes a tribute to the late TUFOIC president, Ronald Francis Jolly, who passed away on November 9th, 1996, after serving the organization for 17 years, including as President from 1981.

Northern Flap

This article details the significant increase in UFO sightings in Tasmania during 1996, comparable to the UFO Age of the 1970s. The sightings peaked in May/June in the Tamar Valley, with reports tailing off afterward. Notable cases include sightings at Swan Point and daylight cylinder sightings culminating in the Midland Highway event on June 10th.

• May 22nd, 3:30 pm, West Tamar Highway: A motorist reported an upright vapor-like trail that changed into an upright bronze-colored cigar shape and disappeared.
• May 24th, before 7 am, West Launceston: A witness saw a strange pink saucer-shaped cloud that suddenly moved east over distant hills.
• Mrs W's sighting: Travelling from Hadspen to Launceston, Mrs W and her husband saw a silvery cylindrical object on the Bass Highway, long with no wings or tail fin, which disappeared.
• May 29th, 1 pm, Launceston: A vertical misty type cloud was seen, forming into an upright cylinder with a long hole, which disappeared briefly.
• June 10th, 2 pm, Midland Highway: A major report covered by the Hobart Mercury described a bright white horseshoe shape that changed to a solid bright cylinder. The object accelerated towards the car, then moved away to the east. A photograph was taken but was blurry.

Other News

• UFO Afrinews No 13, February 1996 (South Africa): An 11-year-old boy and his family reported a stationary cloud-like object that moved north against the prevailing wind near Merweville.
• UFO Buzzes Beach in Northern New Zealand: On August 10th, 1996, a glowing green UFO appeared over a beach near Wainui Beach, Gisbourne. Witnesses described it as a meteorite streak that reappeared and flew in a zigzag pattern before dropping toward low hills.

Skywatch

This section provides astronomical information:

• Jupiter: Dominating the night sky, visible about 30 degrees high in the west after sunset, and will disappear into twilight by the end of December.
• Comet Hale-Bopp: Expected to reappear in the Southern Hemisphere in May next year, potentially as spectacular as Comet Hyakutake.
• Saturn: Visible about 50 degrees up in the northern sky after sunset, appearing as a yellowish color with a steady light.
• Mars: Rises in the eastern sky around 2:30 AM, but does not get high above the horizon before morning twilight.

Stop Press

TUFOIC received numerous calls in early November, many explained as fireballs, but some are under investigation. The Centre also received reports of "Slime" found on properties in Kempton, George Town, Launceston, and Penguin. A sample from Kempton was obtained for analysis, partly to address media interest. The BBC and various newspapers and radio stations have shown interest in the slime reports, seemingly more than in genuine UFO reports.

TUFOIC on the Internet

The newsletter announces TUFOIC's new homepage on the World Wide Web, with the URL http://server.netspace.net.au/~tufoic/. The site contains the TUFOIC Newsletter, news updates (including 'Slime' reports), membership information, publications, and links to other UFO sites. The site is under development and aims to detail all good Tasmanian sightings.

Snails go Cosmic

This article by Simon Bevilacqua discusses the "cosmic slime" found in Tasmania. The state's UFO investigation unit sent samples for laboratory analysis. Results indicated one sample was mollusc eggs, and others were a jelly-like substance found in potting mix or fertilizer. Keith Roberts, a TUFOIC spokesman, stated that the mollusc egg sample sparked many slime reports. Ross Dowe of the UFO Information Hotline suggested the slime might be man-made and deposited by a storm, with analysis results expected before Christmas. A national UFO report body is still awaiting its slime analysis.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The TUFOIC Newsletter consistently reports on UFO sightings and related phenomena, emphasizing investigation and factual reporting. The organization appears to maintain a neutral stance, presenting information and encouraging public participation while also seeking rational explanations for reported events, as seen in the 'Snails go Cosmic' article. There is a clear effort to document and archive UFO-related data, as evidenced by the library cataloging and the development of their website. The newsletter also highlights the challenges of public perception and media interest, which can sometimes focus on sensational aspects like 'slime' over more traditional UFO reports.