TUFOIC Newsletter - No 085 - January 1999

Magazine Overview

This issue of the "Tasmanian UFO Report" for 1999, published by The Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre (TUFOIC), focuses on UFO sightings and investigations primarily from the year 1998. The cover prominently features the title, the year 1999, a map of Tasmania highlighting King Island, a portrait of Stanton Friedman, and graphics indicating the TUFOIC Internet Web Site and a Free Call HOTLINE.

TUFOIC Executive Committee and Mission Statement

The publication details the TUFOIC Executive Committee for 1999, listing Chairpersons Keith Roberts and Paul Jackson, along with other key roles such as Investigations Coordinator/Secretary, Liaison Officer/Treasurer/Internet Site, Library, Committee members, and the Editorial team. It also provides contact information for State Area Representatives across Tasmania.

Meeting dates for 1999 are announced, with meetings open to members, friends, and the general public, held at the Moonah Community Centre. The Mission Statement of TUFOIC emphasizes its commitment to investigating UFO reports scientifically and objectively, drawing no conclusions other than the existence of an unexplained phenomenon requiring extensive research.

TUFOIC aims to investigate Tasmanian UFO reports, collect general UFO phenomena information, and distribute authentic findings through publications, newsletters, and the internet. The organization maintains contact with fellow groups in Australia and overseas.

Membership and Publications

Membership in TUFOIC is open to all who support its aims and have a serious interest in UFO phenomena. Information and sample newsletters can be obtained by writing or emailing the Membership secretary. The publication clarifies that the views expressed are not necessarily those of the Executive Committee or its members. It also states that other UFO organizations may quote items provided TUFOIC is fully credited, with written permission required otherwise.

The "Tasmanian UFO Report" is published and printed by TUFOIC, with contact details including a P.O. Box in South Hobart, Tasmania, an email address ([email protected]), and an Internet Site (http://www.netspace.net.au/~tufoic). TUFOIC was founded in 1965.

1998 In Review: Sightings and Statistics

The "1998 In Review" section highlights that the year was remembered for 'Phone Wars' and the importance of telephone contact for UFO sightings. A 24-hour Australia-wide UFO line has been established, with UFO groups participating to receive calls from their respective states. The Centre acknowledges that reported sightings are likely only the 'tip of the iceberg', illustrated by a lecture from Stanton Friedman where many audience members indicated they had had UFO experiences but had not reported them.

Tasmanian Statistics for 1998 are presented, showing a total of 153 reports, with 23 classified as 'Unidentified'. The majority of sightings in 1998 were described as 'lights in the sky', with a concentration in the Granton to New Norfolk area. Astronomical causes were suggested for a proportion of cases due to favorable viewing conditions. The King Island 'hoax balloons' of October generated significant media attention.

The TUFOIC Internet Web site is noted as a valuable tool for disseminating information, particularly during the King Island investigations.

The UFO Australian Research Network

A National UFO sighting reports Freecall Telephone Hotline number (1800 77 22 88) has been established, supported by over 50 investigators across Australia. This service aims to provide an immediate and comprehensive response to UFO sighting reports from the public. All reports from Tasmania will be passed on to TUFOIC for investigation. This free service is intended to assist Australian UFO Researchers in gathering and investigating sighting reports.

Tasmanian Sightings - Case Studies

The magazine details several specific sightings from 1998:

• January 8, 1998 (Burnie): A puzzling bright light, described as 2-3 times the size and brightness of Venus, was observed in the north-east sky, appearing elongated and pulsating.
• January 18 & 25, 1998 (Tunnack): Two similar reports described bright lights moving from the north-west, one appearing as a bright ball that leveled off, separated into two, with the front one flashing red before disappearing.
• February 8, 1998 (Midway Point & Bell Bay): Two reports on the same day. The first involved a bright red, ball-sized light moving erratically over a road at low altitude. The second described a large white cylindrical shape with smaller objects moving around it, which then moved south and disappeared.
• May 10, 1998 (Bellerive): A bright yellow-glowing light was observed moving west and obscured by clouds.
• May 1998 (New Norfolk to Hobart): May was the most active month. A sighting at New Norfolk involved lights in the sky and a smaller red light moving about a garden. Another report described a central red flashing light with blue lights, and a ball-sized light moving erratically. Later, two Lauderdale witnesses saw a star-like light that changed colours. On May 18th, three family members near New Norfolk observed a half-moon sized oval pale light. On May 21st, witnesses in Kingston and Blackmans Bay reported a large pink light. On May 28th, a bright shimmering star was seen over the Snowy Range.
• June 1998 (Devonport & Launceston): Two sightings from the north. A video from Devonport showed two white lights crossing the northern sky. A Launceston sighting described a thin silver-grey horizontal cigar shape.
• June - July 1998 (Granton to New Norfolk): Several sightings along the Lyell Highway. One involved a bright white ball changing into a circle of light with red and blue flashing lights. Another described four large and three small red lights arranged horizontally. A third event involved three flickering lights in a dome area. A follow-up sighting described a steady red with yellow light moving up and down.
• September - October 1998 (King Island): Reports of a bright orange light, described as 'garbage bag balloons', attracted media attention. These sightings occurred primarily in the Currie area.
• September 25, 1998 (Tasman Peninsula): A bright orange light, oval to rectangular, moved slowly south-south-east and faded.
• September 30, 1998 (Kingston Beach): A family saw a bright white bullet-shaped object moving rapidly, changing shape and direction.
• December 2, 1998 (Eaglehawk Neck): A bright white stationary light was observed in the northern sky, passing over high elevation and moving south-east.
• October 3, 1998 (King Island): Three large red flashing lights in a triangle formation with a white light were observed moving around an area.

Australia UFO Reports 1998

A comprehensive table lists UFO reports from various Australian states in 1998, detailing the date, time, type of sighting, location, notes on the object's appearance and behavior, and the source of the report. This section provides a statistical overview of reported incidents across the country.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Recurring themes in this issue include the persistent nature of UFO sightings, the challenges in obtaining definitive explanations, the role of media in publicizing events (e.g., King Island), and the efforts of organizations like TUFOIC to systematically collect and analyze data. The editorial stance, as indicated by the mission statement and the handling of reports, is one of objective investigation, acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena without jumping to premature conclusions. The Centre's approach involves attempting to find conventional explanations (like aircraft) first, but when these are not found, the cases are considered for further investigation. The increasing use of the internet and national hotlines for reporting and disseminating information is also a notable theme.

Title: UFO ROUNDUP
Issue: Vol 3 No 43
Date: October 26, 1998.
Editor: Joseph Trainor

This issue of UFO Roundup focuses on recent UFO sightings reported across different countries, including the UK, Chile, and Canada, with a particular emphasis on events from late 1998 and early 1999. The magazine also includes information on TUFOIC membership and publications.

UFO STARTLES MOTORISTS IN STAFFORDSHIRE, UK

On Friday, October 16, 1998, at 9 p.m., a glowing UFO was observed by several drivers on the A34 motorway in Congleton, Staffordshire, UK. Theresa Hewitt described it as a grey cloud moving in the sky, resembling a school of fish and being quite bright. She initially mistook it for a cloud lit by laser lights but noted the absence of any local nightclubs or events. Bill Edey from Scholar Green also witnessed the phenomenon near Little Moreton Hall, describing approximately 25 lights in a perfect spherical shape above his car. The lights appeared to follow him until he reached Congleton. Edey, a self-proclaimed rational man, considered it might be an aircraft but found its slow speed and spinning lights unusual, causing him to nearly crash his car. The newspaper 'The Sentinel' of Stoke-on-Trent reported on this event on October 19, 1998. The article thanks Gerry Lovell of Far Shores for providing the newspaper clipping.

NEW UFO SIGHTING STARTLES THOUSANDS IN CHILE

On Monday, September 28, 1998, between 9 and 10 p.m., a large, ring-shaped UFO was sighted by numerous people throughout Chile, from the Chilean Antarctic to the northern border with Peru. According to the newspaper 'La Tercera,' the UFO caused excitement and was described as a 'ring of smoke.' The Chilean Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DCA) reported no official sightings and no unusual radar activity. Ufologist Patricio Diaz interviewed witnesses in La Serena, a city north of the capital, Santiago de Chile. Diaz reported that people described the object as big, blue, gas-cloud-like, and ring-shaped, moving north at a slow speed, and appearing to be the size of a full moon. In Ovalle, south of La Serena, hundreds of people, including local journalists, witnessed the object during a local fiesta. The witnesses were so startled that they reportedly forgot to take photographs. The incident is under investigation by Chile's new Committee for the Study of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena (CEFAA), a coalition that includes the Chilean armed forces, the DCA, and the Agrupacion de Investigaciones Ovniologicas (AION), a prominent UFO study group.

UFO SIGHTINGS REPORTED IN ONTARIO, CANADA

Throughout March 1999, the province of Ontario, Canada, experienced numerous UFO reports, particularly around Sudbury and Elliot Lake. On Wednesday, March 14, 1999, a motorist near Elliot Lake (population 14,089) reported seeing a cone-shaped object moving west to east across the sky. The object had a squared-off front end and appeared white as a cloud, with no visible vapor trail. On Friday, March 12, 1999, a boy in Sudbury (population 92,884) observed a triangular object in the night sky with three colored lights (one red, two white) and a fourth smaller red light in the center that moved circularly. He described the craft as being about the size of an aspirin held at arm's length. On Saturday, March 13, 1999, a resident of Garson, Ont., saw a large, round object moving slowly northwest, described as lime green and oval-shaped, about the size of a garbage can cover at 15 feet. It blinked four times before disappearing. On Monday, March 15, 1999, two men ice-fishing on Dunlop Lake reported seeing a glare moving across the sky, describing it as a "silver bullet-type thing" much larger than a plane. It flew above the trees about three to four miles away before disappearing. Both the top and lower halves reflected sunlight, but the middle section appeared blurry. On Saturday, March 20, 1999, two women driving east on Highway 17 near Sault Sainte Marie saw what they initially thought was a bright star descend at tremendous speed. As the large ball of light flew past their car, sparks shot off from end to end. The object then stopped and hovered above the road. On Monday, March 29, 1999, the same Sudbury boy who reported the March 12 sighting informed MUFON that he saw a similar object racing across the southern sky. These reports were provided by MUFON Ontario, Sudbury Section, and Errol Bruce-Knapp.

TUFOIC MEMBERSHIP AND PUBLICATIONS

The magazine also includes details about TUFOIC (The UFO Information Centre) membership, which is open to those seriously interested in the UFO subject. Subscription rates are provided for within Australia and for other countries, with options for full membership, publications only, students, and pensioners. Payment methods include money orders or bank cheques for Australian members and Australian currency or international money orders for overseas members. A list of TUFOIC publications is also presented, including catalogues of UFO sightings in Tasmania (TASCAT 1998, Tasmanian UFO Landings Catalogue), specific case documents (Cressy Document, Maatsuyker Island Document, North-East Tasmania 1974 Document), and annual report magazines from 1985-1998. Prices include return postage via surface mail, with an additional charge for overseas air mail.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the reporting of recent and diverse UFO sightings from around the globe. The magazine presents eyewitness accounts without explicit endorsement but provides details of the sightings, locations, dates, and witness descriptions. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and disseminating information about UFO phenomena, encouraging further investigation as evidenced by the mention of the CEFAA's investigation in Chile and the collection of reports by MUFON. The inclusion of membership and publication details for TUFOIC suggests an aim to engage readers and provide resources for those interested in the subject.