TUFOIC Newsletter - No 088 - 2000

Magazine Overview

Title: TUFOIC Newsletter
Issue Date: September 2000 (Edition 88)
Publisher: Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre
Country: Australia

This issue of the TUFOIC Newsletter provides a review of UFO sightings and related phenomena in Tasmania during the year 2000, alongside organizational updates and publication information.

The Year to Date

The lead article, "The Year to Date," summarizes recent media attention on alleged UFO sightings in Launceston and Hobart, noting that many reports had mundane explanations. The author suggests a media guideline that prioritizes multiple witnesses over a single credible one. Specific incidents discussed include:

• Red lights over Launceston (May): Attributed to the release of balloons with lights attached, a phenomenon repeated on the night of the full moon eclipse (July 16th).
• Orange light from Tasman Peninsula: Described as a large orange light with flames, also suspected to be a 'balloon hoax'.
• Lights on clouds in Granton (July 10th): Initially attributed by police to a laser from the Antarctic Centre, this was later identified as a skytracker searchlight from St Virgils School's new performance centre, visible from 100 km away.

New Executive

The newsletter announces changes to the TUFOIC Executive due to personal commitments. Long-time member Paul Jackson has resigned but will remain involved in assisting with astronomical and satellite data. Several members have stepped up to fill executive positions:

• President: Bill Kelly
• Network Liason: Robert Andrews
• Membership: Gunther Bissells
• Publication Distribution: Alis Jacob
• Librarian: Ray Thomas
• Liaison Officer: Donna Hartley
• Secretary/Treasurer/Investigat-ions Coordinator: Keith Roberts

Recent Reports

This section details several UFO sighting investigations conducted by the Centre, acknowledging that delays in receiving reports sometimes limit full investigation. Cases include:

• January 1st, 2am, The Basin (Launceston): Witnesses saw a white flare descend, becoming an orange, blue, and white light formation in a triangle, about 1m in size, floating through trees. The disappearance method was not observed.
• January 10th, 10/11pm, Lauderdale: A very bright white light was observed over Frederick Henry Bay, captured on video. After fading, five lights appeared in the same location before fading out. The video is to be shown at the March meeting.
• January 13th, 11:15am, Nierinna: A witness saw an object the size of a small plane over the hills, described as two grey-white elliptic shapes moving horizontally, connected by a thin black line.
• January 15th, 11:45pm, West Kentish: A line of five green light panels, rectangular in shape, were seen high on a mountainside, with a smaller group of lights to the left, estimated to be about 30m long. An inspection the next day found nothing to explain the lights.
• February 18th, 12:30am, Park Beach: A witness saw a large, moon-sized orange light moving rapidly across the sky, reversing direction multiple times before disappearing.
• May 15th, 9pm, Forth: A motorist saw what appeared to be a falling star behind a hill, followed by a glow and the light returning across the sky. This pattern repeated, with the light moving south or north.
• May 25th, 1:45pm, Lutana: Two bright lights were seen in the sky, one higher than the other. The higher light zig-zagged to join the lower one, and they moved together south-east, increasing speed and elevation before vanishing.
• June 21st, 6:40pm, Blackmans Bay: Two occupants of a motor vehicle saw a glowing gold round object, about one cent sized at arm's length, with irregular shaded panels, moving low and slow.
• June 24th, 2:05am, Granton: Two bright white lights were seen side by side, which lowered and appeared as a rectangular shape with square windows or panels.
• July 1st, 11am, Claremont: A witness saw a bright light or line moving SW to NE at high elevation. Two more lines appeared, with a fourth line following at a faster speed. The lights were visible for over five minutes.

TUFOIC Meetings

Meetings are now held at the Glenorchy Library, Terry Street, Glenorchy, starting at 7:30 PM.

New Publication

Details were provided about the 'Mysterious Melodale affair,' a series of paranormal events mostly occurring between 1982 and 1997, involving strange dark shapes, poltergeist events, noises, and animal reactions. A photograph of the house involved reportedly shows the outline of a face in a window. TUFOIC hopes to publish a completed investigation of these events in the future.

TUFOIC Publications

The newsletter lists several publications available for purchase:

• Tasmanian U.F.O. Sightings Catalogue - TASCAT 2000: $3.00
• Tasmanian UFO Landings Catalogue - Third Edition: $3.00
• Cressy Document: $3.00
• Maatsuyker Island Document: $3.00
• North-East Tasmania - 1974 Document: $3.00
• Tasmanian UFO Report Magazines: 1985 to 1999 (15 issue set): $12.00
• Single editions of magazines: $1.00 each

Prices are in Australian currency and include return postage (surface mail). Overseas air mail rates are available on request. Payment can be made via money order or bank cheque.

Membership Subscriptions

Subscription options are detailed:

• Tasmanian Membership + Ufologist Magazine: $24.00
• All other Australian States: $25.00
• Membership Only (Includes Irregular TUFOIC Newsletters): $8.00
• All Other Countries: Air mail $US 30.00, Surface mail $US 24.00 (includes Membership + Ufologist Magazine).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in this issue is the ongoing investigation and documentation of UFO sightings in Tasmania. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical analysis, seeking rational explanations for phenomena while still acknowledging and recording unexplained events. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of thorough investigation and the dissemination of findings through publications and meetings. The newsletter also highlights the challenges of media reporting on UFOs, suggesting a bias against credible lone witnesses.