TUFOIC Newsletter - No 095 - February 2004

Magazine Overview

Title: TUFOIC NEWSLETTER
Issue: February 2004 Edition 95'
Publisher: TUFOIC
Country: Australia
Language: English

This issue of the TUFOIC Newsletter provides a comprehensive review of UFO activities and investigations in Tasmania during the year 2003, coinciding with the organization's 40th year of operation. It details specific sightings, discusses the Centre's operational status, and lists available publications.

Year in Review 2003

The editorial reflects on the 40 years of the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre, questioning whether the original aims have been achieved. The Centre's purpose was to investigate and record Tasmanian UFO sightings, a goal they believe has been met through publications, special reports, and the Tascat database. The review notes that while UFO visitations were prominent in the 1960s and 70s, sightings have decreased significantly in the 1980s and 90s, and currently, the phenomena seems to have faded. The article observes a shift in how UFO stories are reported, with the local press receiving fewer reports and the internet becoming a primary source for cases. Recent local events mentioned are space-debris burn-ups or meteors, with many night-time events now being captured on video.

TUFOIC Publications

• The newsletter lists several publications available from TUFOIC:
• TASMANIAN U.F.O. SIGHTINGS CATALOGUE TASCAT 2000: A register of over 500 Tasmanian UFO Cases ($3.00).
• TASMANIAN UFO LANDINGS CATALOGUE - Fourth Edition (2000): A compilation of UFOs seen on or near ground level ($3.00).
• CRESSY DOCUMENT: Details one of the state's most significant UFO Sightings ($3.00).
• MAATSUYKER ISLAND DOCUMENT: Covers UFO reports from the lonely lighthouse island ($3.00).
• NORTH-EAST TASMANIA - 1974 DOCUMENT: Details the largest Tasmanian UFO flap in the North-East of the state in 1974 ($3.00).
• UFO TASMANIA Magazines: The TUFOIC Annual Report Magazine, with single editions available at $1.00.
• MYSTERIOUS MELODALE: Covers strange paranormal events over several years ($3.00).

All prices include return postage for surface mail within Australia. Overseas Air Mail rates are available on request. Payment can be made via Money Order or Bank cheque in Australia, or International Money Order or Bank cheque from overseas.

Witness Accounts and Sightings in 2003

The newsletter details several specific UFO sightings from 2003:

• Lynchford: Reports describe a loud humming noise, followed by the discovery of flattened areas of grass with indentations and swirled patterns. A subsequent sighting involved a bright light moving in a rectangular pattern, with a red light detaching and returning. The incident also included a car stopping, watches stopping, a family kitten dying, and dogs becoming unusually docile. Police attributed the car issue to an electrical fault, and an autopsy on the cat revealed no anomalies.
• Swansea (March 3, 4.50pm): Two witnesses fishing observed a bright silver spherical object, about the size of a full moon, moving silently over the water. It was described as having a dark shadow on its trailing side and disappeared in the northern sky, with one witness reporting it went down then up before disappearing.
• Tunbridge (March 31, 9.15pm): A lone motorist saw two bright white flashing lights to the north-east of the highway. As he slowed down, the lights merged into one and streaked downwards like a shooting star, then reappeared near the roadside before being obscured by rising ground.
• Powranna (June 27, 5.45am): A witness driving north on the Midland Highway noticed a bright blue light following his vehicle, approximately 100-150m behind. Despite slowing down, the light maintained its position and disappeared when the witness approached an intersection.
• Copping (September 22, 11.00pm): A witness observed a glowing yellow to white box-shaped object with a flowing line of light around its perimeter, stationary above a hill. The object then departed upwards rapidly, disappearing in seconds.
• Bell Bay (November 28, 2.15pm): A witness saw a silver metallic cigar-shaped object moving southward over the Tamar River. After about 10 seconds, it angled up into the sky and shot off instantly.

TUFOIC Operations and Statistics

The Centre received a number of videos in 2003, but many lights recorded appeared to have astronomical sources. Sightings were generally few and far between, with unexplained lights at a fairly low level. A report of a blue light approaching a vehicle was noted as the first of its type in over five years. Calls to the Centre saw a small rise, with astronomical and satellite explanations accounting for over 60% of investigations. Hoax calls were also noted.

Membership has declined significantly, prompting consideration for a re-structure of operations, which might include an in-house newsletter, meetings, or a network of investigators. Meetings were held bi-monthly in 2003.

The TUFOIC contact details are provided: P.O. Box 174, South Hobart, Tasmania, 7004. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.geocities.com/tufoic. Telephone: 03 62236009. The Executive includes President Janis Burns, Secretary Keith Roberts, Liason Hanna Jenkins, and Librarian Ray Thomas.

• TUFOIC TASMANIAN STATS 2003:
• Unidentified: 5
• Astronomical: 36
• Aircraft: 4
• Satellites: 13
• Ground Lights: 4
• Others/Investigating: 12
• Total Reports: 74

What Caused the Lynchford Nests?

This section briefly touches upon the Lynchford incident from May 28th, 1971, when the area was an abandoned halt. The incident involved noises and a possible UFO landing, which made headlines in Tasmanian newspapers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the ongoing investigation of UFO phenomena in Tasmania, with a focus on documenting and analyzing sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent record-keeping and investigation, acknowledging the historical significance of UFO activity in the region while noting a decline in recent years. There is a concern about the declining membership and the need for the organization to adapt. The newsletter emphasizes the importance of collecting and distributing authentic information, and it highlights the shift towards online reporting and investigation methods.