UFO Research Australia Newsletter vol 8 no 1

Magazine Overview

This document is the June 1991 issue (Volume 8, Number 1) of the "UFO RESEARCH AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER". It is published by UFO RESEARCH AUSTRALIA and carries the ISSN 0726-1764. The cover prominently displays the title and publication details.

Introduction

The introduction notes that 1990 saw a continuation of relatively low UFO report numbers in Australia compared to the early seventies, though with some contrasts. Keith Roberts of the Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre reported a significant decrease in calls, while Phillip Frola of UFO Research Queensland experienced a 'bumper year' with over 100 reports. A notable trend highlighted is the increasing number of abduction cases being investigated, with some details published in the UFORA Research Digest.

Cases from the Network

The newsletter then details numerous cases reported through the UFORA network:

UFORA89036: Lifelong Adelaide SA CE4 Level A S5/P4 This case involves 'Carol', who has a lifelong history of abduction experiences dating back to 1968 when she was 6. She reported seeing a large silver, cigar-shaped object with her class. In 1972, she experienced a night-time encounter involving a 'big white cat' which turned out to be a non-human male figure. She described floating up to a hovering 'star' which resolved into a large object with a hole, after which she experienced missing time. Upon regaining consciousness, she was in a room with entities, describing one as small (4-5 feet tall) with a white glowing body, big head, pointed chin, yellow eyes, and skinny body. Another being, closer to her, was yellow-bodied with a big head and dark-black, almond-shaped eyes. She also recalled recurring nightmares from age 10 to 16 about a 4-foot tall dwarf with a grey body. In 1978, she and a friend experienced a brilliant white light outside a shack near Robe, South Australia, leading to missing time. Carol also has a history of paranormal episodes including poltergeists, out-of-body experiences, telepathy, apparitions, and clairvoyance. She is described as having excellent imagery skills and being highly absorbed in activities. Carol is married, 27, with a son. Her sister also had a dream involving yellow-skinned men. The report notes Carol is an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse and has been in therapy. American psychologist Rima Laibow mentioned child abuse and abductees in the May/June 1989 issue of IUR. Budd Hopkins' book 'Intruders' is referenced regarding strange pregnancies in abductees. Carol experienced an unusual pregnancy in 1988 with symptoms similar to her son's, but it vanished after two days of an unusual period. The phenomena are reported to continue.

UFORA90001: 11 Dec 1989 Off Mandurah WA (1200-1300) hrs Med Level C S4/P4 Barry Watkins and three other men observed an unusual object travelling westwards over the sea. It was white, dome-shaped with a flat bottom, and moved horizontally without noise, despite a strong south-westerly wind. The duration was 1-2 minutes.

UFORA90002: 9 Dec 1989 Longford TAS Low Level B S1/P4 Danny Cassidy saw an object over Longford described as an upside-down T shape with two lights at the bottom. He took a photograph, which, when processed, revealed a bright, oval-shaped white spot, possibly Venus.

UFORA90003: Dec 1989 Speed VIC CE2 Level A S3/P4 An article in the Melbourne "Truth" reported unusual circles in a wheat crop. Keith Basterfield received details from the property owner. Brian Finch and Austin Grace found two swirled circles, about 3m in diameter, surrounded by smaller circles. The wheat was flattened anti-clockwise, with undamaged stalks. Related incidents included lights in the sky and a drained water tank (Nov 1987), an unusual noise (Dec 1988), and a pulsating yellow light over a paddock with a high-pitched noise (Aug 1989). Bill Chalker confirmed the story, noting five circles in total. VUFORS inspected the site, finding more circles. Bill Chalker's conclusion was: "Interesting UFO activity, traces may not be relevant. There is no evidence to date directly linking them to UFO explanation."

UFORA90008: 1980 onwards Adelaide and elsewhere SA CE4 Level A S4/P4 A woman reported lifelong occurrences including nocturnal lights, telepathic communications, precognitive visions, a peak experience, a near-death OBE, sleep paralysis, and unexplained forehead marks.

UFORA90009: 12 Jan 1990 Queenstown SA 2213hrs Low Level C S1/P4 A bright orange light with a grey/white trail was observed in the northern sky, interpreted as a meteor.

UFORA90011: 25 Jan 1990 Adelaide SA Low Level C S1/P4 Seventeen calls were received, including one from the police, about lights circling near/above clouds, possibly laser lights from a fireworks display.

UFORA90013: 6 Jul 1980 Alice Springs NT Sunset Med Level C S2/P4 Mr JC Disken and family observed a brilliant light in the west, appearing as two huge inverted saucers joined rim to rim, illuminated and stationary. It seemed to rotate, then tilted and disappeared at incredible speed, leaving a white vapour trail.

UFORA90014: 14 Oct 1989 Geelong VIC 2000hrs Low Level C S3/P4 A faint pink light, high in the south-western sky, was observed zig-zagging.

UFORA90015: 11 Nov 1989 Geelong VIC 2130hrs Low Level C S3/P4 Two people observed a "huge glowing ball of light" with no sound, lasting 10 minutes.

UFORA90016: 20 Jan 1990 Quobba WA 2230hrs Low Level C S3/P4 Ben Patrick saw a golden coloured point source sized "flare" dropping towards the sea, then rising and moving side to side, flashing red/green/gold/white, before becoming dull red and disappearing.

UFORA90017: 25 Dec 1988 Quairading WA 2100hrs Med Level C S3/P4 A 12-year-old girl described an orange disc, about Moon-sized, moving at high speed across the sky to the north, with no noise.

UFORA90018: NSW CE4? A complex account of continuing encounters, possible close encounter, time loss, and other experiences.

UFORA90019: QB90002 1 Jan 1990 Malanda QLD 2050hrs Med Level A S4/P5 A couple saw a red oval light approach, stop, and then a smaller white light appeared above it. Both moved as one unit and departed rapidly. Two other independent groups also viewed the object.

UFORA90020: 14 Jan 1990 Central QLD Night Low Level B S3/P4 Residents reported seeing "bright lights falling our of the sky". A police officer was woken by a bright green light that lit up the sky and disappeared within 4 seconds.

UFORA90021: 17 Feb 1990 Canberra ACT 0515hrs Low Level A S1/P5 Mr Zoran Ivanisevic filmed an unusual, soundless object that was bright white with a red light. Investigations concluded the film was almost certainly of the planet Venus, with the defocussed telephoto lens creating a similar image.

UFORA90022: 1987 Kellerberin WA 2300hrs Med Level C S3/P4 A man observed a circular, silver object with pulsating red, orange, blue, and green lights hovering in the western sky. The car radio crackled, and after 15 minutes, the object moved off rapidly.

UFORA90023: QA89016 29 Apr 1989 Deception Bay QLD 1830hrs Med Level? SP? Two people witnessed a transparent cylindrical object with a red glow on the bottom, travelling towards the Samford Valley area.

UFORA90024: QA89017 Ca 18 Jul 1990 Esk QLD (1930-2000) hrs CE1 Level? SP? Two people in a mobile home experienced all lights going out. A light was seen moving erratically, and neighbours' lights also faded. The investigator suggested this could be an abduction case.

UFORA90025: TA90007 14 Feb 1990 Magra TAS 1045hrs Med Level B S3/P4 A white round shape was seen, which then appeared disc-like, wobbled, and zig-zagged before stopping and gaining elevation. No commercial aircraft were present.

UFORA90026: 9 Sep 1989 Zanthus WA 2100hrs Low Level B S1/P4 A westbound passenger train crew reported unusual smoke blacking out windows and causing the driver to cough. The report suggests it was a bright meteor.

UFORA90027: Dec 1989 Mt Newman WA Evening Med Level B S3/P4 Two people observed a star-shaped light, which later appeared as a bright light with two orange lights on either side. The ute seemed 'drained' and 'going rough'. A third person later joined them.

UFORA90028: 1987? Mt Newman WA Night Med Level B S3/P4 Two people saw a blood-red object that rose, showed a semi-crescent shape, split, and then approached them. They sped away, and the object crossed the road in front of them before speeding off.

UFORA90045: Lifelong Adelaide SA CE4 Level A S5/P4 This is a complex abduction report detailing a 31-year-old woman's lifelong interaction with alien entities since age 6. Encounters include unusual lights, abduction by entities and a ball of light, a 'classical' abduction with medical examination, being led through a white tunnel into a 'craft', and visits by entities. She reported 'implants' in her upper gums, confirmed by a dentist. Investigations are ongoing.

UFORA90046: Lifelong CE4 Level B S5/P4 A 29-year-old woman recalls experiences from age 3, including small entities examining her mother. At age 19, she recalls being taken from her bed to a 'spaceship' with no onboard memory.

UFORA90047: Ca 1982 CE4 Level B S5/P4 An Australian woman in her late 40s recounts being on a spaceship during sleep, encountering human-like entities and other abductees. She was pregnant and the entities stated they did not touch pregnant women. She was shown how her baby would look, which was accurate, and then toured the ship.

UFORA90048: Lifelong CE4? Level B S5/P4 A woman in Sydney has had repeated recollections of a "dream" involving "little people" near her, occurring from childhood to about 6-8 months prior to the report.

UFORA90049: 1978/Auckland NZ & 1981/Greece CE4 S5/P4 A man recalls two instances of "missing time": waking up naked outside his locked house in Auckland in 1978, and waking up on a beach in Skopelos in 1981, covered in orange dust.

UFORA90050: 28 Mar 1990 Ferryden Park SA Night Low Level A S1/P4 A man noticed an unusual bright light on a video tape of a laser display. Investigation suggested it was likely a street light.

UFORA90059: 28 Apr 1990 Elizabeth Grove SA 0528hrs Low Level C S2/P4 Three blue oscillating lights were seen travelling south, accompanied by a whirring sound like a "washing machine".

UFORA90065: 27 May 1990 Truro SA 0030hrs Low Level C S4/P3 A light reportedly "buzzed" a car, causing the car radio to fail. A red light was seen in a paddock.

UFORA90057: TA90016 Autumn 1974 Dysart TAS Med Level B S3/P3 A witness and her grandmother were awoken by a large round greenish light, about 600-800m distant, with a low humming noise. It lit up nearby trees before moving up into the sky and disappearing.

UFORA90058: TA90017 8 Apr 1990 Midway Point TAS Med Level A S3/P4 A driver observed a bright light moving towards the train, described as a pencil-shaped light with a white 'smoke' trail, then a line of 6 white lights. It was silent. The 'smoke' hung in the air for about twenty minutes. The report suggests it was a bright meteor.

UFORA90066: Various dates SA & TAS CE4 Level A S5/P4 A male reporter recalls a series of episodes from 1973-1987, including poltergeist-like events, bedroom paralysis, and feeling something pushed into his arm, resulting in bleeding.

UFORA90067: QB90001 8 Jan 1990 Lochart River QLD 1700hrs Low Level B S1/P5 A bright light, described as a "star" and like a "wine decanter", was observed for over 2 hours.

UFORA90068: QB90004 1972 Boogan QLD 1800hrs Low Level B S3/P4 A man saw a small silver object that became a brilliant white light, and another bigger light higher in the sky. The smaller light moved around, appearing to enter the larger object.

UFORA90069: QB90005 1979 Silwood QLD 0100hrs Low Level B S3/P4 An investigation revealed that a reported "enormous craft, shaped like a saucer...sucking the water up from the creek..." was actually a big bright white slow-moving light.

UFORA90070: QB90006 July 1964 Near Yorkey's Knob QLD Ca. 1730hrs Med Level B S4/P4 A shiny silver object, estimated 18m in diameter and resting on legs, was observed down the side of a mountain.

UFORA90071: QB90007 Various dates Glen Allyn QLD Low Level B S3/P4 A man, his wife, and son reported sightings of orange lights that moved and blinked.

UFORA90072: QB90008 1987-88 Far North QLD CE4 Level A S5/P3 A male reporter recounts visions, a UFO incident, and possible "contacts" with "aliens", including entities appearing in his flat and a recent "rash" he attributes to something placed in his neck.

UFORA90073: QB90009 July 1987 Between Camawheel and Mt Isa QLD 2130hrs Med Level C S4/P4 Two men on motorcycles observed a round, yellow light, 1.5m in diameter with flickering edges, travelling quickly across the road.

UFORA90074: QA90014 14 Feb 1990 Kallangur QLD 1145hrs CE4? Level A S4/P4 A female nurse experienced missing time (20-25 minutes) and a sudden change in direction while driving, followed by severe nausea and throbbing head pain. She later experienced gynaecological problems.

UFORA90075: QA90034 25 Apr 1990 Coondoo QLD 0200hrs Low Level A S4/P4 A woman was awoken by agitated animals and saw a bright light moving through trees, with blinking yellow lights and shafts of blue light. A loss of time may have occurred.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are abduction experiences, particularly those with lifelong implications and alleged medical examinations, and a variety of UFO/UAP sightings across Australia. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent investigation and documentation of these phenomena, presenting detailed case reports from various sources and networks. There is a focus on gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and providing tentative conclusions, often acknowledging the need for further research. The publication serves as a record of UFO-related activity and research within Australia.

This document is the 1990 issue of the UFORA Research Digest, a publication focused on UFO phenomena, sightings, and related research, primarily within Australia. It details numerous individual sighting reports, research updates, and reviews of relevant literature.

Key UFO Sightings and Incidents

The digest presents a chronological and geographically diverse collection of UFO reports from various Australian states, including Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and New South Wales. These reports span from 1967 to 1990, with a significant concentration in 1990.

Notable sightings include:

• 1985-09-11, Sunnybank, QLD: A witness reported an extremely bright light that moved erratically for an hour and emitted a loud sound.
• 1990-05-10, North Beach, WA: An unusual 'vapour' trail, white in colour, was observed moving from north-west to east.
• 1989-11-08, Coolum, QLD: A bright, crystal-shaped object was seen over the sea, affecting a dog.
• 1990-06-26, Apslawn, TAS: A jet-black saucer-shaped object with a distinctive window and a motor-like noise was sighted.
• 1990-07-28, Thornsland, QLD: A white object with flashing multi-coloured lights, described as saucer-shaped with a dome, was observed.
• 1990-10-28, Jamestown, SA: A crop circle was discovered, later revealed to be a man-made hoax.
• 1990-06-03, Sandfly, TAS: A bright oval object was seen moving with a light in a paddock below it.
• 1988-01, Palm Beach, QLD: A witness reported a dream-like encounter involving faces at a window.
• 1990-04-15, Townsville, QLD: Peter Pasini observed a cigar-shaped object with pulsating lights.
• 1967-04, Maroochydore, QLD: Multiple witnesses saw a stationary 'spaceship' disgorging smaller objects.

Many reports detail the object's shape (oval, saucer, spherical, triangular, cigar-shaped), colour (bright, golden, orange-red, white, red, green, yellow, blue-purple), size estimates, behaviour (hovering, moving at speed, stationary, disappearing), and sometimes associated sounds or effects on witnesses (nausea, sore eyes).

UFORA Research Activities

The digest outlines UFORA's research efforts and organizational developments during 1990:

• Abduction Research: UFORA is cataloguing Australian abduction cases for publication in 1991. They are collaborating with psychologists and investigating cases using hypnosis. Several individuals have indicated willingness to join research efforts.
• Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act: Keith Basterfield utilized FOI legislation to obtain over 100 pages of UFO sighting reports made to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) between 1984-1989. The RAAF's policy shifted in 1984 to only investigate cases with national security implications.
• Archives Search: A request was made to the Australian Government Archives for Department of Defence files relating to UFOs. Access was granted to RAAF policy files from July 1953-1959, including the 1954 Turner report and papers on the 1959 Gill sighting.
• Network Expansion: The UFORA Network expanded its reach in 1990, with associates now present in all Australian states.
• Circles Research: UFORA disseminated media releases regarding crop circles, noting a lack of findings in Australia compared to the UK and Canada.
• Classification System: In March 1990, UFORA adopted a new system for describing and weighting reports, aligning with international standards.
• Journal of UFO Studies: A review article on Australian ufology by Keith, Vlad, and Pony was published in the CUFOS Journal of UFO Studies.
• Electronic Mail: UFORA established an electronic mail system for direct communication among its network members, facilitating data exchange and news updates. This system is linked to the US-based PARANET service, enabling broader communication with researchers.

Book Reviews

The issue includes a list of books reviewed in the UFORA Research Digest in 1990, covering topics such as UFO encyclopedias, earthlight theory, mind monsters, crop circles, and specific sighting cases like the Gulf Breeze sightings.

Specific Case Details and Investigations

• Jamestown Crop Circle Hoax: The report on the Jamestown crop circle details its discovery, dimensions, and location in a wheat paddock. It was later revealed to be a hoax created by rolling a drum. The report notes that Jamestown was also the site of a previous high-strangeness encounter and potential abduction.
• Balaklava Circular Mark: An update on UFORA89043 describes a farmer finding a circular hole in the ground. Soil samples were analyzed, and while no UFO connection was initially established, Ray Brooke speculated it could be caused by frozen toilet waste from an aircraft.
• RAAF Reports: The FOI request to the RAAF yielded over 100 pages of reports, with the RAAF stating in 1984 that it would only investigate cases with national security implications.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the documentation of numerous UFO sightings across Australia, the ongoing research into abduction phenomena, and the organizational efforts of UFORA to collect, analyze, and disseminate information. The publication maintains a stance of serious investigation into UFO reports, utilizing scientific methods, FOI requests, and collaborative research. There is an emphasis on distinguishing between genuine phenomena and hoaxes, as seen with the Jamestown crop circle case. The use of electronic communication and network expansion highlights UFORA's commitment to modernizing its research practices and fostering a collaborative environment for ufologists.