Introduction
This post provides a look at the history
of South Australian UAP research since 1953. In its preparation I conducted
face to face, and telephone interviews with a number of individuals who had an
interest in the UAP phenomenon; re-read old UAP magazines; checked old
newspaper clippings; and examined personal notes. In addition, I reviewed
certain files in the National Archives of Australia, and in some instances, consulted old electoral rolls and other sources of data. Research has been hindered
by the death of an increasing number of individuals, and a lack of sufficient written
documentation, which has at times, meant an inability to locate some critical
information.
At this point I must therefore acknowledge
that it is an incomplete historical record, for these reasons. However, as no
one, to my knowledge, has previously attempted such a task, the following is
the best that can be done under the circumstances. There is no doubt that this
article will contain errors of fact. I would be grateful to hear from any reader who can
correct such errors.
The article will first take a look at the seventeen South Australian UAP organisations of which I am aware. A representative A to Z
of thirty-nine South Australian UAP researchers then follows.
UAP organisations
1 Australian Flying Saucer Club (AFSC)
This very first South Australian UAP
organisation, was started by Frederick Phillip Stone in 1953. Its formation
followed a personal sighting of five cigar shaped objects over Adelaide
a week before the first atomic bomb explosion in Australia . Stone stated that he
could see “figures” in the objects. (1) Stone later offered to affiliate with
the Sydney
based Australian Flying Saucer Bureau formed by Edgar Jarrold but Stone states
he (Stone) “…accepted the position of
South Australian Branch President. However, as he got no satisfactory
co-operation from Edgar Jarrold and was making no progress, he broke his
connection with Jarrold and formed the A.F.S.R.S.” (2)
2 Australian Flying Saucer Research
Society (AFSRS)
This group existed until the death of
Colin Norris on 13 July 2009, albeit under a different name. (1) A letter to the RAAF dated 7 March 1955 shows
that the Hon. Pres. was Fred Stone; the Hon. Ass. Sec. was a Mr P D Thomas (believed
to be Peter David Thomas, an Engineer, living in the suburb of Burnside) and
the Hon. Treas. was a Mr L E Hauber (believed to be Leonard Eric Hauber.) Other
AFSRS members were land salesman and ex-RAAF navigator Keith M(oncrief?) Cartwright
and Engineer, John R Bushell.
An early issue of the AFSRS’s magazine
titled “Australian Saucer Record” (2) indicates that Stone was looking to go
national in 1955, when the AFSRS (NSW Branch) was formed. The motive for this
may have been an interview with the RAAF after which Stone noted that the RAAF
would prefer to deal with a national level UAP organisation. A later issue of the
same magazine (3) notes that Judith Croser was the AFSRS (NSW Branch) contact
in 1956. However, that same year, 1956, the AFSRS (NSW Branch) became
independent and changed its name to UFOIC. By the way, the ASR was published
between 1955 and 1963, reaching Volume 9 Number 6.
The AFSRS came under the notice of the Commonwealth
Investigation Service, Canberra .
National Archives of Australia (NAA) file series A1533 control symbol 56/2773
is titled: “The Australian Flying Saucer Research Society.” The Commonwealth
Investigation Service’s functions included, according to NAA “Agency notes for
agency CA 650,” “…maintenance of liaison
with customs, postal, taxation and state police services; security at
Government factories, dockyards and facilities; and provision of personnel as
required for special investigations…” In 1949 some of the roles of CIS
passed to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), while the
rest of the CIS role went to the Commonwealth Police Force in 1960. The file consists
of two documents, the file cover and a copy of a newspaper article.
The article is headlined: “Men from Mars!”
and concerns a close approach of the planet Mars to Earth in 1956, and notes in
part that: “The Australian Flying Saucer
Research Society (AFSR) will have its telescopes trained on the planet…” It
refers to Society President Andrew Tomas.
Stone’s national aspiration was emphasized
again, when in February 1957 he formed the AFSRS (Vic branch). Later in 1957, (4)
it reorganized as the Victorian Flying Saucer Research Society (VFSRS) with
Peter Norris as President.
In 1957 the AFSRS Secretary in Adelaide was a Mr J A
Fisher. (5)
In the 1958-1960 period the Recording
Officer of the AFSRS was one Jack Ferry. (6)
The AFSRS held Australia ’s
first UAP conference in Adelaide
in 1959. 200 people attended, with the main speaker being the Reverend W B Gill
talking about his spectacular close encounter sightings.
In some un-sourced personal notes, the
author found a comment that in about 1959 the AFSRS had a Northern Territory branch run by one Duke
Alley. The author has not been able to ascertain anything else about this
branch.
Three years later, in 1962, following a
falling out with Colin Norris, Fred Stone left the AFSRS to found another group
he called UFOPIA. (7) Colin Norris and others then took the lead roles within
the AFSRS.
The Disclosure Australia Project located a
former “secret” 9 January 1962 memo from the Regional Director ASIO SA to ASIO
HQ which forwarded a report from the (blanked out) about the AFSRS (8). The file cover, as shown on the released
copy, carries the original ASIO file number 3/2/979 Vol 1 and is titled “Flying
Saucer Research Bureau (Qld.)” The AFSRS report itself was not released to the
Project. ASIO's interest, in line with their role, was whether or not there were communist associations with UAP groups.
A former member of the AFSRS between 1967
and 1972, related that the AFSRS meetings were initially held in a venue in Moonta Street , in
the City, but later twice moved to venues in Morphett Street , City. AFSRS membership
was large, perhaps 100. There were interstate and overseas members. Meetings
were attended by some of these members and also by “walk ins,” people who had somehow
heard about the meeting and simply popped in on the night. (9)
Interpersonal difficulties raised their
heads again in 1967 when on 16 November at a special general meeting of the
AFSRS, a “no confidence” vote was moved against Colin Norris, and lost. A
number of persons then left the AFSRS including the Boxalls; the Whiteheads;
Jan Verdonk; Roger McGuire, and Theo Mastrosavas. These people went on to found
a group called UPIA. (10) UPIA also met in the same hall as the AFSRS the Australian
Better Hearing Association Hall in Moonta
Street .
A 1968 AFSRS magazine shows that Marc Dodd
was President. Colin O Norris was Vice-President and Public Relations Officer.
That year Norris attended the CAPIO conference in Canberra . Other AFSRS members around this
date were Ted Shrubb, who was their librarian, and Alex Mitropoulos who built a UAP
detector. A Mrs Bungey was one of the group’s Secretaries with a Steve
Hutchinson, a later holder of the Secretary role.
In the early 1970’s the AFSRS sent copies
of AFSRS UAP report forms to RAAF Edinburgh, who forwarded them on to RAAF Head
Quarters. The Disclosure Australia Project found these copies on HQ files of
the period. It is uncertain of why these were sent.
It appears that ASIO continued to watch
the AFSRS. A 3 November 1972 ASIO SA memo headed “Australian Flying Saucer
Research Society” refers to a 13 October 1972 report concerning Colin Norris
who the report says“…claims to be in
correspondence with Soviet academicians on the subject of unidentified flying
objects…Norris spoke to members of the Young Socialists League in South Australia
about UAPs…” This report also refers to an earlier 1969 report, which is
not on the file. (11)
Bremner Thomson was the AFSRS Assistant
Secretary in 1972 and continued an active role until the early 2000’s.
In April 1972, then AFSRS member John Burford developed links with the APRG run
by Keith Basterfield. John also met with Flt Lt King, Intelligence Officer, at
RAAF Edinburgh to discuss the local SA research scene.
The AFSRS had an investigations team
established by John Burford. Peter Powell and Keith Basterfield were already conducting
joint investigations separately to the AFSRS. Then the AFSRS; UFOPIA, SPACERS; UFORI
and the APRG joined forces as far as case investigations went by forming the “Combined
Investigations Team” to look at South Australian reports on behalf of all these
groups. On 12 May the author was accepted as head of the CIT. A single entry was
placed in the SA phone book. It listed several numbers for members of the
public to call to make a report. Colin Norris and Peter Powell were jointly
elected to do Public Relations work. The CIT considered a new standard report
form and training sessions were organized for investigators. In 1973 this group
of CIT investigators raised a number of issues at an AFSRS meeting and due to
the response they received, moved out of the AFSRS and into the group UFO Research with
Vladimir Godic.
The AFSRS changed its name to “Australian International UFO
Flying Saucer Research” in 1978 and continued to hold regular public meetings and
publish a Newsletter. This Newsletter presented summaries of local sightings
and articles, written by a number of individuals.
The AFSRS remained the main UAP group
visible to the general public with numerous mentions in the Adelaide media during the period 1978 to the
mid 1990’s. However, after this, with Colin Norris’ health in decline, the
numbers attending meetings then decreased. During this period Debbie Payne and
Helen Danby had assisted the operations of the group.
Up until 2009, the Australian
International UFO Flying Saucer Research still maintained an entry in the
Adelaide telephone book. However, it has lost all of its momentum, as no-one
has stepped forward to continue its operations. With the passing of Colin
Norris in 2009, the group ceased its operations, and its files passed to Colin
Norris’ son Grant.
3 Aerial Phenomenon Research Group (APRG)
The author attended AFSRS meetings between
1968 and 1970, while at school and later at University. He wrote articles for
their magazine. In 1971 he decided to form his own UAP group, the Aerial
Phenomenon Research group (APRG). The reason for this was that the AFSRS did
not conduct rigorous scientifically based research on the reports which were
made to it. The AFSRS as an entity had already concluded what the origins of
the UAP phenomenon were and did not welcome alternative viewpoints.
The APRG was in existence between 1971 and
1973 and the author was joined in his research activities by Denis McConnell a
fellow employee of the Postmaster General’s Department (now deceased.) During
this time joint investigations into local sightings were conducted with Peter
Powell’s UFORI.
4 Australian UAP Research Association
(AURA)
In 2002 the author became aware that a
number of individuals in Adelaide
with a deep interest in the UAP phenomenon were looking for a sense of
direction for this interest. He therefore facilitated a meeting of these
individuals, and from this was born the Australian UFO Research Association. Ultimately
the following individuals became AURA members-Keith Basterfield; Helen Danby;
Kathy Dickmann; Bev Luff; Colin Paule; Jeff Fausch; Debbie Payne and Alex Aaskordas.
Later, they were joined by Dominic McNamara and others.
As with UFOR(SA) and UFORA the author’s
intention was to concentrate on research
into the phenomenon as opposed to growing a large public group. A little time will
be spent here on describing AURA, to illustrate a major difference between small,
tightly focused groups and the former large publicly focused groups of the
1960’s.
AURA’s Mission Statement is “To work towards a greater understanding,
and acceptance, of the UAP phenomenon.” Its aims were defined as:
1. To collect, collate, analyse
and disseminate information about Australian UAP reports and UAP research.
2. To undertake such research into
the UAP phenomenon in a professional, efficient and effective manner.
3. To ascertain what knowledge of
the UAP phenomenon may not currently be in the public domain, and seek to
document and disseminate this information to interested parties.
Its Strategies for Aim 1
1. To actively participate in the
Australian UAP Research Network Hotline reports system.
2. To publish details on investigated
UAP reports via the media and UAP research outlets.
3. To preserve/archive
documentation on Australian UAP cases and provide access to relevant UAP
researchers and media representatives.
Strategies for Aim 2
1. Maintain a small network of
seriously minded individuals who work in a professional manner utilising a
business model.
2. Seek funding for such research.
3. Provide assistance to other
researchers who have limited resources.
Strategies for Aim 3
1. Document the existing holdings
of Australian UAP groups, individual researchers, and private and government
organisations.
2. Seek to ascertain knowledge of
the UAP phenomenon not currently in the public domain by a variety of means.
3.
Document
and disseminate this knowledge to interested parties.
In 2003 AURA members decided, with the
assistance of AUFORN on the national level, to take on a Disclosure Australia
Project. This Project aimed to locate and disseminate information on UAP
documents held by the Australian Government. A large volume of material (over
10,000 pages) was uncovered. However, once read and processed, the files
located have been reported on in a series of 31 Newsletters; 17 “Revelations”
columns in the bi-monthly “UFOlogist” magazine; at three national level
conferences, and on a two part CD-ROM. All these files may now be read in digitised format on the website of the National Archives of Australia.
In
2007, AURA continued under the leadership of Jeff Fausch. AURA demonstrated that
a small, focused group of individuals could successfully undertake major
research projects.
The
Disclosure Australia project terminated in 2008. However, this author, together
with the assistance of others, continue to this day to discover more UAP files
in the NAA and arrange to have them digitized.
AURA
meetings continue to be held, organized by Roger Koch and Jeff Fausch.
5 Combined Investigation Team (CIT)
In 1972, the AFSRS had an investigations
team established by John Burford, which included Tony Colbert; Ray Brooke; Dean
Piovesan; Frank Gillespie, Peter Horne, and Tom Mills. Peter Powell and Keith Basterfield
were already conducting joint investigations. Then the AFSRS; UFOPIA, SPACERS; UFORI
and the APRG joined into the Combined Investigations Team to look at South
Australian reports on behalf of all these groups. On 12 May the author was
accepted as head of the CIT. A single entry was placed in the SA phone book. It
listed several numbers for members of the public to call to make a report.
Colin Norris and Peter Powell were jointly elected to do Public Relations work.
The CIT considered a new standard report form and training sessions were
organized for investigators. In 1973
this group of CIT investigators raised a number of issues at an AFSRS meeting
and due to the response they received moved out of the AFSRS and into the group UFO Research with Vladimir Godic.
6 Cosmic Connections (CC)
Malcolm Clarke, had a number of unusual
episodes which commenced in 1970, when as a five year old he went missing, and
turned up with an unusual mark on one leg. In 1995 he had poltergeist style
events happen in his Adelaide
home. Malcolm also had a number of UAP sightings, and became very interested in
the UAP phenomenon. He went on to hold meetings until the name Cosmic Connections.
Later, Kevin Robb became associated with Malcolm Clarke and the group became
Australian Cosmic Connection. Its “statement of purpose” states that it “…acts as a support for individuals as they
step out of their traditional comfort zones to look at new areas of reality…”
(1) The group remains active today.
7 Paranormal Field Investigators (PFI)
PFI was co-formed by Jeff Fausch and
Alison Oborn in early 2002. This small
group of investigators aims to research paranormal events; look to find out
what is happening and support members of the public who find themselves
involved in these events. Investigations were conducted in a scientific manner
and utilised specialized electronic equipment.
The group’s interests included the UAP
phenomenon, and they were active in researching numerous South Australian
sightings. Jeff Fausch and Alison Oborn were the main driving force behind
the group. By 2007, Alison Oborn became the lead investigator. Ultimately, the
organization terminated as the original organisers went their individual ways.
8 Paranormal Research, Investigation
Services & Monitoring International (PRISM)
In 1980 Arthur Holden had a very close
encounter with a round, blue object with an orange lump. Another smaller object
the size of a dinner plate approached him, spun around him three or four times
and stopped in front of him. Arthur felt as if “…someone had thrown a bucket of water over him.” There was huge
flash of light and the object was gone. Arthur felt there might have been a
period of two hours missing time.
Arthur started up a UAP group called “UAP
Monitors Communications.” It met at the AFSRS venue in Franklin Street , once a week on a Friday
night. They decided to keep numbers low, to about eight people.
In 1982 the group decided to look
at hauntings to expand beyond an interest in UAPs. The name of the group was
changed to “Paranormal Research, Investigation Services and Monitoring” (PRISM.)
People from the AFSRS would pass PRISM’s meeting and join PRISM. It had 12
members in 1983.
Later Arthur distanced himself from the
group and Laurie Pearce took the lead in running PRISM.
In about 1990 one of PRISM’s members
received a call from founder Holden. Arthur said he was doing “Government
covert operations” and hung up. They never saw or heard from him again. They
tried to trace him but could not.
PRISM put an ad at the University, and responses came
from Laurie Eddie, who became PRISM’s secretary and Colin Mitchell, who became a
field officer.
By 1992 there were 55 PRISM members and
they met at Laurie Eddie’s place in Unley. The group conducted
experiments. One visiting psychic was named
Marion . PRISM
had good working relationships with the SA Sceptics. PRISM approached
Centrelink and Centrelink registered them as a voluntary organization. PRISM
also set up a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the SA Police for the Police
to refer sightings to them. Laurie did talks on local radio shows and the group
became a larger force in local UAP research. Public meetings were held at a
number of venues.
By early 2007 PRISM was in “suspense” as
the current members looked to decide PRISM’s future directions. However, it was
never revitalized, and terminated shortly afterwards.
9 South Australian UFO Network (SUFON)
This small Adelaide based group, operated by Cheryl-lee Vanagelis and Donna O'Halloran, operated between 2014 and 2015. It conducted a number of local investigations.
9 South Australian UFO Network (SUFON)
This small Adelaide based group, operated by Cheryl-lee Vanagelis and Donna O'Halloran, operated between 2014 and 2015. It conducted a number of local investigations.
10 South Australian UFO Research Institute
(SAURI)
Little
is known about this organization run by Mike Stahl, of Clapham which has been
listed in the UAP literature as a South Australian group since the mid 1990’s.
Mike is no longer listed in the Telstra White Pages.
11 Special Phenomena and Celestial
Research Society Inc. (SPACERS)
In the late 1960’s a group was formed
called SPACERS, based, the author understands, out at Elizabeth . Two members were Glenn Sawyer, who
was also into amateur radio and electronics, and Ray Mountford a former
Vice-President of UFOPIA (1). In 1972 SPACERS joined in with other South
Australian groups to form the Combined Investigations Team. Not much else is
known about SPACERS other than that according to a 1979 UFORSA Newsletter item
they were still in existence in that year.
12 UFO Phenomena Investigations
Association (UFOPIA)
UFOPIA was started in 1962 by Frederick
Phillip Stone, the founder of the AFSC and the AFSRS following his departure
from the AFSRS. Within the AFSRS Stone had published the magazine, the Australian
Saucer Record. With the starting of UFOPIA he went on to publish a magazine
called “Panorama” which was published between 1962 and 1971.
Between 1964 and 1968 Vladimir Godic was a
UFOPIA Senior Vice-President and between 1965 and 1968 was an Investigation
Officer (1)
In 1966 Anthony E Bran became a member of the UFOPIA committee and
ultimately a Senior Vice President. Tony gave slide lectures to a number of
community groups. UFOPIA meetings were held in a hall on a small street between
Grote and Gouger streets. 20-25 people attended the meetings. Tony retired from
the Committee about 1970 as he had other interests. Another Vice-President was
Ray Mountford who later, as the author understands it, went on to involvement
with SPACERS. (2)
Interviews with individuals who were
associated with UFOPIA (3) and an examination of articles published in
Panorama, indicate that the organisation viewed the alien visitors as “good.” The
review also suggested that there was an overt religious slant to UFOPIA’s
public views as stated in Panorama. In 1968 Robert Chester was shown on the mast head of Panorama Volume 7 Number 2, as the sub-editor.
By 1969 Stone mentioned to the UFOPIA
Committee that it was time for him to wind down, citing increasing age and deteriorating
health. A new President, name unknown to me, took over but
lasted only three months. (4)
In late 1970 Stone advised the UFOPIA Committee
that he intended to resign, and they looked at whether or not to close down the
group. At that point the Committee decided to continue. However, by March 1971
Stone resigned as President, and by May 1972 UFOPIA went into permanent
recession.
Known UFOPIA members included Fred Stone,
Tony Bran, Jan Verdonk; Vladimir Godic, Pam & Warren Litchfield; Robert Chester; and Ray
Mountford.
13 UFO Phenomena Investigations Australia
(UPIA)
Little is known of UPIA other than that it
was formed by Brian Whitehead after he and others left the AFSRS following a
special general meeting on 16 November 1967 where a vote of “no confidence” was
moved against Colin Norris. A number of other persons also left which included
the Boxalls; the Whiteheads; Jan Verdonk; Roger McGuire, and Theo Mastrosavas.
(1) UPIA met in the same hall as the AFSRS, the ABHA Hall in Moonta Street and met mid-monthly.
14 UFO Research & Investigation (UFORI)
Peter Powell initiated UFORI in 1971, and
by December of that year Powell and the author were jointly investigating local
cases. Powell published a magazine titled the “Australian UFO Report” for a
couple of years, and also offered a book selling service. The May 1972 Tooligie
Hill trace case was a high profile investigation by UFORI. UFORI participated
in the Combined Investigation Team’s efforts in 1972, but ceased when Powell
went on to other interests.
15 UFO Research (later became UFO Research
SA) (UFOR)
Unsatisfied with the then current South
Australian UAP groups, Vladimir Godic; an as yet unidentified man, and Crystal
Walsh started up a group they called UFO Research, in 1968. They wished to
focus on a more scientific investigation of the UAP phenomenon and started
looking into local sightings.
In 1972 UFOR joined other local groups in
the Combined Investigation Team model. However, following a disagreement within
the AFSRS several AFSRS members moved over to UFOR. UFOR started its own Newsletter
which was published between 1973 and 1979.
In 1975 UFOR incorporated under South Australian law, and changed its name to UFO
Research Incorporated. The group held a series of very
successful public meetings between 1975 and 1978, where dozens of interested
individuals attended. Details of local sightings were presented; films were
shown and facilitated discussions held.
UFOR Inc. jointly organised the 1976
national ACUFOS conference, UFOCON 2, which was held at Mt Gamber and published
a 30 page catalogue of Australian entity cases compiled by this author and Bill
Chalker.
In 1977 there was another name change to UFO
Research (SA) Incorporated with the UFORSA Newsletter (1) showing that UFORSA scientific
consultants at that time were F Gillespie; B Perry; V Rendall; P Delin and that
group members were T Mills, H Aspinall, R Brooke, D Mitchell, D Piovesan; S
Bolton; D St John; P Birrell; Miss B Blakmore; Mr L Godfrey, J Burford, T
Tkalec, and J McTier.
The author was group Coordinator between
1977 and 1979 and Liaison officer between 1980 and 1981. Frank Gillespie was a
member between 1974 and 1982 and scientific consultant between 1979 and 1982. He
also held the position of Treasurer for a period.
In 1978 UFORSA published “A source
catalogue of Australasian UAP reports where photographs were taken.”
In 1980 Vladimir Godic commenced
publishing the UFO Research Australia Newsletter for four UAP groups including UFOR(SA).
In that year UFOR(SA) Co-ordinator was Horrie Aspinall; Liaison Officer was
Keith Basterfield; Treasurer was Frank Gillespie; Assistant Liaison Officer was
Jane Brooks; Deputy Liasion officer was Ray Brooke. Later Ray assumed
leadership of the group. Between 1997 and 1998 Alan Jones assumed leadership. Later
Jim Atwell assumed leadership until he passed away in 2003. Ray Brooke returned
to maintain the group in “suspension” through to 2007. However, the group did
not come out of this “suspension” and it terminated shortly thereafter.
Its biggest case investigation was the
1988 Knowles family, Mundrabilla reported UAP encounter.
16 UFO Research Australia (UFORA)
Looking to extend the small focused group
model of a UAP organization from the state level to the national level,
Vladimir Godic, Pony Godic and this author started the group UFORA in 1980, and
commenced publication of the high quality UFORA Newsletter in the same year. UFORAN
carried the results of much of the research conducted by Australian UFOlogists
between 1980 and 1984, then again between 1988 and 1991, after which, production
ceased. It was a “…vehicle for the
publication of more popular articles, newsclips, reference services, reports
etc…” (1) Holly Gorris became UFORAN Associate editor from Volume 1 Number
2; with Pony Barenson (later Godic) becoming another associate editor from
1981.
The author complied summaries of
Australian UAP sightings, gathered from most of the then existing Australian
groups and independent researchers. These summaries were published as the UFORA
Research Digest, 37 issues of which were published between July 1989 and
November 1993.
Dynamo House, Victoria, in 1991 published
one of Australia’s first digital books titled “UFO Research in Australia and
New Zealand.” Edited by the Godic’s it was a 90,000 word collection of material
by a diverse range of authors from the pages of the UFORA Newsletter.
As well as the digital book, UFORA was one
of the first Australian groups to start using the new technology available in
terms of electronic communication between researchers, using the internet.
The author who had been UFORA Research
Director, left UFORA in 1993 to pursue other avenues, and UFORA continued under
the reins of the Godic’s and Harry Griesberg. However, with the passing of
Vladimir Godic in 1995, UFORA closed after 15 years of very successful work.
Along with the first incarnation of ACUFOS, it remains as one of the most
successful national level organisations.
17 UFO South Australia (UFOSA)
UFOSA
was formed in February 2007 by Adelaide Researcher Andy Eastman and aimed to
compliment the other South Australian UAP groups. It hoped to hold regular City
based meetings; operate a public telephone reporting number; and to work with UAP
reporters. It continues today, in a limited way, via a website.
A representative A to Z of South
Australian UAP researchers
Atwell, Jim V
Born in 1958, Jim was a dedicated member
of UFORSA from 1975. He conducted a number of investigations into local
sightings and had an eye for finding mundane explanations in IFO cases. Jim was
particularly vocal about fake UAP sightings. “A common hoax is to send up a garbage bag filled with firelighters….”
(1) He was also particularly interested in photographic evidence for the
phenomenon. Despite severe health problems, Jim later assumed leadership of the
group, publishing lists of South Australian sightings which UFORSA had looked
into until he passed away in 2003.
Fascinated with the UAP phenomenon since
1968, the author has been, over the years, a field investigator for the (former
U.S.) Aerial Phenomenon Research Organisation (APRO); a joint co-ordinator for
the Australian Centre for UFO Studies, and the Research Director for the
(former) UFO Research Australia (UFORA). In addition, he spent several years as
the Continental Director for Australasia for the US based Mutual UFO Network (MUFON),
as well as having had a lengthy association with UFO Research (South
Australia). Between 1994 and 1997 the author founded and ran the Australian UFO
Abduction Study Centre, exploring the various facets of the UAP abduction
phenomenon, particularly in Australia. Since 1998, independent research
projects have occupied his time. In February 2003 he became a founding member of the Adelaide based Australian
UFO Research Association (AURA) and facilitated the Disclosure Australia
Project for three years.
The author's research on aspects of the phenomenon ranging from orange lights in the sky, to the after effects of UAP abductions, has been published in such places as the former APRO Bulletin; MUFON UFO Journal; Magonia; the International UFO Reporter; the prestigious psychology journal, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, as well as numerous Australian and European UAP Journals. His first book appeared in 1981 with a revised edition in 1997.
The author's research on aspects of the phenomenon ranging from orange lights in the sky, to the after effects of UAP abductions, has been published in such places as the former APRO Bulletin; MUFON UFO Journal; Magonia; the International UFO Reporter; the prestigious psychology journal, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, as well as numerous Australian and European UAP Journals. His first book appeared in 1981 with a revised edition in 1997.
The author has lectured/presented locally
in South Australia ; nationally in a variety of
locations, and internationally in the US . He has facilitated workshops
and networking meetings; guided research teams and undertaken major
investigations.
Between 2008 and 2017 his research
interests have included paranormal aspects of the UAP phenomenon; personality
aspects of Australian abductees; the implant motif in UAP abductions;
abductees’ belief in and experiences of the paranormal; the possible
involvement of sleep paralysis in the UAP phenomenon; and the involvement of
the Australian Government in the UAP phenomenon.
The author's viewpoint is that the UAP phenomenon is worthy of continued cross-discipline study utilising scientific methodology. However, he recognises that today, the subject is heavily contaminated by both commercial and sociological factors.
His work may be found at his blog.
The author's viewpoint is that the UAP phenomenon is worthy of continued cross-discipline study utilising scientific methodology. However, he recognises that today, the subject is heavily contaminated by both commercial and sociological factors.
His work may be found at his blog.
Birrell, Peter
UFORSA Newsletter number 25 dated May-Jun
1977 lists Peter Birrell. Peter was a regional investigator who lived in Mount Gambier ,
where he investigated and reported upon local events.
Bolton, Steve
Steve Bolton became a member of UFORSA in
the mid 1970’s and undertook a number of investigations in the State. The
Wokurna trace case, an early example of simple crop circle, was a notable
instance where Steve conducted an extremely thorough investigation. He retains
an interest even today.
Bran, Anthony E
In 1966 Tony’s wife heard reference to the
topic on talk back radio. Tony contacted Fred Stone, who was the President of UFOPIA
and went to a meeting. He had always had
an interest in the paranormal and held his own opinions on flying saucers.
Tony became a member of the UFOPIA
committee and ultimately a Senior Vice President. Tony gave slide lectures to a
number of groups. His view was that people should keep an open mind.As there are
lots of Sun like stars with planets, it behoves that there must be life on some
of them. There would be intelligences comparable to ours or even more advanced.
Some could be visiting us. Re contacting us- would you stand outside an
enclosure containing animals having a go at each other and join them – you’d
stand outside and watch. Aliens could be watching us. We could have been
colonized by aliens who erased our memories about our origins.
In 1968 Tony was shown on the masthead of
Panorama Volume 7 Number 2 Mar/April 1968 as one of the two sub-editors, along
with Robert Chester. Tony retired from the Committee about 1970 as he had other
interests. (1) His Panorama articles included: “UFOs Ancient or modern? How old
is the UFO phenomenon? “(2); “Only time will tell.” US bases in Australia and
official knowledge of UFOs. (3) “Is civilization at the crossroads?”
Civilisation needs to change or it is in danger of vanishing. (4); “UFO-BC” Our
ancestors could have come to Earth from another planet. (5)
Brooke, Raymond Harold
Ray was born in 1926 in the UK . At age 12
Ray was a member of the Scout movement and spent time hiking and camping on the
Pennine Moors and Derbyshire. He became interested in astronomy. By 17 he had
joined the Royal Navy and found a few of his ship’s crew also interested in
that subject.
In the 1950’s and 1960’s his interest
developed on the topics of alien life and other planets; and he held more
discussions with other interested individuals.
Ray started attending meetings of the
AFSRS, when Marc Dodd was President and Ray became friendly with Ted Shrubb of
the AFSRS. Ray recalls that the AFSRS meetings then were social but the group
did carry out lots of research.
Later, Ray joined UFORSA and in 1973 he
was one of the investigators of the enigmatic Kimba, multiple witness entity
case.
Within UFORSA he held a number of
positions and spent numerous hours talking to members of the public as the
group’s public contact point, obtaining details of local sightings. He traveled
all over South Australia
investigating reports, and attended a number of state and national level UAP
conferences.
In 1988, the Mundrabilla “car lifted by UAP”
case erupted and Ray, together with this author fielded dozens of calls from
the world media about this case over a two day period. Ray appeared in the lead
item on the six o’clock Channel 7 news one night discussing this case.
Ray’s views on the UAP phenomenon have not
changed over time. For the last 50 years he has thought that there are other
life forms elsewhere in the Universe; some far in front of us on the
technological side and capable of things we haven’t even got close to.
Ray thinks that some abduction reports
have merit and an answer to them would help solve some of the mysteries and
possibly put us on the right track. In addition, it may be that one day we may
get information given to us from the authorities which could help in our
research. Ray is still alive in 2017, and retains a passing interest in the
subject.
Brooks, Jane L
Jane was born in 1947 in South Australia and has interests which
include the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI) and space
exploration in all its forms. In 1979 she became Assistant Liaison Officer for UFORSA.
At UFOCON 5, held in Canberra, she presented a paper on SETI and at UFOCON 6, held
in Adelaide, she presented another paper on SETI. In addition, together with
Canberra based John Prytz, she gave a public lecture on SETI during UFOCON 6. Jane
wrote a number of articles for UFORAN, including “Quentin Fogarty & the NZ
film” (1) and “The Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence.” (2) She ceased
interest in the UAP subject due to pressures of studying, and her interest in
SETI. The author met Jane at the 90th birthday party for Ray Brooke,
in 2016 and enjoyed reminiscing about their mutual interests.
Burford, John
Following a personal sighting in 1965 John
later joined the AFSRS. Exposure to the AFSRS and raw sighting details led John
to his early embracing of the reality of alien visitations. For a while John
was librarian for the AFSRS which gave him exposure to a range of books on the
topic. John attended the CAPIO conference in Canberra with Colin Norris in 1968
and met other high profile UFOlogists of that time. John, together with the author
and others investigated the numerous UAP reports originating out of the Clare
valley in South Australia ’s
mid north.
Colin Norris passed on some UAP reports for John to Investigate. John found that more reports could be explained in mundane terms than the AFSRS had previously admitted. John wrote up some extensive interview noted on these cases and published his findings in the AFSRS magazine. To assist him John formed an "investigations" team within the AFSRS which included Frank Gillespie, Dean Piovesan and Tom Mills.
Colin Norris passed on some UAP reports for John to Investigate. John found that more reports could be explained in mundane terms than the AFSRS had previously admitted. John wrote up some extensive interview noted on these cases and published his findings in the AFSRS magazine. To assist him John formed an "investigations" team within the AFSRS which included Frank Gillespie, Dean Piovesan and Tom Mills.
These others felt the same way as John, in
that the raw reports need some in depth investigation, which was not being
undertaken by Colin Norris. Although Colin passed on reports to John to
investigate eventually Colin expressed dissatisfaction, saying things like this
report was a spacecraft, whereas the investigation felt there was a mundane
cause for the report. John took a couple of breaks away from the AFSRS.
Ultimately this lead to a confrontation between John and Colin and John left
the AFSRS. John was involved in the CIT in 1972.
This period of intense investigation of
raw UAP reports lead John to change his beliefs about the UAP phenomenon.
Checking reports led him to conclude that many if not most could be found to
have mundane explanations. The more reports he looked at the more he found he
could explain. This lead him from the
physical, “UAPs are alien spacecraft,” to the sociological and psychological
aspects. He came to conclude that the UAP phenomenon is a mainly sociological
phenomenon. Today he retains a “monitoring” brief on the subject.
Cartwright, Keith
M
In 1955, Keith was a land
salesman and an ex-RAAF navigator. (1) Together with Fred Stone, Keith visited
NSW in 1955 to organize the NSW Branch of the AFSRS. (2) In 1956 he invented a
“flying saucer” detector. (3)
Cotton, Leith
Dickmann, Kathy
Kathy was a member of AURA since its
inception and actively supported the Disclosure Australia Project. Until
recently, she regularly attended annual conferences in both the UK and the USA
and knows a large number of global UFOlogists on a first name basis. She has
written a number of articles for the English Flying Saucer Review, and such was
her standing with the FSR that a few years ago she was asked if she would like
to take up the editorship of that magazine. She declined. Kathy maintains
regular contact with the diverse range of contacts she has established in
personal meetings. In addition she has recently visited Cuba , Mongolia ,
and Tibet
and taken opportunities to look at local UAP events in these countries. A
number of unusual anomalies have appeared on photographs which Kathy has taken.
Today, her interests are as strong as ever.
Dodd, Marc E
Mark
was President of the AFSRS in the mid to late 1960’s and edited the AFSRS
magazine during that time.
Fausch, Jeff
Jeff Fausch has had a private interest in UAP’s
and the paranormal since the mid-1970s. In January 2001 he joined PRISM, as a
committee member and investigator. He resigned in October 2001.
He co-formed Paranormal Field
Investigators (PFI) with Alison Oborn in January 2002. The aim of the group was
to investigate and research the paranormal using scientific methods and ideas.
The group’s main interest was haunted locations and the UAP phenomena.
Jeff appeared with Alison Oborn on a
number of television and radio interviews involving the paranormal subject.
In late 2002 Jeff joined AURA and assisted
the Disclosure project in a minor roll. In mid-2006 with a number of members
resigning, Jeff became the facilitator for AURA. Also in mid-2006
Jeff took over as AUFORN state director, replacing Dominic McNamara who moved
to Sydney.
In 2005 Jeff gave a presentation on haunted
locations investigated by PFI at a conference organised by Australian Cosmic
Connections.
In late 2006 Jeff resigned from actively
participating on PFI investigations and took a back seat role to pursue other
projects. Alison Oborn took over the running of PFI.
Late in 2006 Jeff became a committee
member of the Adelaide Gaol Preservation Society. In 2007, he put together a
paranormal investigation workshop at the Adelaide Gaol with the assistance of
Alison Oborn and Anna Bird, for the public to participate in and to raise money
to help keep the Gaol open.
After that, together with Roger Koch, Jeff
continued to run AURA meetings, which continue today at Jeff’s business
address.
In 2017, Jeff published a “cold case”
review of the 31 August 1954, Nowra, aircraft, radar-visual event, which was
much discussed by Australian researchers. He has also compiled other “cold
case” reviews of Australian and international events, which are currently
unpublished.
Gillespie, Frank C
Frank was born in 1925 in Port Lincoln. He
became interested in the subject following a personal UAP sighting in 1966 and
was a member of the AFSRS from 1966 through to 1973 and also assisted the CIT.
From 1974 he was a scientific consultant to UFORSA, and became UFORSA Treasurer
in 1979, where he remained until his untimely death. Frank was interested in a
range of topics concerning the UAP phenomenon, but specifically in physical
aspects eg propulsion, and photographic analysis. One of his most remembered analytical
articles was a comprehensive book review titled the “UAP…contact from the
Pleiades” which explored the photographic evidence presented in a famous
European case. (1)
Godic, Pony
Born in 1952 in Adelaide , Pony Godic developed an active
interest in the UAP subject in the late 1960’s when she met the author while
both worked for the Australian Government. Together with others, they were
involved in investigating and documenting UAP reports being generated out of
the mid-north area of the State, centred on the Clare Valley .
Later Pony, and Vladimir Godic met through
their mutual interest in the UAP phenomenon. Both were initially involved in
investigation of state reports but in 1980, with the creation of UFORA and the
production of UFORAN their vision moved to the national level. Pony became
Associate Editor of UFORAN in 1980, and over the next few years she also
conducted her own current and retrospective investigations, e..g the 1983 “Simon”
close encounter in Darwin ;
the 1981 Port Lincoln abduction case; the 1956 “Janet X” case, and the 1976
Elliot NT abduction event. She had a
wide ranging interest in all aspects of the UAP phenomenon and wrote for UFORAN,
including a 1981 article titled “Is there a telepathic connection?” (1) and
co-authored a major CUFOS Journal article.(2)
With the death of Vladimir
in 1995, Pony returned to her home town of Adelaide and ceased her active interest in
the subject.
Godic, Vladimir
In 1968, together with another man and
Crystal Walsh, Vladimir started UFO Research which was later renamed UFORSA. Vladimir
remained a member of UFORSA until 1980. In this later year he, together with
Pony Godic and this author started up the national level organization UFORA. UFORA’S
Newsletter UFORAN was ably edited by the Godics, who tirelessly pursued a
national agenda.
The following year, 1981 Vladimir saw a
need to generate additional publicity for the Australian UAP research community
and initiated the “UFO Research Publicity Board” as a means of doing so.
Vladimir participated in the use of the
new technology, co-editing the first electronic book on Australian UFOlogy in 1991.
This presented a spectrum of the excellent research which was being undertaken
in this country at that time. He also encouraged a networking of Australian
researchers to use electronic mail to keep in touch with each other
The Godics later moved UFORA operations
from Adelaide to Cairns, Queensland where they continued to operate UFORA. Aged 69 Vladimir
passed away in Cairns after a heart attack (3) Vladimir will long be
remembered for his innovative ideas.
Heathcock, Sister Ruth (MBE)
Sister Ruth was an Outback nurse and was married to Mounted
Constable Ted Heathcock who was stationed at Roper Bar and Borroloola during
the 1920s. She was one of the first white visitors to the “Hidden City” in Arnhem Land and was widely respected by the local
Aboriginal people who called her "Pitjiri"
("the snake that will not sink") (1). In 1936 at a remote outpost in
the Northern Territory, nine Aboriginal Elders appeared before Sister Ruth,
believing that she was a member of their tribe before the Dreaming (2) they
allowed her the unique privilege of seeing secret rituals performed and become
party to secret Aboriginal knowledge.
Sister Ruth was a pioneer in black-white relations and was also
involved with legislation regarding the non-isolation of leprosy sufferers, but
she is perhaps better known for her 1941 attempted rescue of Horace Foster at
Manangoorah during which she said she was assisted by two silent "white
doctor angels" and saw "golden hands" operating on the doomed
Foster – it was for this effort that she was awarded an MBE although she always
claimed that it was 'the others' who had done the real work. Sister
Ruth later moved to Adelaide
with her sister Marie, and she was involved with the establishment of an
Aboriginal Heritage Centre; she was also a friend of Colin McCarthy’s. Sister
Ruth was a “mystic” who strongly followed Rosicrutian teachings and
she knew Doris Player from Clare; it was Ruth who first saw a rock feature
called "the Chair" in a dream which led her to the formation where she
inadvertently captured an apparent Jesus-like spiritual entity on film. Sister
Ruth was also one of Peter Horne's closest friends during the last 20 years of
her remarkable life, and her name is still respected widely in the Northern Territory to
this day. (3)
Horne, Peter
Peter became interested in the subject in 1968, joined the AFSRS
and met the author, John Burford, Paul Johnson and others with similar
interests. With this group of people Peter conducted a number of investigations
throughout South Australia, including the Wokurna trace case (Wokurna was one
of the first examples of a very simple crop circle) and the "Kimba highway
alien" case, and this interest led Peter to gain a great deal of
interest in such fields as astronomy, meteorology and photography.
One
of the main areas of Peter’s interest was the UAP reports emerging from the Clare Valley; in the early 1970s he actively
participated in a large number of field trips to the Clare region and was
involved in research into Doris Player’s series of events. He also worked with UFO
Research Inc. and along with the author, established the short-lived C.I.T.
(Combined Investigations Team.)
Initially trending towards the extra-terrestrial and/or paranormal hypotheses, Peter's investigations utilising the scientific method ultimately led him to view UAPs and related aspects as being primarily a sociological phenomenon, and he subsequently lost active interest in the subject in the late 1970s. However, even today, in 2017, this author still enjoys periodical discussions, with Peter, about various aspects of the phenomenon.
Initially trending towards the extra-terrestrial and/or paranormal hypotheses, Peter's investigations utilising the scientific method ultimately led him to view UAPs and related aspects as being primarily a sociological phenomenon, and he subsequently lost active interest in the subject in the late 1970s. However, even today, in 2017, this author still enjoys periodical discussions, with Peter, about various aspects of the phenomenon.
Johnson, Mr, Mrs & Paul
In 1967, the Johnson family had reported
sighting a pulsating elliptical, bright, blue-white object hovering a few
hundred metres above the sea off Seacliff, an Adelaide coastal suburb. The object then
accelerated away. The family reported it to UFOPIA which started up a
relationship between them and Fred Stone. Paul became interested in the UAP
subject, and together with the author and others, was involved with research
into the Clare valley sightings of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
Jones, Alan
Alan’s interest started in Sydney NSW, in
the mid 1950’s when he first read books by authors Adamski and Allingham. He
recalls that at that time there were lots of UAP sightings in NSW and these
were mentioned in the press. He took an interest in “sky watching” which fired
up his imagination. It wasn’t until 1974/75 however that his
interest took on a more serious direction when he first met the author. He
became involved in UFORSA and attended UAP meetings at Vlad Godic’s house in
Prospect, Adelaide.
Alan’s most intriguing SA case was a
multiple witness event which occurred at Port Lincoln during a bushfire. Alan,
with the author’s assistance was able to triangulate the object’s apparent path
and height. Alan sees the UAP phenomenon as a “real”
one. As to its cause, he sees the Extra-Terrestrial hypothesis as possible; as
is the inter-dimensional idea, but feels that a “time travel” explanation is
probably not viable.
In 2017, he continues his lengthy interest
in the subject, and enjoys in depth discussions on all aspects of this enigma.
McCarthy, Colin
Colin was investigating South Australian
cases from at least 1959. In that year, along with Peter Thomas he looked into
a claimed close encounter with photographic evidence which had been documented
by Fred Stone(1) In 1962 he looked into the famous Sydney “milkman” CE3. (2) Colin
was one of the earlier investigators of the Clare Valley ,
Doris Player series of encounters and entity visits, in association with Sister
Ruth Heathcock. (3)
In the mid 1960’s he visited the UK , where in 1967 he presented a lecture on UAPs
in Australia
in the 50’s to early 60’s. He spoke about “…physical
evidence, official silence, confiscated films and cameras…” (4) Returning
to Adelaide by 1968
he attended AFSRS meetings. Between 1969 and 1972, along with the author, he
investigated a number of Adelaide
“contactee” cases.
In 1972 after returning again from the UK he gave a
talk to the AFSRS on theories to explain the UAP phenomenon. “Some of the craft are thought to be not
just extra-terrestrial but ULTRA terrestrial and manifestations from a
multi-dimensional universe.” (5) He remained in Adelaide until at least 1979, but recent
research has failed to uncover much else about his interests. It is known that
he did not keep written notes on his investigations; but rather was regarded as
a good “story teller.” (6)
Dom joined AURA in 2004 and worked
tirelessly on the Disclosure Australia Project between 2004 and 2007. He
liaised with the National Archives of Australia (NAA) on various matters
relating to the Project, and spent hours trawling through the NAA website
looking for UAP related material. To promote the Project he appeared on a
number of radio and television interviews discussing the Project. He also
presented papers at two UAP conferences about the Project’s work.
With interests in both UAPs and the
Paranormal, Dom became AUFORN State Director for South Australia between 2004
and 2006. For some time, he contributed a regular column to the UFOlogist
magazine titled “The Way home: Breakthrough Propulsion Physics.” Dom moved to
Sydney in 2006, and joined the UAP Society of Western Sydney. He returned to
Adelaide in 2016, but is still the secretary for what is now titled UFOPRSA(the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia.)
Mills, Tom E
Tom reported a sighting in November 1972
from Athelstone, of a short duration green/white light in the sky which started
off his interest in the subject. Tom was one of the AFSRS members who moved
over to UFORSA in 1973 and was active in investigating a number of local sightings
between 1973 and 1979. He was UFORSA Treasurer between 1977 and 1979, before
retiring from the field.
Mitchell, Colin
Colin’s interest in
UFOlogy started about 1987 and developed from reading plus hearing occasional
accounts of other people’s encounters. He joined UFO Research Queensland
as he was living in Brisbane at the time. He attended meetings
there and completed their UAP Investigators course.
Later, in Adelaide
he joined Colin Norris’s UFO society, attended meetings and he also joined UFO Research
Victoria and attended a few meetings in Melbourne. He also went along to AURA
meetings in the early 2000’s. Colin has also been to meetings of Glenys Mckay’s
group in Brisbane and AUFORN. In addition Colin has been to quite a few
Australian UAP Conferences.
He remains open to
a wide range of possible interpretations of UAP and alien encounters. He states that obviously
many sightings are misinterpretations of natural or man-made phenomena.
Hypotheses to account for the remainder include purely psychological
explanations up to the extraterrestrial hypothesis. He also considers that
time-travel has to be considered – the human like form of ‘aliens’ suggests
possible future humanity or biologically engineered creations. Many UAP
‘abductions’ obviously involve sleep-paralysis. They could be powerful
psychological experiences – this does not diminish their significance.
The best SA case,
or at least the most intriguing that he has personally heard, was from a couple of men
who came to Colin Norris’s UAP society meetings and described an encounter
while camped at the Strzelecki crossing. They saw a huge ball of light in
front of their car that flashed colours and caused them to abandon their tent
and equipment.
Mitchell, Darren
Then a teenager, Darren Mitchell was associated with UFORSA for about a year in 1977. He
investigated a small number of Adelaide sightings and wrote them up for the UFORSA
Newsletter.
Mountford, Ray
Ray was at one stage in the 1960’s a Vice-President
of UFOPIA. He went on to be associated with SPACERS.
Born 30 September 1920 Colin attended the Pallinga State
School on South Australia ’s West Coast, between 1933
and 1935. Between 1937 and 1941 he worked in office of a transport firm then as
a salesman in a lino and soft furnishings firm, before enlisting in the RAAF on
6 May 1941 as a Trainee Technical. In 1942 he was stationed in Geralton WA .
(1)
It was in 1942 that he later reported
seeing his first UAP while he was in the RAAF and described seeing a round
object coming towards him. Brown in colour and it had a purple “U” around the
perimeter. (2) (3) He was demobbed from the RAAF in 1945. (4) It was in 1952
that he started studying the UAP subject and reportedly joined the AFSRS in
1957.
By 1963 he was the Society’s Vice
President and traveled throughout South
Australia to investigate sightings. “I just think the world might have something
to gain from these people, who might be more advanced in knowledge than we
are.” (5)
In 1965 he attended the Ballarat UAP
convention and presented a talk “History of UFOs.” By 1968 he was the AFSRS
Vice President and Public Relations Officer, and the highest public profile UAP
researcher in the state. He was a proponent of the fact that alien visitors
were coming to the Earth. He attended and presented at the 1971 ANZAS
Conference.
He came to ASIO’s notice in 1972 when a
memo related that: Norris “…claims to be
in correspondence with Soviet academicians on the subject of unidentified
flying objects…Norris spoke to members of the Young Socialists League in South
Australia about UFOs…” (6) Also in
1972, Colin stated he was critical of Government research “How long can the
Government hoodwink the public in these matters.” (7) In 1984 he appeared on
the Mike Walsh national television show following claims of livestock loss in
the Adelaide Hills. (8) In 1995 he was cited as saying that he was then
receiving between 50 to 60 UAP reports a year. (9)
Maintaining a high public media profile
throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s he oversaw the production of numerous editions
of the AFSRS’s Magazine, and continued to receive reports from all over South Australia . With
health failing in the period 2000 to 2007, his profile declined to almost zero.
He passed away on 13 July 2009.
Payne, Debbie
Debbie Payne has been
interested in UAPs since 1992. This interest was originally sparked by a UAP
sighting of her own, thus converting her previous scepticism. After meeting
with like minded people shortly after her sighting, she became a member of The Australian International UFO Flying Saucer Research lead by Colin Norris,
eventually becoming a committee member for many years until the club stopped
holding public meetings.
Deb was then invited by the author to become one of the founding members of AURA, with the idea of carrying out research on particular topics worthy of investigation, and then to publish the results for the benefit of the wider UAP community. She spoke at National level conferences and wrote a number of magazine articles.
For several years, she worked closely with Lloyd Pye on his ambitious "Starchild Project" and was influential in bringing Lloyd Pye to Australia in 2003. In 2007, Deb retired from the UFO community to pursue other interests and to spend time with her family.
Deb was then invited by the author to become one of the founding members of AURA, with the idea of carrying out research on particular topics worthy of investigation, and then to publish the results for the benefit of the wider UAP community. She spoke at National level conferences and wrote a number of magazine articles.
For several years, she worked closely with Lloyd Pye on his ambitious "Starchild Project" and was influential in bringing Lloyd Pye to Australia in 2003. In 2007, Deb retired from the UFO community to pursue other interests and to spend time with her family.
Pearce, Laurie
Born in 1954, by 1969 Laurie was collecting book on UAPs. That same year was
out in the backyard when he saw a silver object fly across the yard at Croydon Park . Trees swayed in vicinity of the
object. He rang Colin Norris who interviewed him. Laurie became interested in UFOlogy;
talked to UAP witnesses and conducted field investigations. In 1980 he became
associated with Arthur Holden who started up a UAP group called “UFO Monitoring
Communications.” Later, when Holden left PRISM Laurie took over as group
facilitator, and later became the International Director.
Laurie organized a series of PRISM public
meetings; started a relationship re UAP reports coming in to the SA Police;
appeared on a number of radio shows; and ran numerous investigations into local
UAP sightings; including into the renewed 2002/2003 claims of Jose Duran. When interviewed in 2007 Laurie retained a
very active interest in the subject despite PRISM itself being in “suspense”
for the moment. Little is known of his UAP interests since 2007.
Piovesan, Dean
In the mid 1960’s Dean became interested
after reading books such as by George Adamski. He attended meetings of the
AFSRS. In 1972 Dean was working at John Martin’s Department store and recalls
that a very successful UAP display was held.
In 1973 he jointly investigated the Kimba
case. The local police officer drove Dean at 160km/hr out to the scene followed
by three other researchers in a pursuit car. Dean feels this is his most
intriguing case. Dean also recalls attending a 1973 meeting where Allen Hynek
lectured in Adelaide .
Powell, Peter M
Peter Powell initiated UFORI in 1971. By
December of that year Powell and the author were jointly investigating local
cases. Powell published a magazine titled the “Australian UFO Report” for a
couple of years, and also offered a book selling service. It ceased when Powell
went on to other interests.
Robb, Kevin
In 1995, at Waitpinga
Beach , in South Australia , Kevin viewed an object in
the sky and experienced a period of missing time. He became spiritually aware
and developed a technique to aid others with multi-dimensional and
extraterrestrial experience. He presented a talk titled “Dimensional interaction
in South Australia ” at the Australian national
Conference in Brisbane
in 2001. In 2005 he organized a “UFO & Metaphysical” conference in Adelaide
and himself presented a paper titled “Letting go of all fear- from abductee to
enlightenment.” Kevin is currently associated with Australian Cosmic
Connection.
Sawyer, Glenn
Glenn
was associated with the SPACERS group.
Seer, Alan
Alan lived at
Murray Bridge and was a regional investigator for UFORSA in the early 1970’s.
He assisted investigate the 30 Nov 1972 Murray Bridge, Maxwell CE2 case.
Stone, Frederick Phillip
Fred Stone was born on 23 September 1903
in Parkside, Adelaide
and was enlisted in the Defence Forces between 1939 and 1948.(1) He had an
intense interest in the subject of flying saucers which lasted between 1953 and
1972. He started the Australian Flying Saucer Club in 1953 following a personal
sighting. (2) Then in 1954 formed a South
Australian branch of the Sydney
based Australian Flying Saucer Bureau. The 1954 electoral role shows his
profession as “Trimmer.” Later in 1955 the
AFSRS was initiated by Stone (3); who also started a NSW Branch in that same year
(4). However by 1956 this branch reverted to UFOIC.
Stone’s 1955 view of “flying saucers” was:
“We know and can reasonably prove:
(a)
That U.F.O.’s exist and that they are extra terrestrial
(b) That they are
manned and controlled by beings of a high order of intelligence, mentally and
spiritually.”
(5)
Between 7 March 1955 and 7 March 1956 the
Disclosure Australia Project located 15 pieces of correspondence between Fred
Stone and DAFI, RAAF Melbourne. These papers are on files 114/1/197 and
554/1/30 Part 1. Fred’s correspondence initially advised the RAAF that the
AFSRS had been recently formed in South
Australia . Then Stone went on to seek a liaison with
the RAAF. Later on he sought information about two prospective new members of
the AFSRS. He also sought and was granted an interview with the RAAF in
September 1955. Following this meeting Stone stated that the RAAF promised
closer liaison with civilian UAP groups. “The
Dept. prefers to deal with one national body.” (6) Following this, later in
1955 Stone sought a liaison in South
Australia . The Secretary of Air wrote to the WRE re
Stone’s request.
In 1957 Stone formed the AFSRS (Victorian
Branch) Later in 1957 the group changed its name with Peter Norris as President, and John Pinkney, to VFSRS. (7)
In July 1960 Stone again wrote to the RAAF
who forwarded his letter to ASIO ACT, who in turn passed it to ASIO HQ. In this
letter Stone, referring to a Sydney based UAP
group “…the Sydney one which has some folks in its
control who have ‘pink’ tendencies…” The ASIO memo suggests “The writer (STONE) may have some potential
value for regional Director, SA…” (8)
In 1962, the year ASIO wrote a report on
the AFSRS, Stone started UFOPIA. According to one of my interviews this was reportedly
because Fred and Colin Norris fell out due to their respective egos. (9) At the
1965 Ballarat UAP Convention, Stone called for unity among UAP groups.
Stone wrote a number of editorials in his
two UAP publications, Australian Saucer Record Vol 1 1955 to Vol 9 1963 and Panorama
Vol 1 1962 Vol 10 1971 which had a religious message. This was, according to
one of my interviews, due to the fact that Stone was an ex Salvation Army
member and deeply religious.
By 1969 Stone decided that it was time to
wind down citing age and ill health. In 1970
Stone advised the Committee that he intended to resign. In March 1971
Stone resigned as President. By May 1972 UAPPIA went into permanent recession and
never came back. Stone passed away in 1976.
This author was fortunate to meet Fred’s
son, Rodney in 2015, and discuss aspects of his father’s UAP work.
Thomas, Peter David
In 1955 Peter was the Hon Assistant
Secretary of the AFSRS (1) and sub-editor of the Australian Saucer Record (2) The
following year he was involved in the investigation of the Janet X case where
hypnosis was utilized on a young girl to explore her recollections, of a trip
aboard a flying saucer (3). In 1956 he demonstrated a “light beam communicator”
intended to exchange messages with the occupants of flying saucers. (4)
In 1959 he was co-investigator with Colin
McCarthy of the 1954 account of a close encounter with photographic evidence.
(5) Research has failed to find out anything else about his interests until
1988 when Pony Godic was in correspondence with Peter over the Janet X case. The
author understands Peter has now passed away. (6)
Verdonk, Jan
Jan Vedonk was mentioned in Australian
Saucer Record Vol 9 No 1 March 1963 as a member of UFOPIA. The 1964 Sands &
McDougall directory has an entry which shows Verdonk, J 15 Thurles Street, St Marys
Walsh, Crystal
Whitehead, Brian
Brian Whitehead founded UPIA after he and
others left the AFSRS following a special general meeting on 16 November 1967
where a vote of “no confidence” was moved against Colin Norris. (1)
In summary
Long gone are the days of large, institutionalised
UAP groups such as the AFSRS and UFOPIA. As early as the mid 1990’s, UAP
groups, such as UFORSA and UFORA had small but active memberships. They focussed
on the task of conducting research programs rather than spending time and money
on building and maintaining large public memberships. AURA, modeled on the
innovative UFORSA and UFORA, carried out the highly successful “Disclosure
Australia” Project. However, the ageing nature of South Australian researchers
means that, in 2017, fewer and fewer are active in the classic research
methodology.
The age of the Internet, has meant that, in
2017, most individuals with an interest in UAP, get their information in short
bursts from such sources as Facebook, and various websites. Unfortunately, these fail to provide in-depth
documentation, and almost entirely lack in debate and discussion.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank all those who
consented to being interviewed in preparation of this article, and to those who
reviewed its initial drafts. Special thanks to:
·
John Burford for documentation he kept on the late
1960’s to late 1970’s era
·
Peter
Horne for his additional information on Sister Ruth Heathcock.
References
AFSC
(1) “Truth” newspaper article from 1959
located in a collection of press clippings compiled by Clive Williams in 1995.
(2) Australian Saucer Record (ASR) Volume
2 Number 2 p14
AFSRS
(1) National
Archives of Australia :
A703, Control symbol 114/1/197 p42.
(2) Australian Saucer Record Volume 1 Number 4
p3.
(3) Australian Saucer Record Volume 2 Number 2.
(4) VUFORS’ website 2007.
(5) Adelaide
Advertiser 31 August 1957.
(6) “Cosmic Concerto” series on Radio 2JJ
during the late 1970’s.
(7) Interview with Anthony E Bran 2007.
(8) National Archives of Australia A6122, control symbol 2155 “Queensland Flying Saucer Bureau Volume 1.”
(9) Interview with John Burford 2007.
(10) Interview with John Burford 2007.
(11) National Archives of Australia A6122, control symbol 2155 “Queensland Flying Saucer Bureau Volume 1.”
CC
http;//www.arcomnet.net.au~krobb
PFI
http://www.geocities.com/fieldinvestigation/mainpage.html.
PRISM
Interview with Laurie Pearce 2007.
SPACERS
Interview with Anthony E Bran 2007.
UFOPIA
(1) Prytz, J. 1982. “Who’s Who in Australian UFOlogy.” ACUAPS. Gosford.
(2) Interview with Anthony E Bran 2007.
(3) Interviews with Anthony E Bran; Crystal
Walsh and John Burford 2007.
(4) “Panorama” Volume 10 Numbers 5/6.
UPIA
Interview with John Burford 2007.
UFORSA:
UFORSA Newsletter number 25 dated May-Jun
1977.
UFORA
UFORAN Editorial
Vol 1 No 1 1980.
Atwell
Sunday Mail 13
August 1995.
Bran
(1) Interview with Anthony E Bran 2007.
(2) Panorama Volume 10 Number 3
(3) Panorama Volume 9 number 6
(4) Panorama Volume 10 Numbers 5/6
(5) Panorama Volume 7 number 2.
Brooks
(1) UFORAN Volume 1 Number 2 Mar/Apr 1980
p11.
(2) UFORAN Volume 1 Number 1 Jan/Feb 1980
pp33-37.
Burford
Interview with John Burford 2007.
Cartwright
(1) National
Archives of Australia :
A703, Control symbol 114/1/197 p42.
(2) ASR Volume 1 Number 4 p3.
(3) “Adelaide
Advertiser” 7 June 1956.
Cotton
Interview with John Burford 2007.
Gillespie
UFORAN Volume 2
Number 1 Jan/Feb 1981 pp30-32.
Godic, P
(1)
UFORAN Volume 2 number 2. 1981.
(2) Basterfield,
K., Godic, V, Godic, P, & Rodeghier, M. 1990. “Australian UAPlogy:A
Review.” JUAPS New Series Volume 2 pp19-44.
Godic, V
(1) National Archives of Australia Series A446 control
symbol 1955/13690.
(2) Prytz, J.
1982. “Who’s Who in Australian UFOlogy.”
ACUFOS. Gosford.
(3) Obituary in UFO Reporter Vol 4 No 1
March 1995
Heathcock
(2) (see http://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/0/255/1832273.html
(3) Email from Peter Horne, May 2007.
(3) Email from Peter Horne, May 2007.
(4) Interview with John Burford 2007.
Horne
(1) Interview with John Burford 2007.
(2) Email from Peter Horne 2007
Johnson
Hervey, M. 1969. “UFOs over the Southern
Hemisphere.” Horwitz. Sydney .
p148.
Jones
Interview Alan
Jones 2007
McCarthy
(1) Chalker, B.
1996. “UFOs Sub Rosa Down Under: The Australian Military & Government Role
in the UAP controversy.”
(2) Buckle, E. “The Scoriton Mystery.”
Neville Spearman. 1967.
(3) Interview with John Burford 2007.
(4) Connors, W. “UFOs across the Ponds: An
audio retrospective of British & Australian Cases.” Alberquerque , New Mexico .
Track 23. “Colin McCarthy lectures on the UFO in Australia from the early 1950s
to the early 1960s. January 7, 1967.”
(5) AFSRS Magazine Sep 1972 p 11.
(6) Interview with John Burford 2007.
Norris
(1) National
Archives of Australia
series A9301 Item number 39314.
(2) “UFO Man” on
“George Negus Tonight” 24 May 2004
(3) Adelaide News 27 April
1978.
(4) National
Archives of Australia
series A9301 Item number 39314.
(5) Adelaide News 22 July
1963.
(6) National
Archives of Australia A6122, control
symbol 2155 “Queensland
Flying Saucer Bureau Volume 1.”
(7) Adelaide
News 16 September 1972.
(8) Mt Barker Courier 18 July 1984.
(9) Sunday Mail 13 August 1995.
Pearce
Interview with Laurie Pearce 2007.
Piovesan
Interview with Dean Piovesan 2007.
Robb
http://www.arcpmnet.net.au/~krobb
Stone
(1) NAA file series B884 control symbol
S29785.
(2) ASR Volume 2 Number 2 p14.
(3) National Archives of Australia series A703 control
symbol 114/1/197 p 42.
(4) ASR Volume 1 Number 4 p3.
(5) ASR Volume 1 Number 4 p8.
(6) ASR Volume 1 Number 4 p4.
(7) VUFORS website 2006.
(8) National
Archives of Australia A6122, control
symbol 2155 “Queensland
Flying Saucer Bureau Volume 1.”
(9) Interview with Anthony Bran 2007.
Thomas
(1) National
Archives of Australia :
A703, Control symbol 114/1/197 p42.
(2) ASR Volume 1 Number 4 .
(3) ASR Volume 1 Number 4 pp12-17.
(4) Adelaide
News 7 June 1956.
(5) Chalker, B.
(1996.) “UFOs Sub Rosa Down Under: The Australian Military & Government
Role in the UAP controversy.”
(6)
http://www.adam.com.au/bstett/AAHistoryofInvestigator.htm
Walsh
Interview with Crystal Walsh 2007.
Whitehead
Interview with
John Burford 2007.
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