JULY 1998
01.07.98 nr EDMONTON, QLD 0115hrs (NL)
(Source: Russell Boundy e-mail: uforb@internetnorth.com.au UFOR(FNQ) Ref: QB98032)
Two female witnesses travelling from Cairns to Babinda area observed a very bright light just south of Cairns. The object was larger and brighter than any stars and was described as pulsating in brightness. The witnesses say the object followed their car south until they reached the DPI Inspection roadblock station north of Babinda. The witnesses stopped here and got out of their car and alerted DPI staff to the object's presence. The DPI staffs (three persons) are adamant that the object was not a star. The two witnesses in the car drove to Babinda. When they arrived home the object was approximately 75 degrees elevation and appeared to be coming closer. One witness woke her son and they observed the object a further 30 minutes until it moved away to the north. The three witnesses at the DPI station observed the object moving slowly north and south several times that morning until approximately 0630hrs.

Additional Information:
No air traffic movements were recorded in the area at the time. At times the description of this object appears characteristic of the movement of an astronomical body. The planet Venus does not seem to be in the correct position to account for the sighting. It was not above the horizon for the earlier part of the event.

Conclusion:
It would seem possible that some sightings of the object were in fact sightings of the planet Venus, in particular those described by the one or two of the DPI staff of the stationary object. They often observed the object at intervals. Duration of sighting: from 30 minutes to up to three hours. Holly Goriss UFORFNQ

02.07.98 nr BRAMSTON BEACH, QLD 2345hrs (NL)
(Source: Russell Boundy e-mail: uforb@internetnorth.com.au UFOR(FNQ) Ref: QB98033)
At about2345hrs EST the male witness was driving his vehicle eastwards along Bramston Beach Road at the Ellis River crossing. He observed a round bright white object low and stationary in the sky and ahead of him. The witness almost stopped and turned around being worried as to what the object was. He decided though to drive on towards Bramston Beach. The object was ahead on his right. It commenced pacing his vehicle at distance and went behind the low mountains. The witness drove on through the range and on coming out the side saw the object now behind him on the right. Light emanating from the object lit up the surrounding area. He turned his vehicle around to look at the object, then he got out of his vehicle and stood looking at the object. At this point the object began moving away from the witness in a westerly direction. It moved downward and behind a hill.

The witness described the round shaped object as clearly defined edges of white light, two protuberances like "goatees" ( cone or triangular shaped) attached at the bottom of the circle of the same colour. He described the objects size at its closest as that of a tennis ball at arms length.

Additional Information:
No air traffic movements were recorded in the area at the time, although in the nights following RAAF aircraft were operating in the area on exercise only until 1930-2000hrs. This seems to have been a previously planned exercise with the Army and Airforce, not a reaction to the presence of the object the night before. No sound was heard from the object even at its closest point to the witness. Duration of the sighting: 10 minutes. Russell Boundy UFORFNQ

04.07.98 BRISBANE (DUTTON PARK), QLD
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
Man reports seeing an oblong vessel with portholes name with held. UFORQ Inc

07.07.98 BRISBANE (MORETON BAY), QLD 1515hrs (DO)
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
Air Force retiree reports seeing black smoke rise out of the ocean while fishing east of Green Island on Moreton Bay about 3.15pm. The smoke reportedly went 50m into the air before a flash like bomb exploding went off and left a black ring in the air. UFORQ Inc

07.07.98 BRISBANE (DECEPTION BAY), QLD 2015hrs (NL)
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
Husband and wife report seeing 2 red lights moving slowly close to the ground before moving over a neighbour's house 8.15pm. No sound heard. UFORQ Inc

11.07.98 BRISBANE (BUNYA DOWNS), QLD 1500hrs (DO)
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
Husband & wife reported seeing a craft travelling exceptionally fast, before disappearing into the clouds at 3.00pm. A strange booming noise was heard. UFORQ Inc

11.07.98 BRISBANE (DECEPTION BAY), QLD 2000hrs (NL)
(Source: Personal Investigation by Robert Frola)
On 11 July 1998, Allan's wife was outdoors around 8 pm when she saw four lights close together. They were moving across the northern sky towards the northwest. A fifth light joined them and together they shot upwards like a flare. They seemed to rotate positions ending with a total of about ten lights before they disappeared.

12.07.98 KATHERINE, NT LATE AFTERNOON (DO)
(Source: INUFOR Digest Vol.4 No.2 October 1998)
Several prominent citizens saw a most unusual a large round black object, about the size of the moon, above the western horizon. The upper edge seemed to be "rimmed with fire", but the witnesses felt this may have been a reflection of the setting sun. It moved slowly to the west and out of sight. Tindall Air Force Base had not received any reports, and there were no known craft in the area. The object was too large and slow for a plane, and no records of any high atmospheric balloons being released. Keith Douglass UFORAS

15.07.98 HASTINGS, VIC (POSSIBLY IDENTIFIED)
(Source: The Australian UFO Bulletin September 1998 Issue)
An object with a red and blue light base and white on top, was observed moving northwest slowly. It them reversed direction. Two lights were seen falling from the object. Possibly a balloon, with Cyalume light-stick falling away. VUFORS

18.07.98 BRISBANE (LAWTON), QLD 2000hrs (NL)
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
Man reports seeing bright lights travelling south below cloud level about 8.pm. No sound reported. UFORQ Inc

18.07.98 BRISBANE (DECEPTION BAY), QLD (NL)
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
Seven people report seeing yellow/orange lights moving erratically before forming a line and disappearing after three minutes. A large number of similar incidents reported over Logan, Beenleigh, and area between 1993-1995. UFORQ Inc

18.07.98 BRISBANE (DECEPTION BAY), QLD 1915hrs (NL)
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
The area with the highest number of sightings seven witnesses reported seeing three orange football-shaped lights about 7.15pm Travelling erratically before forming a straight line, the light where seen for about 3 minutes. UFORQ Inc

21.07.98 RAAF WILLIAMTOWN, NSW 1820-1835hrs (NL)
(Source: Bryan Dickenson. Credit: Mike Farrell, mikefarr@midcoast.com.au. Keith Basterfield Network, 23.07.98)
Observer (with ex-RAAF connections) living nearby reported that the base was buzzed by seven large UFOs from about 6.20 to 6.35 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

Woman watched seven large identical objects, about 3000 feet up, maneuvering over the AF Base for about 1/4 hour - each had a large central white light, and one each of smaller red and blue lights on either side.

Objects then headed off southwest at very high speed and disappeared. There appeared to be something dark suspended below each object, but she could not make out any (structural) details.

Witness said these were definitely not some of the fakes the RAAF has been using recently and in the past to put off witnesses (orange lights in triangular formation) - these were much bigger and the implied technology was very different

Base personnel probably at dinner, but some evidence staff may have been 'scrambled'. UFORNSW (U/I)

23.07.98 GRANTON, TAS 2030hrs (CE1)
(Source: Keith Roberts & Paul Jackson, Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre)
An ill-defined dome-shape with flickering blue/red/white lights is reported by a motorist. The object, taken at first for a helicopter, was stationary out over the Derwent River.

24.07.98 GRANTON, TAS 2230hrs (NL)
(Source: Keith Roberts & Paul Jackson, Tasmanian UFO Investigation Centre)
A motorist sees red/yellow lights in front of the Dromedary Hills. The steady lights look to move up and down on the hill. The motorist thought it could be a helicopter and stopped for a couple of minutes before driving on.

24.07.98 ROBERTSONS BEACH, VIC 0600hrs (DO)
(Source: The Australian UFO Bulletin September 1998 Issue)
Two witnesses reported seeing two objects, one a bright light, the other orange. They were flying from SE to SW. The second was about half the size of the first, about the size of a 5-cent piece held at arms length. Both objects disappeared suddenly. VUFORS

26.07.98 BRISBANE (CALAMVALE), QLD 2010hrs (NL)
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
Husband and wife report a large red star shaped abject moving south for 15 seconds before a flame shot out of the base and it disappeared into the clouds at 8.10pm. No noise was reported. UFORQ Inc

27.07.98 TOWNSVILLE, QLD (NL)
(Source: Mike Farrell, e-mail: mikefarr@midcoast.com.au & Diane Harrison, e-mail: tkbnetw@fan.net.au. The Keith Basterfield Network 10.08.98)
Luminous orange UFOs appeared on two nights last week in Townsville, Queensland state, Australia, and were seen by dozens of people. "The sudden appearance of seven unidentified flying objects over Townsville last night (28th July 1998) and Monday night (27th July 1998) have left officials baffled."

"Several officials were spooked when seven orange- reddish lights were reported gliding over Annandale, Garbutt and Kirwan. Senior air traffic controller Squadron Leader Trevor Beams (Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF) said police, Army and RAAF were unable to explain it. 'I have no idea what it was,' he said."

"Three air traffic tower duty-officers saw three lights at 6:45pm and four lights at 7:45pm on Monday. Squadron Leader Beams said the lights were moving slowly the sky at 800 to 1,000 meters (altitude) due east. Bicycle store owner Sam Bratton said he saw four large orange lights move northwest over Kirwan at 7:45 (pm) on Monday. 'I saw them and called out to the people in the pizza shop (next door) to come and have a look,' he said. 'This was weird. I have never seen anything like this before in my life, and I am 75 years old. It was quite scary. I was not drinking, and I have seen some strange things in my life, but this would have to be the strangest.'"

"Cranbrook resident Peter Fox reported seeing five or six orange lights at 8:50 to 9 p.m. last night (28th July) before they disappeared in the direction of Mount Stuart. 'I thought at first they might be helicopters, but there was no sound and they weren't blinking,' Mr. Fox said."

"The Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority was called at 8:53pm by an off-duty officer, also in Cranbrook Ainsley Pavey, Townsville Bulletin, 29.07.98

28.07.98 BRISBANE (REDCLIFFE), QLD
(Source: Keith Basterfield Network, 02.08.98)
A man and his mother report a white cigar-shaped object hovering on the sky for about 10 minutes. Man reportedly took photos of the object with a long lens but the photos have yet to developed. UFORQ Inc