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From: William Chalker <bchalker@ozemail.com.au>
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 00:41:24 -0800
Fwd Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 14:11:42 -0500
Subject: Re: Min Min Lights

>Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 21:11:56 +0000
>To: UFO UpDates - Toronto <updates@globalserve.net>
>From: Sean Jones <Tedric@tedric.demon.co.uk>
>Subject: Min Min Lights

>Hi Errol, Hi All

>I am trying to find out a little info on the Min Min lights in
>Australia and I wondered if any of you learned people here could

>point me in the right direction for some more information
>please.


Re: the enquiry about Min Min Lights.

I have previously made extensive enquiries into this intriguing
part of Australian folklore and also made the trek out there.
Alas no sightings of the Light.

I circulated back in 1983-84 a report I wrote on this puzzle.  I
quote from the article:

"For more than a century, an extraordinary phenomenon steeped in folklore
and genuine mystery has haunted a remote area centred near the town of
Boulia, in South West Queensland....

"In Australia there have been many such reports through the
years, dispersed widely around the country.  However, the most
enduring, and the best known manifestation of the Australian
"ghost light" genre is the famous Min Min Light....

(I describe the origins of the Min Min Light tradition which go
back to at least the 1880s; aboriginal connections (such as
"debil - debil"), further historical sightings such as 1912 by
Henry Lamond; a classic sighting in 1981 by Detective Sergeant
Lyall Booth of the Police Stock Investigation Squad which
suggests 2 possible explanations for the Light based on the
Novaya Zemlya effect and a "light ball"produced by a swarm of
luminescent insects; further examples of Australian "ghost
lights" at Ovens River, Victora around 1838, Goulburn in 1878,
Natte Yallock, Victoria in the 1860s, 1911 and 1913, Garah, NSW,
in 1972, Bega area in 1974; near Tennant Creek in 1979; I
address possible explanations ranging from misidentifications,
unknown natural phenomena etc)

In my 1983-84 paper I concluded:

"The Min Min Light is many things.  First and most paramount, is
that it is and perhaps always will be, an enduring part of
Australian folklore.  The explanation for the light lies in a
number of areas, particularly amongst a range of unusual natural
phenomena.  For example, it has been caused by luminescent
insects and long distance mirage effects.  It has also been many
other things over the years.  There is no one unique explanation
for the Min Min Light.

"Attempts to explain the light, even if successful, will not
harm the legend that is the Min Min Light.  Instead, if the
mystery is resolved as fascinatining examples of natural
phenomena,  the locality of the Min Min Light's hauntings, may
simply translate into a site of enduring significance, as
manifestations of marvellous natural phenomena and attendant
folklore.  While the mystery  may wane somewhat, the power and
complexity of nature may be enhanced.

"The Min Min Light presents a challenge.  We have a wealth of
antecdotal accounts describing extraordinary phenomena.  If more
detailed accounts are forthcoming, some better answers may be
possible.  The long term nature of the history of the light's
presence in the Boulia area represents a further real challenge.
If a pattern of appearance can be determined and the lights
themselves regularly viewed, we could be provided with a rare
chance to do some real science in a controversial area, and a
great opportunity to preserve and enrich a wonderful folklore."

The late Maureen Kozicka self published a nice book on the
subject  in 1994, entitled "The Mystery of the Min Min Light".

I trust this assists the enquiry on the Min Min Light.

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