Location: Taree, New South Wales
Date: August, 2000
A film crew from Perth had been in contact for quite some time planning a Documentary about the Yowie. After many discussions we agreed to bring them along to our Taree location where we have a few different Yowies roaming the bushland properties and where we had our own experiences with the creature on the past expedition.
We have our hidden cameras at this location, however the Yowies seem to be taking a different path since they were put in place. One suggestion was that perhaps they could see the infra-red, another was that they could also see the cameras and weren't familiar with these new objects. During the last expedition there, we had cut a path from the house straight up the hill through the think bush and it was this new path that they seemed to be taking now, much like we would use a game trail to walk through thick bush and lantana - its the easiest option and available. Over the top of the hill and down the other side is a deep valley and mostly uncharted; this is where they seem to be coming from. Unfortunately 3 out of 4 of the sensors on the cameras are not working and the footage is generally only monitored if the sensors are triggered. This means that anything could have been on film in the past couple of months and simply taped over.
Since our last visit the residence had many encounters with a new black one that has been turning up regularly. The young 7 year old son of the owners was outside playing when his dad heard him calling out to "Come and look". When Geoff walked out to see what he was looking at, his son said, "Dad is that Oscar?". (A name they use for the 9ft grey that has been there for many years). Geoff looked up the hill above the house to see a 7ft black Yowie standing there watching his son from behind the scrub; it promptly turned around and made its way back up the trail which we cut. The new black one was also seen on a couple of occasions standing in the long grass beside the tree line near the top of the driveway, however each time Geoff went for the camera in the house it had gone before he returned. Each time it has been seen, like the other ones, it was observing the house with great interest.
The son explained to me that the face was more "primate looking" with "mangy" black hair surrounding the face. At the house below one had been seen on two occasions walking along the top of the dam, and they have had several rocks thrown at their shed while playing loud music (Just like Ashley did on the previous expedition there). The wife of the owner has also reported to have stirred him up when she had started the chainsaw a few times and often feels uncomfortable when alone in the house because of their presence.
Myself and Mike in one car, and Steve and Trevor had the 4wd for the 8 hour trip South. We arrived just on dark and unpacked. After cooking dinner and making firm plans for the nights stakeout, we all set off in different directions. Myself and Mike teamed up for the night about 150m into the thick bush and unrolled our swags. When all was still, we could hear something splashing about in the dam below, however it was just too far away, the bush was too thick and the noise from our steps inhibited us from advancing towards it. Even the smallest movements we made seemed to be excessively loud in the dry undergrowth, so we simply sat and listened. There were no dogs in the area and we had never seen ducks on the dam. The noises were a mystery and will remain so.
During the night I was awoken to noises in the bush above us and the triggering blasts from Mikes digital camera from time to time. Mike stayed awake the entire night, but after an 8 hour drive, I made the most of his alertness and slept when I could.
When morning came Mike told me of the noises through he bush while I slept, however there was nothing happening out of the ordinary. Breakfast time was bacon, eggs and sausages followed by a trip into Taree to meet with the film crew. After a few hours of different camera shots for the Doco, it was back to work and we planned the positions for the night. He leads a life of excitement and straight after they finished with us, he was over to the USA for the Bigfoot. Spence was the other cameraman from Melbourne, flying up just for this shoot. Both guys were the best we have worked with and by the end of the trip we felt they we members of our team and look forward to working with them again.
After another hearty fat meal just before dark, we set up Daniel's position on the track from where they come. We set up our deep cycle batteries and an inverter for 240V to power the cameras and he was set for the night. I asked if would be ok up there all alone, but he was fine. Steve was down in the grass alongside the house at the edge of the bush where we heard that it now walks. Mike remained at base. Spence was down the hill surveilling the dam and I roved around.
I opened up all doors on the car and played a special type of music that we came up with to try something different, and as suggested by the owners. It wasn't long before Daniel radioed in to find the positions on everyone. Seemed he had somebody or something walking down behind him on two feet. We all radioed our positions, however the visitor was none of us. It slowly made its way down the track behind Daniel and situated itself behind the bushy trees which were too thick to film through. Although he was a little edgy at first, he still maintained that he was ok and had no need for backup. It stood behind him for a while, then he radioed in again asking "What does it mean when they growl at you!!?!!" Apparently it had let off a growl the likes of which he had never heard before. This guys spends most of his time filming animals, but this noise was nothing he had ever heard. From there it walked down to his right and continued down the hill towards the house.
Steve then radioed in saying that it was now coming by him. No doubt in his mind that it was on two feet as it pushed its way through the bush. The radios all came alive at that stage with everyone reporting movement and a continual progress report of the creature was being covered from the time it entered the top track, all the way down passed the house to the bottom.
Steve then joined up with Spence to follow its movement near the dam. Spence reported to have seen the glow of the red eyes as it walked through the trees a few times. All this activity, but still no footage. Besides an active start to the night, there was only the odd crack in the bush during the night that made us sit up and listen a few times.
Being rather habitual creatures, we believe that the property in question is merely a transit passage each night where it stops for a look if something takes their interest. There has been many daylight sightings of them there also, and we are confident that its just a matter of time before footage is taken.
The next day we did more filming and interviews. While down in the creek bed, we found prints which we cast. The clouds began to gather and it was at this stage we realized that it was going to be a wash out from that time on. Having so much expensive equipment, we opted to hang up our boots for the night and not risk the electrical gear getting wet. We have also noticed in our numerous expedition that when it rains, they rarely come out to play.
Between then and this report being posted, the owner has phoned many times with more sightings. One was of a 3 year old son of a friends who was playing outside pointing to the bush saying, "Monster! Black monster, walking! etc........" The other times included being growled at and hearing walking around the house at night.
It was a memorable time.
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