Journalist writing story on Yowies

[vincenttdwyer]

Hi everyone,

My name is Vincent Dwyer and I'm a freelance writer from Melbourne. I'm currently researching for a piece I'm preparing on Yowies and Yowie hunters. I've always been very interested in the lore surrounding these creatures and I think it's a fascinating case study which deserves more attention in Australian media.

I've been reading these forums and it's clear there's a dedicated community which is rarely written about.

To help ease me into this topic I just have a few questions for your community.

1) Where is "ground zero" for Yowie sightings/ Yowie hunting? I live in inner-city Melbourne so I doubt there's anywhere near my area which fits the description. However, Ipswitch keeps popping up, but I'm not sure if this is the best place to start.

2) Who is the best person to speak to on this topic? I'm looking to interview someone who has the most expertise in Yowie behaviour and who may have come into contact with these creatures before. Ideally, I'm hoping to spend some time with this person to get a sense of how they conduct research on Yowies.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Like I said, I'm very interested in this topic and I'm hoping to for the story behind these creatures and your community to get more exposure.

Cheers!

Vincent

[Yowie bait]

Mate just head up to the Dandenongs. Anywhere there is forest with a substantial ecosystem they will be there. Good luck with your quest. Many experienced types on here im sure are willing to help.

[yowiedan]

Hi everyone,

My name is Vincent Dwyer and I'm a freelance writer from Melbourne. I'm currently researching for a piece I'm preparing on Yowies and Yowie hunters. I've always been very interested in the lore surrounding these creatures and I think it's a fascinating case study which deserves more attention in Australian media.

I've been reading these forums and it's clear there's a dedicated community which is rarely written about.

To help ease me into this topic I just have a few questions for your community.

1) Where is "ground zero" for Yowie sightings/ Yowie hunting? I live in inner-city Melbourne so I doubt there's anywhere near my area which fits the description. However, Ipswitch keeps popping up, but I'm not sure if this is the best place to start.

2) Who is the best person to speak to on this topic? I'm looking to interview someone who has the most expertise in Yowie behaviour and who may have come into contact with these creatures before. Ideally, I'm hoping to spend some time with this person to get a sense of how they conduct research on Yowies.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Like I said, I'm very interested in this topic and I'm hoping to for the story behind these creatures and your community to get more exposure.

Cheers!

Vincent

Hello Vincent.

If you would like to have a chat you can contact me via my email at [email protected]. We can get contact details from there thanks.

[Wolf]

Gday Vince, welcome to the forum.

I would advise getting in touch with as many 'researchers' as possible, interviewing them and working out which ones are only mildly nuts compared to the real crazies.

Remember there are literally NO experts on this subject as study material is very hard to come by. Researchers are pretty much limited to rare, unrecognised sounds in the bush at night, even rarer cairns of rocks and tree 'structures', even rarer-er footprints, or even rarer-er-er actual sightings of these extremely illusive, very intelligent animals.

I suggest starting with the originator of this forum, Dean Harrison.

[MW83]

Welcome aboard, Vincent. User "wellymon" has some very interesting stories, too, he's definitely another one that's worth getting in contact with.

[vincenttdwyer]

Gday Vince, welcome to the forum.

I would advise getting in touch with as many 'researchers' as possible, interviewing them and working out which ones are only mildly nuts compared to the real crazies.

Remember there are literally NO experts on this subject as study material is very hard to come by. Researchers are pretty much limited to rare, unrecognised sounds in the bush at night, even rarer cairns of rocks and tree 'structures', even rarer-er footprints, or even rarer-er-er actual sightings of these extremely illusive, very intelligent animals.

I suggest starting with the originator of this forum, Dean Harrison.

Thanks Wolf, I appreciate the advice. I'll suss out some enthusiasts in the field to see who best fits. Is there an email address I can use to directly contact Dean Harrison?

[vincenttdwyer]

Welcome aboard, Vincent. User "wellymon" has some very interesting stories, too, he's definitely another one that's worth getting in contact with.

Thanks mate! I'll definitely get in touch asap.

[Wolf]

Gday Vince, welcome to the forum.

I would advise getting in touch with as many 'researchers' as possible, interviewing them and working out which ones are only mildly nuts compared to the real crazies.

Remember there are literally NO experts on this subject as study material is very hard to come by. Researchers are pretty much limited to rare, unrecognised sounds in the bush at night, even rarer cairns of rocks and tree 'structures', even rarer-er footprints, or even rarer-er-er actual sightings of these extremely illusive, very intelligent animals.

I suggest starting with the originator of this forum, Dean Harrison.

Thanks Wolf, I appreciate the advice. I'll suss out some enthusiasts in the field to see who best fits. Is there an email address I can use to directly contact Dean Harrison?

You can private message him from your messages in this forum. Just search for user Dean Harrison.

[MW83]

Vincent, if I may be so bold, are you sure that you want to write about this subject matter as a journalist? Whilst the topic itself is slooowly becoming more mainstream, it could be career suicide for you or you might suddenly find yourself being sneered at by your peers , should you choose to pursue it further.

Just a thought!

[gregvalentine]

Vincent, if I may be so bold, are you sure that you want to write about this subject matter as a journalist? Whilst the topic itself is slooowly becoming more mainstream, it could be career suicide for you or you might suddenly find yourself being sneered at by your peers , should you choose to pursue it further.

Just a thought!

A legitimate comment, but I believe if it's done professionally and truthfully and without resorting to tabloid bulls***, it will demand respect (well, hopefully!).

[gregvalentine]

Vincent, if I may be so bold, are you sure that you want to write about this subject matter as a journalist? Whilst the topic itself is slooowly becoming more mainstream, it could be career suicide for you or you might suddenly find yourself being sneered at by your peers , should you choose to pursue it further.

Just a thought!

A legitimate comment, but I believe if it's done professionally and truthfully and without resorting to tabloid bulls***, it will demand respect (well, hopefully!).

Vincent, if I may be so bold, are you sure that you want to write about this subject matter as a journalist? Whilst the topic itself is slooowly becoming more mainstream, it could be career suicide for you or you might suddenly find yourself being sneered at by your peers , should you choose to pursue it further.

Just a thought!

A legitimate comment, but I believe if it's done professionally and truthfully and without resorting to tabloid bulls***, it will demand respect (well, hopefully!).

And I'm off to sunny (and hotter, against my better judgement) Darwin tomorrow for 11 days walking in Kakadu (heavy pack!).

[Wolf]

Sent you a PM

[vincenttdwyer]

Vincent, if I may be so bold, are you sure that you want to write about this subject matter as a journalist? Whilst the topic itself is slooowly becoming more mainstream, it could be career suicide for you or you might suddenly find yourself being sneered at by your peers , should you choose to pursue it further.

Just a thought!

Hi there!

You're definitely right in thinking that. This is a very niche community, but I still think there's a story. I've had enough training to know that as long as you treat your story with respect and only report the facts and keep a balanced POV then anything can be a good read. I don't care about Yowies so much as your community of devotees who continue to explore this area even in the face of naysayers and hoaxers.

I don't think it will be "career suicide" as you put it. If my editors commission the piece then obviously they think something's there and that the readers will enjoy it. Right now, I'm just researching the community and the lore behind this creature. The piece has not yet been commissioned. If it does get commissioned then obviously I'm not the only one who thinks there's potential for a good story. If it doesn't get commissioned then there's no story there and I'll just have to move on.

I guess we'll see how it goes

[DaveR]

Hello Vincent. It is indeed a worthy topic to report. Nobody has succeeded in reporting this feild of study as being in any way legitimate.. if I can Suggest contacting anyone I'd suggest Russell, Rusty2 on this forum. He presents his evidence at

http://www.farsouthcoasthominoidevidence.org

Good luck with your project.. I'd love to see an unbiased article for once.

Cheers Dave

[ChrisV]

Not sure if I have too much to add to your studies and investigation but there are certainly a few folks on here that can give some compelling evidence.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[Wolf]

IMHO the Pintubi-1 skull is extremely compelling when considered with practically EVERY description of our hairy cousins.

[vincenttdwyer]

Hello Vincent. It is indeed a worthy topic to report. Nobody has succeeded in reporting this feild of study as being in any way legitimate.. if I can Suggest contacting anyone I'd suggest Russell, Rusty2 on this forum. He presents his evidence at

http://www.farsouthcoasthominoidevidence.org

Good luck with your project.. I'd love to see an unbiased article for once.

Cheers Dave

Hi Dave

Thank you very much for the tip. I'll start contacting asap.

I'm glad you're happy to see this topic further reported on. I have a healthy scepticism about most things, but for some reason this topic piques my interest. Perhaps it's the immensely Australian aspect of it (stories of a "hairy bushman" by both First Nation's people and early European settlers). Plus, my dad (who is a stubborn sceptic on almost everything) swears he drove past a towering, dark, hairy figure on the side of the road while driving up to Mildura some thirty-odd years ago.

It's a great topic and I appreciate your help. The last thing I want to do is make your community look like a bunch of loonies (which I certainly don't think you are). Right now, I can only promise a balanced and respectful report from all sides of this story.

[vincenttdwyer]

Not sure if I have too much to add to your studies and investigation but there are certainly a few folks on here that can give some compelling evidence.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Thanks, ChrisV. I'm hoping to do this story justice. Should be both fun and interesting.

[Boab Bob]

Hi Vincent,

I'm a bit wary of further tabloid-style sensationalism of the hairyman/yowie even that of the seemingly harmless type. However you could write about whether it's on the brink of extinction - deforestry and reports of them eating from human trash dumps which might pass on diseases of which they have no immunity etc.

The most widely accepted theory about them is that they are Gigantopithecus - a so-called bipedal orangutan family ape that is assumed to have gone extinct 100,000 years ago. The scientists studying that are doubtful on whether it could support it's massive bulk but i'd argue that reports of the yowie pulling themselves though forests via tree trunks might explain that. I think it's probably evolved further to not need that support so much though most are said to have long arms anyway - perhaps that aids balance?
Another 'tip' : check out Hubei province in China - the domain of the yowie-like yeren creature AND gigantopithecus remains have been found to have come from there - i recall that scientists found bones in Hubei caves too. Remarkable stuff!

And how did the yowie get into Australia? Brought by the aboriginals? They lived amongst them and then were driven out or a divison occurred where the aboriginals left them to their own devices in the forests? They may have 'migrated' to Sahul (New Guinea and Australia) in the same way smaller primates crossed into South America when the atlantic ocean was narrower via a chain of islands over many years. ANother theory is the yowie coming over to Australia via pumice rafts e.g Mt Toba explosion and suchlike.
You might also be interested (this is connect with my worry at the start) that there seems to be exterminationist neo-nazi interest in the yowie with some operators also trying to connect it with every missing person case in rural Australia.

Cheers

Bob

Hi everyone,

My name is Vincent Dwyer and I'm a freelance writer from Melbourne. I'm currently researching for a piece I'm preparing on Yowies and Yowie hunters. I've always been very interested in the lore surrounding these creatures and I think it's a fascinating case study which deserves more attention in Australian media.

I've been reading these forums and it's clear there's a dedicated community which is rarely written about.

To help ease me into this topic I just have a few questions for your community.

1) Where is "ground zero" for Yowie sightings/ Yowie hunting? I live in inner-city Melbourne so I doubt there's anywhere near my area which fits the description. However, Ipswitch keeps popping up, but I'm not sure if this is the best place to start.

2) Who is the best person to speak to on this topic? I'm looking to interview someone who has the most expertise in Yowie behaviour and who may have come into contact with these creatures before. Ideally, I'm hoping to spend some time with this person to get a sense of how they conduct research on Yowies.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Like I said, I'm very interested in this topic and I'm hoping to for the story behind these creatures and your community to get more exposure.

Cheers!

Vincent

[paulmcleod67]

Hi everyone,

My name is Vincent Dwyer and I'm a freelance writer from Melbourne. I'm currently researching for a piece I'm preparing on Yowies and Yowie hunters. I've always been very interested in the lore surrounding these creatures and I think it's a fascinating case study which deserves more attention in Australian media.

I've been reading these forums and it's clear there's a dedicated community which is rarely written about.

To help ease me into this topic I just have a few questions for your community.

1) Where is "ground zero" for Yowie sightings/ Yowie hunting? I live in inner-city Melbourne so I doubt there's anywhere near my area which fits the description. However, Ipswitch keeps popping up, but I'm not sure if this is the best place to start.

2) Who is the best person to speak to on this topic? I'm looking to interview someone who has the most expertise in Yowie behaviour and who may have come into contact with these creatures before. Ideally, I'm hoping to spend some time with this person to get a sense of how they conduct research on Yowies.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Like I said, I'm very interested in this topic and I'm hoping to for the story behind these creatures and your community to get more exposure.

Cheers!

Vincent

Giday Vince.

I would highly recommend that you have a chat with both of the following gentlemen

Rusty2 : In my opinion the best outright nuts and bolts scientific method researcher on this topic in Australia if not the world.

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=14324


And Dean Harrison: Yowie Hunters founder. If he doesn't know something about a yowie it's not worth knowing.

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=14324

Both of these guys have a boatload of field time and should be able to answer your questions before you even ask them.

Hope that helps matey.

Cheers

[hillbilly]

I would like to add..BEWARE.
Some types of journalist could be the undoing of someones credibility.
If you choose to share with a journalist, make it clear, even contractual, that you must retain the right to approve whatever information will go into circulation.
Media thrives on fantastic stories, sometimes causing the destruction of the contributor.
I would not recommend anyone to be interviewed as this thrusts that person into a situation that was not of their choice.
If you feel that it is to your own favour, then certainly contact the interested journalist.
(But remember this .."never let the truth get in the way of a good story")
Goodluck.

P.S. Shareing a special location could/ would not be beneficial to any yowies in that area.

[Shazzoir]

And it may be wise to insist on real names not being used, unless you are OK with that and approved such in writing.

Sorry, but I have a pretty jaundiced view of journalism and the media, after seeing the waggling-eyebrows and smirky tones used to report anything out of the norm and especially regarding the hairy folk. I would want to see the article before it went to print, and I am really REALLY hoping that the tone of this article will not be made out to be detrimental, though the readers may form their own opinions. We are sick to death of trust being betrayed, so tread carefully, please.

Shazz

[vincenttdwyer]

And it may be wise to insist on real names not being used, unless you are OK with that and approved such in writing.

Sorry, but I have a pretty jaundiced view of journalism and the media, after seeing the waggling-eyebrows and smirky tones used to report anything out of the norm and especially regarding the hairy folk. I would want to see the article before it went to print, and I am really REALLY hoping that the tone of this article will not be made out to be detrimental, though the readers may form their own opinions. We are sick to death of trust being betrayed, so tread carefully, please.

Shazz

Hi Shazz,

I completely understand your lack of trust for journalists and the media. And if you request to use a pseudonym instead of your real name then that's completely fine and it's my duty to respect that.

Just to be clear, I have been interested in Yowies and other cryptids since I was a young boy, so this story hits close to home for me. I also remember stories from my dad and other family friends who witnessed unexplained occurrences in rural Australia. The combination of distinctly Australian themes, a solid community which has existed for decades (Yowie Hunters forum) and unsolved mysteries makes this story second-nature for me.

I promise I will tread carefully.

[Searcher]

vincenttdwyer wrote:

"I also remember stories from my dad and other family friends who witnessed unexplained occurrences in rural Australia. "

Any chance of a hint as to what these stories are about? We tend to be a bit curious here on AYR and love to hear a good story.

Thanks in advance.

[vincenttdwyer]

vincenttdwyer wrote:

"I also remember stories from my dad and other family friends who witnessed unexplained occurrences in rural Australia. "

Any chance of a hint as to what these stories are about? We tend to be a bit curious here on AYR and love to hear a good story.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Searcher,

Of course.

One late night my Dad and my uncle (both in their early 20s at the time) were driving up to Wangaratta when my Dad spotted a towering (he reckons about 7ft tall) dark human-like figure walking up to the road. They passed it quickly so my Dad wasn't able to see specific details of the figure (whether it had hair, facial features etc) but he swore it didn't seem human. Of course, my uncle denies seeing such a thing, but he was driving at the time and my Dad says the creature was standing on the passenger side of the car.

This is my family friend's story who lives in Mansfield VIC.

She was riding and leading her horses in the middle of the Mansfield bushland, some kilometres from her house. According to her account, a larg hairy creature raised it's head from behind a bush and looked directly at her. She says the bush was 10-15m from where her and the horses were. I can't recall what she said about the horse's reaction but I can imagine it would spook them as much as it did her. Anyway, the figure quickly receded back into the bushes and it left my friend incredibly shaken. She's been living rural for so long and has had numerous dangerous encounters with snakes, kangaroos and wild pigs, but this really had an impact on her. She was so certain of what she'd just seen that she immediately called the Melbourne Zoo to ensure they weren't looking for an escaped ape. Of course, they said they weren't.


These stories aren't anything amazing but what really gets me is the people involved. My dad is a sceptic on just about everything. He can't be sure he saw a Yowie, but he swears he saw something that night. The man doesn't bullshit around.
And I have no reason to doubt my family friend's claims. She's an very smart person. She's university-educated and is also a former mathematics and science teacher. She is by no means "crazy".

[Shazzoir]

Thank you, Vincent, your elaboration has eased my mind somewhat, and I will say that that's favourable, as I know I'm possibly not the only person here with reservations who may now feel a little more at ease about your goal. I would love to see your story when it's done - do you have a date for us for when you hope to publish?

My tale is not as good as some - I never saw 'my' yowie, but I was within two feet of its hand when it pressed down the top of my tent in the early hours of the morning, and scared the living bejeezus out of me!

Shazz

[Tuckeroo]

vincenttdwyer wrote:

"I also remember stories from my dad and other family friends who witnessed unexplained occurrences in rural Australia. "

Any chance of a hint as to what these stories are about? We tend to be a bit curious here on AYR and love to hear a good story.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Searcher,

Of course.

One late night my Dad and my uncle (both in their early 20s at the time) were driving up to Wangaratta when my Dad spotted a towering (he reckons about 7ft tall) dark human-like figure walking up to the road. They passed it quickly so my Dad wasn't able to see specific details of the figure (whether it had hair, facial features etc) but he swore it didn't seem human. Of course, my uncle denies seeing such a thing, but he was driving at the time and my Dad says the creature was standing on the passenger side of the car.

This is my family friend's story who lives in Mansfield VIC.

She was riding and leading her horses in the middle of the Mansfield bushland, some kilometres from her house. According to her account, a larg hairy creature raised it's head from behind a bush and looked directly at her. She says the bush was 10-15m from where her and the horses were. I can't recall what she said about the horse's reaction but I can imagine it would spook them as much as it did her. Anyway, the figure quickly receded back into the bushes and it left my friend incredibly shaken. She's been living rural for so long and has had numerous dangerous encounters with snakes, kangaroos and wild pigs, but this really had an impact on her. She was so certain of what she'd just seen that she immediately called the Melbourne Zoo to ensure they weren't looking for an escaped ape. Of course, they said they weren't.


These stories aren't anything amazing but what really gets me is the people involved. My dad is a sceptic on just about everything. He can't be sure he saw a Yowie, but he swears he saw something that night. The man doesn't bullshit around.
And I have no reason to doubt my family friend's claims. She's an very smart person. She's university-educated and is also a former mathematics and science teacher. She is by no means "crazy".

Hi Vincent,
It’s interesting the amount of posts that question your intentions.
Makes me feel like I’m among like minded people. A unique ‘community of devotees’ as you say,
almost like a religion with witnesses, followers, researchers and philistines. Even elders and those
who’s experience got the better of them. A kind of gum leaf animism with the Yowie as god.

Your replies are like saint Vincent’s letter to the Yowarians pacifying them with regards to your scripture
on their hairy prophet.

I was attracted to this subject/community as you say by the ‘immensely Australian aspect of it’ and the ‘lore’
that has developed within this community, regardless of popular culture or government agency.
I’m constantly amazed at how much discourse the beloved Yowie generates.

Your family friends experience sounds like AYR audio report # 17 at Bridge creek.

Good luck with your writing.


T.

[Searcher]

Hi Vincent,

Thanks again for your detailed reply with those family and friend's encounters. I would like to wish you all the best with your research and subsequent article on Yowies and the people who pursue them. I understand where you are coming from as I have spent all my working life in the media. I trust you will get the required co-operation from AYR members.

Also like you, I am an inner city person having lived in Parkville near Melbourne University for over 30 years. In the last few months I have moved to the outer east of the city. At least now I am closer to the hairy man’s territory in the eastern ranges.

I know it’s not going to be easy to present a credible case for the existence of Yowies in Australia without being subject to ridicule. It will come anyway, so it will be a challenge for you to be prepared for it. The vast majority of people tend to scoff at esoteric subjects even though they have never done any research on them. Anything too far out of the ordinary will not fit their blinkered viewpoint. That is a sad fact of life.

I would also be interested to hear what arm of the media you believe will be receptive to your project.

Cheers.

[hillbilly]

Good Luck with your project Vincent.
As you are a freelance journo, you have sell articles to eat and live. You are writing a piece that might be bought. It will only be bought IF it is fantastic.(Goolgle "fantastic"- definition No. 2 ) Fantastic articles sell advertising. Advertising is what pays for your piece. It don't matter how much personal attachment you might have for the topic, or how much time you spend pouring over detailed accounts. You will have to "make" it fantastic to be bought.
I was also wary that you could be compiling a dossier of witness accounts that could be made into a book. Your book?
So Goodluck with it, and I hope to be impressed when I read the article. I am sure it will be Fantastic.

[vincenttdwyer]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your comments on here. I've been sick most of the week so I've been pretty terrible at resonding to these posts, sorry about that.

I understand a lot of people have been very wary of me telling an honest and respectful story of the Yowie and the Yowiehunter community. While I can promise my integrity as a neutral writer and observer, utlimately the editor has the final say and they will often warp the story to make it something which fits the publication's beliefs.


However, my research partner, Don and I have now decided to instead present this piece as a video documentary. We believe the story and it's distinctly visual elements will not be done justice if presented in written format. The video medium will allow Don and I to venture outside of our safe, urban bubble of Melbourne and into the real Australian landscape to film the environment and speak to experts, enthusiasts, witnesses and First Nation's elders from all over this continent.

We've got interviews lined-up with indigenous researchers in Melbourne and my family friend who had her experience with a Yowie in Mansfield VIC. We hope to eventually make it to the Blue Mountains and Queensland for some better footage and interviewees.

If you have any more suggestions of who to contact or where to film then please leave a message in this thread or shoot us a private message. We would love to hear from you. Cheers.