Not Just For Men Traditional Cache
2max: Cache is missing. Thanks to all the finders over the years for some great logs. Time to Archive.
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Welcome to the picturesque Manns Beach! You are looking for a large keyhide container - the cache contains a log book and pen only. Please ensure the cache is out of sight when you replace it. Thanks!
Manns Beach has been a favoured spot for well over 130 years, with hundreds of locals flocking here to enjoy the bathing, boating, fishing, hunting, camping, sunshine and fun over the summer months. The town has always been a quiet place to retreat to (in 1950 there were just 12 permanent residents) yet during the warmer weather much excitement was to be had once the crowds descended.
Regular events were staged here such as a Circus, sports days, fishing competitions as well as an Air Show. As quiet as it appears, Mann's has its share of interesting stories, including the 1946 beaching of 140 whales and one dolphin. There have also been a number of interesting boating mishaps and adventures, fires, and hunting accidents, however the story I find most intriguing are the mysterious lights.
In August of 1950 a series of mysterious lights were spotted at sea about 10 miles off Manns Beach, over several nights by at least 15 independent witnesses. The Aurora Australis was quickly ruled out as the cause. A series of red, white and blue flare-like lights were spotted in the air, as well as a glow on the horizon. A local Port Albert fisherman was requested at 10pm to go check the area for distressed vessels, with no result. Although he did sight another flare at 1.45am and again at 6am but a thorough search of the presumed area as daylight broke, yielded no answers. The following day RAAF planes diverted an afternoon exercise to check the area and found the entire foreshore of a small unnamed island ablaze. Locals reported that the undergrowth at this time of the year on the islands was too damp to ignite by natural causes.
A series of what appeared to be 4 red flares fired at regular intervals was also later seen coming from the same direction, and again the fisherman went to investigate. What sounded like some sort of aircraft was heard flying over the area the following night with all navigation lights switched off. It seemed to be circling. A white spotlight was seen coming from the aircraft, lighting up an area out at sea, before the light flicked off and the aircraft disappeared. The RAAF reported that they had no planes flying in the area on that particular night, nor were any civil planes about. The Civil Aviation Department even diverted a Tasmania-Melbourne DC3 passenger aircraft to see if they might be able to spot anything amiss, but with no result.
A special watch was maintained for several weeks, however nothing more was ever seen of the mysterious lights again.
In the 1950's UFO sightings became all the rage. I reckon this story was just a touch too early, being in 1950 itself, otherwise the newspaper reports may have made for completely different reading!! 
Congratulations Chaplain Mike & Smart Sassy Siren - FTF.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur uvag vfa'g uneq gb haqre-fgnaq
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