Australian Mainland Sighting: Thylacine?

From the news:

"Victorian farmer Harry Cook owns a property bordering the Otway Ranges south of Melbourne.
"Late last year he was with a mate inspecting crop damage caused by rabbits when they spotted three wedge-tailed eagles circling the paddock.
"'They were circling over an animal -- we got within 12 foot of it. It was about the size of a large dog with a very long tail that was sticking straight up in the air as if it was fending off the wedgies,' Mr Cook said.
"'There were white stripes on its chest and it had a boofy head with round ears and the side of the muzzle was white.'
"He copped a lot of flak for reporting the peculiar sight, but not because no one believed him.
"'Farmers around here told me I had broken the code of silence -- that they had seen things too, but as soon as it is reported all the townies come with their rifles trying to shoot it.'"