Monday, June 25, 2012

Haunted Time June 2012


Haunted Times

Welcome to the sixth edition of Haunted Times. Thank you for all your donations for our friends at Sea Shepherd over the last month, in particular Gai for a generous donation of $50 and Sylvia for donating food for two dinners. There is also a Pamper session this Saturday to raise money for the organisation. Don't forget Friday 13th is just around the corner, for something completely different, discover the darker side of Australia's sin city on the Old Surfers Paradise Ghost Tour, hear of cannibals, murderers and Australia's own Hugh Hefner! Lantern Ghost Tours was proud to be selected as a Victorian finalist in the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Awards, thank you for all your support. We have also launched a new Lantern Ghost Tours Facebook Page, post now to win a free double pass to any ghost tour.  Winners of last month's competition were Sandy, Graeme and Genevieve who are all dying to get into the Larundel Hospital! Read more below.

Happy Friday 13th!!!
The Lantern Ghost Tours Team

GHOST TOUR SPOTLIGHT: Old Surfers Paradise Ghost Tour

   

Discover the epicentre of excess and indulgence on a ghost tour of old Surfers Paradise. Peel away the glitz, glamour and showgirls of the past to reveal a dark, seedy undercurrent of greed, gluttony and betrayal and the ghosts that still linger in Australia's favourite playground. Tours depart from Gold Coast Visitor Information Centre, Surfers Paradise, QLD. Tel 1300 557 682 Book now.

ENTER CODE "VIP" FOR 10% DISCOUNT

 FUNDRAISING: Sea Shepherd Pamper Session

 
    
 Support Sea Shepherd and indulge in a 90 minute vegan friendly pamper session which includes an anti-aging facial, relaxing shoulder and neck massage, tarot card reading, $10 gift voucher and glass of bubbly. A percentage of proceeds will go to Sea Shepherd Australia. Location: Paris Lane, 1 Hall Street Newport 3015  Cost: $95 Saturday 30th June 2012. Book Now: 0431 227 935. *Proudly run by Paris Lane, Baywest Training Services, Arbonne, Divine Light Centre.
Thank you to all our guests who have donated money and food over the last month. In particular, Sylvia Travaglia for donating food and drinks for two dinners for the crew, and Gai for your very generous donation of $50. The Sea Shepherd rely entirely on donations to  end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans. Latest news: The 35-metre  Brigitte Bardot is currently on a shark fin campaign.
NEW FACEBOOK PAGE: Win a double pass to any ghost tour

We have finally launched our new Facebook Page. Sadly we can't migrate our old one over so it is time to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new group page. Please post photos, comments, EVPs, videos on the new page. We will select the best photo or post on the new Facebook page over the month of July to win a double pass to any Lantern Ghost Tour. Visit our new page: http://www.facebook.com/lanternghosttours

SPECIAL TOUR: Valley of the Gods Haunted Weekend Away Friday 24th August



Only a couple of spaces left for this limited edition tour!!! Join us for a haunted weekend away to the beautiful, historic and haunted “Valley of the Gods” Walhalla. Once a thriving gold mining town, Walhalla is now a village where ghosts outnumber its 15 residents! The weekend package includes 2 nights haunted accommodation in the former Primary School, a paranormal investigation, Walhalla Ghost Tour, 4WD adventure to hidden ghost towns and a visit to Australia’s most unique cemetery. Includes 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners, ghost tour, 4WD tour, cemetery tour, paranormal investigation, 2 nights haunted accommodation. One tour only: Friday 24th to Sunday 26th August. Book Now.

IMAGE OF THE MONTH: J Ward Ghost Tour

Caz Hamilton: picture of orb taken in the Governors Bathroom on the J Ward Ghost Tour where several people were murdered Book now.
AWARDS: Telstra Australian Business Awards Victorian Finalist

We’re delighted to have been selected as a Victorian finalist in the Telstra Australian Business Awards. The judges provided some wonderful feedback about our tours and community involvement. Thank you for all your support. We will keep you posted with the results!
COMPETITION WINNER:  It seems great minds think alike!

Sandy Pascal, Graeme Lamont and Genevieve Wetherill would all like to investigate the Larundel Hospital in Bundoora. The Hospital has had several uses over the years. In 1942 the RAAF used it as a  training depot and hospital. It was then handed over to the Department of Housing for accommodation. By 1948, 109 families lived in the building. After a fire at Beechworth hospital, wards were opened at Larundel for Beechworth’s patients. Larundel offically opened as a mental hospital in 1953. During the late 1990s, a number of Victoria’s mental hospitals were closed, including Kew and Larundel. Many patients were transferred to Austin Hospital. We have sent free ghost tour tickets to Sandy, Graeme and Genevieve.
FRIDAY 13TH:  Last one for 2012!
We have been blessed with three Friday 13ths this year. Our final Friday 13th is just around the corner for those of you suffering from friggatriskaidekaphobia!  We are running special Friday 13th tours this year with limited availability. We have a handful of spaces left on our Eynesbury Homestead, Ghosts of the Old City, Old Melbourne and Altona Homestead Ghost Tours. Book now www.lanternghosttours.com to avoid disappointment.

Sorry, our Friday 13th J Ward, Haunted Weekend Away and Point Cook Ghost Tours are fully booked.

TOUR GUIDE SPOTLIGHT: Alex Mifsud

 
Alex Mifsud has been scaring groups of people on the Ghosts of the Old City and Point Cook Homestead Ghost Tours since 2010.

Alex first attended the tours as a guest, but when his ghost attracting abilities were made apparent, he quickly became part of the team. He has seen apparitions of children, been poked and pushed, had very uneasy feelings and lately spotted a dark silhouette ghost friend who walks around spooking people out while he watches in the old Williamstown morgue.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT GHOST HUNTING? I enjoy the thrill of not knowing what may happen or better still what I may reveal. Sometimes you may just sense spirits around you while other times you get the hamburger with the lot so to speak, and everything starts happening. Going to old buildings or areas where there is a lot of history is fantastic and sometimes through the help of spirits you learn a new piece of history.

DO YOU GET SCARED? I sure do. I have had a few paranormal encounters which have really startled me, many during my childhood and plenty on my ghost tours. I have found that the best way to prevent yourself from being scared is to mentally prepare yourself and expect something to pop out and scare you.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS? A couple of my tour highlights would be seeing and talking to a lady in Lavender lane on the Williamstown tour. After talking and walking towards this woman she kind of disappeared and I was left in the lane all alone. Lavender lane is a hot spot for me on my tours but the old Morgue kills it!

At Point Cook Homestead the Cellar is a hotspot. Others and I frequently encounter hearing moaning/yelling, strange disgusting smells, hearing footsteps above us and getting poked in the ribs.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS? When I was 6 years old I saw my first ghost. It was not a transparent one, but instead it was full colour and solid. It was a torso without a head which just popped up near me then disappeared. Throughout my life I have always attracted paranormal events ranging from minor objects moving to seeing and hearing apparitions regardless of where I lived or worked. When I saw an opening to become a ghost host for Lantern ghost tours, I knew it would be my Thing. I love telling people about our countries history and the residents who still dwell there, and no one minds if I bring my ghosts along.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT GHOST HUNTING? I am a stay at home dad during the day and do some personal training several nights a week. To relax I enjoy rocking a few tunes on my guitar, making movie character vinyl model figures and when I get out of the house I love getting right into the fast paced action of paintball.