Haunted Times July 2012

Phone: 1300 390 119    www.lanternghosttours.com

Haunted Times

 

Welcome to the seventh edition of Haunted Times. July was a busy month! We survived another 48 hr sleep deprivation challenge on the eternally creepy J Ward Lunatic Asylum sleepover. Dave and Josh from the Silic & Lee show braved the Ghosts of the Old City tour (lookout for the show in 2013). We ran our first Old Surfers Paradise Ghost Tour as featured in the Sunday Mail and Great South East. We said farewell to our friends from Sea Shepherd who have left Williamstown to save the largest humpback whale sanctuary in the world in Western Australia. Jacqui was thrilled to be shortlisted for the Telstra Business Women's Awards. Luckily we still have a lot to look forward to in August: we are busy preparing for our special, one off Valley of the Gods Haunted Weekend Away to the beautiful village of Walhalla (only a few spaces left).

Happy Haunting
The Lantern Ghost Tours Team

 

SPECIAL ONE OFF TOUR: Friday 24th TO 26th 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.

 

 NEW TOUR: Old Surfers Paradise Ghost Tour

 

Congratulations to Jaime, Rebecca and Sarah for their brand new Old Surfers Paradise Ghost tour. The very first tour ran on Friday 13th July and despite the rain, has become instantly popular with tourists and locals keen to discover the darker side of Australia's favourite playground. Don’t be fooled by the modern exterior, Surfers Paradise is steeped in history. The coastline first appeared on a map in 1509 during the reign of King Henry VIII (infamous for beheading his wives). Lantern Ghost Tours have received hundreds of emails and phone calls about ghost sightings in
the area, making the area one of the most unique haunted locations in the world, with modern buildings masking a spiritual underworld. The new tour has already featured in the Sunday Mail and will feature on Channel 7s Great South East. Discover the dark side of Surfers Paradise for yourself on the Old Surfers Paradise Ghost Tour. Book Now.

GHOST TOUR SPOTLIGHT:  J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour

   

 

Be committed for an evening. Enter the cells of the criminally insane if you dare. Walk in the footsteps of self mutilators, men with superhuman powers and infamous characters linked to the Queen. Learn of governors who have murdered inmates, prisoners buried in the grounds and the many souls trapped within these walls. J Ward became a ward (J Ward) of the Ararat Lunatic Asylum in the mid 1880s to house the most depraved and most dangerous men in Victoria in horrific conditions under the highest security. Shockingly, it only closed in 1991 and now offers a glimpse of life for Victoria's Criminally Insane men. Lantern Ghost Tours have been running ghost tours, paranormal investigations and sleepovers at the J Ward Lunatic Asylum for over 2 years and have discovered many of the trapped souls that still linger. Join one of our award winning tours of Australia’s most infamous asylums. Book now.

 

ENTER CODE "VIP" FOR 10% DISCOUNT

 COMMUNITY: Steve Irwin to Commence Operation Kimberley Miinimbi

     

On Sunday July 22, the MY Steve Irwin under the command of Captain Malcolm Holland left Seaworks Williamstown, Melbourne Australia en route to Broome in a last ditch effort to save the largest humpback whale nursery in the world. The Steve Irwin was given a very moving send off with a Smoking Ceremony from Rodney Augustine, who is a Nyul Nyul and Jabir Jabir man whose land and sea country is at risk due to the proposed Woodside gas hub. Read more.

 

 

FRIDAY 13TH: A Special Evening

 

 

 By Tour Guide Extraordinaire: Ann C

 

Driving through thick fog on the Point Cook Homestead Road reinforced the isolation that folk living in the area would have felt in the nineteenth century. The beams of the headlights blended with fog, giving no clear outlines but a vague and mysterious future.  The fog continued on the driveway to the homestead itself, the car jolting through the potholes. As guests arrived it was clear that the fog had provided an eerie stage setting and that the Homestead had done itself proud with first impressions.

But it didn’t stop there.  A short way into the tour the fog lifted and we were under a clear black winter sky pricked with silver stars.  Beautiful.  And the ghostly inhabitants of the homestead played their parts. A thud in the cellar had guests jumping, it was repeated when requested.  Also in the cellar a young woman felt an invisible hand grasp her arm. The black fur jacket of one of our guests was apparently irresistible, and was stroked in the hallway between the smoking room and the sitting room.  The copper divining rods crossed in Thomas’ and Andrew’s bedrooms and uncrossed when asked.

At the end of the tour a woman came up to me and told me that she had just received a phone call from her husband. She asked him why he had rung. He said “You rang me” She hadn’t, and she could think of no way she had accidently called him. Friday the 13^th of July was a night of possibility at Point Cook Homestead. I am glad I was there to feel it and share it.

 

AWARDS: Telstra Women's Business Awards

Congratulations to Jacqui for being  shortlisted for the Telstra Business Women's Awards in two categories: Nokia Innovation Award and Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award. Lantern Ghost Tours have also been shortlisted for the Wyndham Business Awards. Read full article.

 

 

MEDIA:  Silic & Lee Show

Ross, Jacqui and Andrew had a ball scaring the crew from the Silic & Lee Show on a private Ghosts of the Old City, Williamstown Tour last Thursday. We had an unusually high level of paranormal activity with a sighting of a female apparition at the Titanic Theatre Restaurant, a few scares in the old morgue where one of the camera men was so scared he ran into the wall, Dave being frightened in the old opium den and the EMFs triggering in unison and responding to all our questions. Poor old Josh also found a mysterious, unexplained text message on his phone at the end of the tour and we had to cleanse two of the crews' vehicles so they could drive them home! You can watch the show early 2013. Visit their facebook page.

 

TOUR GUIDE SPOTLIGHT: Johnny

Johnny has been scaring groups of people on the Old Melbourne and Altona Homestead Ghost Tours for almost 2 years. He has had women fall for him...literally...at Altona Pier and some strange requests..... WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT GHOST HUNTING? I like meeting new people, hearing their experiences and encounters and getting outdoors amongst the general public...it gets so lonely at psych ward...   DO YOU GET SCARED? The tour and content don't scare me, some of the colourful folks who call the CBD home can however be a little unnerving.... WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT GHOST HUNTING? I'm an actor, drama teacher and avid hydroponic peach farmer - I could eat a peach for hours..

 

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS? while dressed in full period costume one evening,a bunch of well lubricated Irish chaps mistook me for Harry Potter and asked, very enthusiastically, if I would do them a "fecking trick...." But alas,I don't do requests...

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS? When my job at the disposable cigarette lighter repair factory was made redundant,I needed a new challenge...An audition notice was posted, my people spoke to their people, and that, they say, is your fathers brother...

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Haunted Time June 2012

Phone: 1300 390 119    www.lanternghosttours.com

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.

Haunted Times March 2012

Phone: 1300 390 119 www.lanternghosttours.com

Haunted Times

Welcome to the third edition of Haunted Times. Here at LGT we have been very busy as usual. Stephen Russell from City Weekly joined Jeremy Kewley to discover the darker side of Melbourne; Jacqui from LGT is running a series of free Williamstown History Tours to help visitors discover the beautiful, historic seaport; LGT and J Ward have launched a new ghost tour to take guests into the minds of the criminally insane. The Melbourne Discovery Centre is helping spook more school groups than ever before with their haunted packages. After recovering from Friday 13th January, Jonesy, Troy and Jacqui are preparing for the penultimate of haunted weekends away- spending the next Friday 13ths sleeping over at J Ward Lunatic Asylum and we have been rewarded for all our hard work and sleepless nights with two Tourism awards: The 2011 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Tourism Award and 2011 Star Women in Business Tourism Award.

Thank you to all of our wonderful customers for your support, photos, stories and emails, our fantastic guides Jeremy, Johnny, Arthur, Lisa, Ross, Carol, Ann and Alex, investigators Jonesy and Troy and office managers Sandra and Gavin for all their hard work.

Andrew and Jacqui

NEW GHOST TOUR: J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour

Have you ever visited a Lunatic Asylum for the criminally insane? Be committed for an evening if you dare. Walk in the footsteps of self mutilators, men with superhuman powers and infamous characters linked to the Queen. Learn of governors who have murdered inmates, prisoners buried in the grounds and the many souls trapped within these walls who still linger long after their deaths. Run by the experts: Friends of J Ward and the Lantern Ghost Tours Teams www.jwardghosttour.com.

IN THE NEWS: Paranormal Activity- City Weekly Stephen A Russell

Stephen Russell from City Weekly joined our Old Melbourne Ghost Tour for a night exploring our haunted capital. Here's what he had to say....

As night falls over the city and shadows creep into the dark recesses of Melbourne’s alleyways, something stirs beyond the reach of comprehension. The old bricks and cobblestones hold the souls of thousands upon thousands of the dead, and as All Hallow’s Eve approaches, the veil between us grows ever thinner. Attired in a pitch black suit, with a flash of red tie, actor, comedian and Footy Show regular Jeremy Kewley holds court over a band of Melburnians on the hunt for the unknown. As one of Lantern Ghost Tours’ guides, Kewley leads participants from the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral to the steps of Parliament, recounting tales of vicious murders and horrific accidents. Read more

HAUNTED WEEKEND AWAY: Friday 13th Asylums Haunted Weekend Away Package

More ghosts, more haunted locations and more thrills! This complete weekend package will have you visit and stay at Victoria's most haunted locations. Spend Friday the 13th in the J Ward Lunatic Asylum, where the most depraved and dangerous criminals were housed. Visit haunted underground drives at Seppelt Winery Saturday afternoon where you’re guaranteed spirits! End the evening at the eerie Aradale Lunatic Asylum complete with full morgue. Try to sleep at the magnificent, haunted Allenvale Homestead featured on Channel 9 “Postcards”. Visit www.lanternghosttours.com for more information।

LANTERN GHOST TOURS COMMUNITY: Free Walks and Talks

Australian Heritage Week 14th-22nd April To celebrate Australian Heritage Week Lantern Ghost Tours friends at Williamstown Historical Society will be offering a series of free history walks: Saturday 14th 2pm The Convict Trail & Point Gellibrand-meet at the Timeball Tower. Sunday 15th 2.30pm The Williamstown morgue and Nelson Place- meet at the Wilkinson fountain on Commonwealth Reserve. Sunday 22nd - Williamstown Pub walk 2.30 pm- led by Ian Rae. Meet at the Williamstown Railway Station. For further details and bookings email Brian at willyhistory@hotmail.com. For more activities in Hobsons Bay and Victoria go to website www.heritage-week.govspace.gov.au.

Williamstown History Tour Lantern Ghost Tours will be running a series of free Williamstown History Tours for the Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre every Friday at 11।45am from 16th March to 25th May (excluding Good Friday 6th April) please call the Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre to book your place on 9932 4310.

Three Bells – Customs and Costumes of Births, Marriages and Deaths

Join Ann Dixon's free talk "Three Bells- Customs and Costumes of Births, Marriages and Deaths on Thursday, 29^th March, 2pm at Altona Library. Bookings essential at www.marchfhg.eventbrite.com

HAUNTED GROUP TRIPS TO MELBOURNE: SCHOOL, SPORTS AND NON PROFIT GROUPS

Lantern Ghost Tours proudly partners with the Melbourne Discovery Centre to offer school and group excursions to Melbourne. As the largest group accommodation provider in Victoria, the Melbourne Discovery Centre has the expertise to ensure that your Melbourne stay is an extraordinary experience. Located in the heart of Melbourne's City Centre, the venue is on the doorstep to everything Melbourne has to offer. They cater for school groups, sports groups, youth groups and non-for -profit organisations. Free planning and booking services ensures a custom made program for every group.They can accommodate up to 600 people with full catering available.www.melbournediscovery.com.au

WORKSHOPS AT THE VICTORIAN SPIRITUALISTS UNION

The Victorian Spiritualists Union offers workshops at 71 A’Beckett St Melbourne. Upcoming workshops include Getting To Know Your Guide- Working With Spirit For Overshadowment and Trance, Proof Of Survival Afternoon- Making Contact With Your Loved One.Visit www.vsu.org.au for more information and bookings।

DISCOVER YOUR BACKYARD CAMPAIGN

Jacqui from Lantern Ghost Tours has featured in a campaign to promote one of her favourite areas: Williamstown. The Hobsons Bay City Council in conjunction with Destination Melbourne and Food.Wine.Hotel has produced a fabulous new tourism video promoting Hobsons Bay. Watch video.