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
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
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.
