Dubboians split over freaky festivity
GHASTLY ghosts, spooky skeletons and gruesome Grim Reapers will be out trick-or-treating in force tonight, but opinions around Halloween remain divided within the community.
asked readers on Facebook whether they get involved in this ghoulish celebration and the feedback was mixed.
While some believe it is a good excuse to dress up and have fun with their kids, others are dead against the haunted hocus pocus.
Dubbo local Bindy-lee Horder said we should make the most of any chance to dress up.
“We have a ball trick or treating, but it’s more so about enjoying seeing everyone dressed up than collecting lollies.”
Carmen Louise said she and her family “love” Halloween.
“The kids have a great time dressing up, (there is) nothing wrong with that.”
On the contrary, some are not so keen on the zombie-laden festivity, with many citing ‘stranger danger’ as a concern and
NEWS/KEN SMITH others palming it off as an “American lot of rubbish that promotes satanic worship”.
Jennifer Raymond doesn’t believe Halloween has a place within Australia, while Jessica Pease said celebrating Halloween is not a paradigm shift she is willing to take.
Emma Clare said: “I see it as a way of teaching our children that it is okay to take lollies from strangers, and that is so wrong, and I can’t see that people (should) let their children go around doing it.
“Plus, it’s American?” she added.
While many blame the Americans for making Halloween, also known as
All Hallows Eve, it is believed the tradition actually originated from Celtic and Gaelic festivals in Ireland, eventually becoming a Christian observance.
Back in the 5th century, the Celtic new year was celebrated at the end of summer and it was thought that the spirits of those who had died during the year would come back and find people to possess.
As the legend goes, villagers would dress up in frightening costumes and parade the streets to scare the spirits away.
Where in our region is shown in this satellite image?
Clue:
Government agency with many clients; large club across the road; corner of a street and an avenue.
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BLACK DOG INSTITUTE will deliver free mental health training to GPS and Allied Health Professionals working in drought-affected Western NSW.
Funded by Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) through the Australian Government’s Empowering our Communities initiative, Black Dog will train GPS and health professionals to better diagnose, treat and manage patients in drought-affected areas who present with a mental illness.
“We encourage any GPS and health professionals in these regions to sign-up for the training so we can ensure the community has access to a safety net of suitable mental health resources,“Black Dog Institute general practitioner’s services consultant Dr Jan Orman said.
“This training will help healthcare professionals provide the support and treatment to people who are in need during this difficult time,” WSNSW PHN CEO Andrew Harvey said.
Training in Dubbo is scheduled for two Saturdays, February 1 and 15, 2020.