October is one month of the year when some people embrace their spooky side and venture into the dark unknown.
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Although Halloween (October 31) in Australia has grown in popularity over the years, it's still the one event on the calendar that isn't widely celebrated here.
However, it is the time of year when people indulge their interest in the paranormal.
Founders of the Facebook group Port Paranormal, Kelli-Jo Hoffman and Casey Lowery, said there is an interest within the community in the unexplained.
The pair started the group last year before the pandemic, however paranormal investigations have been hindered by lockdowns and restrictions.
"There's a lot of history here and we want to explore that," Ms Hoffman said.
Both Ms Hoffman and Mr Lowery were previously involved with the Coffs Coast Paranormal Research group.
"We both wanted to run things a bit differently and when I moved to Kempsey and Casey moved to Port Macquarie we thought we would start a group here," Ms Hoffman said.
Mr Lowery has been involved in a number of paranormal groups for about 15 years while Ms Hoffman joined the Coffs Coast Paranormal Research group in 2014.
"Some paranormal groups just go to cemeteries and look at photos, but that's not what we're about. We want to scientifically analyse what we find and try and work out what, why, how and who," Mr Lowery said.
"There's science in everything."
The group uses a range of equipment to investigate rumoured haunted areas.
"People are always going to try and find an explanation for something that might be visible in a photo, but when you take out that there was no frost, no fog, no bugs. That's when you know you've found something,"Ms Hoffman said.
"To be honest, half of it we can't even explain. When you can't explain it, that's when it gets more real."
My dream is to incorporate the haunted sites that are known and the history to teach the community.
- Kelli-Jo Hoffman
There have been three planned investigations the group has organised with interested locals that have had to be called off due to COVID restrictions.
Paranormal investigations are being planned when NSW fully opens in December.
Ms Hoffman said they have encountered paranormal skeptics in the past, but they encourage people to have an open mind.
"I don't think people talk about it as much because you're deemed crazy to believe in the paranormal," she said.
"It is a fun thing to do, even though it is serious at the same time," Mr Lowery added.
The goal for the group, which also includes another Port Macquarie local Paolo Barrios, is to grow their number of members and teach the community about local history.
"My dream is to incorporate the haunted sites that are known and the history to teach the community," Ms Hoffman said.
"We want to build up a reputation so that if someone is having unexplained difficulties in their house, or if they just want to talk, it's easier for them to reach out to us."
As Halloween approaches, Port Paranormal have released a list of some of the rumoured haunted places around town.
"There have been reports of a Bunyip at the back of the Port Macquarie Racecourse that has been mentioned in articles from the 1800s," Ms Hoffman said.
"Anywhere within the walls of the old barracks near Town Green is also said to be haunted. This area was a convict camp so you can imagine the energy that's here."
The Port Macquarie Court House, Innes Ruins, the Historical Cemetery, the Majestic Cinemas building, the cemetery near Port Macquarie TAFE and the convict-built well in Munster Street are all sites Port Paranormal believe may be haunted.
"The Historic Allman Hill Gravesites area is also somewhere we want to investigate," Ms Hoffman said.
"We're more than happy to share anything we find with other paranormal groups and locals," Mr Lowery added.
"We're always very mindful of being respectful and discreet. We also always get permission to enter a building or visit somewhere that's on private property."
Port Paranormal encourages locals who are interested to contact them through their Facebook page to find out more information.
"Anyone can join if they're interested and want to participate in the upcoming investigations," Mr Lowery said.
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