I’ve had paranormal encounters since childhood, living in various haunted houses, some benign, some malevolent. Even though no one else in my family seemed to share my experiences, I often encountered footsteps, doors opening and closing inexplicably. One unforgettable night, around age ten, I awoke to see a horrifying figure looming over me. Years later, my mother confessed to witnessing the same apparition.
In Lake Macquarie, NSW, I resided in a house in Belmont South with a palpable, sinister presence. This entity only made its presence felt after dark, primarily in the older part of the house. Despite the house’s charming exterior, originally constructed in the 1920s, I often felt unnerved, especially when alone. On nights when my husband was away, I’d retreat with my children to the newer section of the house, avoiding the older areas. The final straw came when our dogs growled aggressively, and inexplicable phenomena, like doors slamming shut without opening, occurred.
We relocated shortly thereafter to Wangi Wangi, inhabiting a waterfront property with a history tied to Vietnam. Despite occasional eerie occurrences like footsteps and open doors, the atmosphere felt less menacing. An encounter with a friendly spirit, believed to be the home’s previous owner, provided a sense of comfort. The new occupants performed a cleansing ritual upon moving in, sensing the house’s melancholy.
In addition to these experiences, I encountered a Yowie during a camping trip in 1977 near Buladelah, alongside five friends. These shared encounters reinforce my belief that some individuals, like myself, are more attuned to the paranormal, experiencing such phenomena throughout their lives.
