General News
31 October, 2025
Trick or treaters get map of town haunts
As the community prepares for a night of trick or treating a small group of volunteers have been mapping out the frightful homes taking part.
Don’t be fooled by the ghouls prowling Maryborough tonight, they’re only children on the hunt for treats from expecting homes. It’s one haunting a small group of volunteers aren’t trying to bust, but instead grow, over the past decade.
A local Facebook page, Trick or Treat Maryborough Vic, has been organising local homes celebrating Halloween for the better part of a decade.
From Dunolly through Maryborough and into Carisbrook, local families are able to see who is taking part each year to organise their night of trick or treating.
But with the group expecting hundreds of kids to join the Halloween spirit, it’s easy to assume there are more people behind the scenes than two local stewards.
Leanne Prime, who took a break this year, and Brooke Davies brave spreadsheets every year to bring laughter to children for just one night.
“I love the freedom and the free will of children,” Ms Davies said.
“Watching their little faces as they run along and the squeals and the giggles.”
From cauldrons of slime with kids lining up, to plastic skeletons reaching unfortunate ends, or simply the iconic jack-o-lantern — there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
“It’s just such a vibe [with] all of the different costumes. Some people go so far out of their way with what they do, it’s just incredible,” she said.
“The more eccentric people of town, it’s our time to shine at Halloween.”
Although she’s expecting strong numbers this year, Ms Davies said this wasn’t always the case.
Her enthusiasm for Halloween at only 10 years old wasn’t always met in kind.
“Nobody really believed in Halloween back then,” she said.
Knocking on doors could mean a packet of chips, some loose change, or simply getting yelled at.
“It took guts back when I was a kid to actually go trick or treating,” she said.
But bit by bit, the tide has begun to shift. Ms Davies said local participation in Halloween has exploded in the last decade.
“I think maybe my generation, because we loved it, we’re starting to push our toes in the door to make it more acceptable,” she said.
She’s holding that door ajar through months of work, trying to make it easier to participate.
“A lot of logistics go into it,” she said.
Joining Ms Davies in her enthusiasm is Dunolly’s Karin Brand, who is one of the few homes in the small town getting into the Halloween spirit.
Her front yard is filled with skeletons and tombstones, pumpkins and spiders, all intended to delight instead of frighten passers by.
“I just love the whole thing about it, the whole shebang,” she said.
She encourages trick or treaters to come by 30 Broadway, Dunolly, this Halloween for a goody bag worthy of the frightful season.
“I know it is hard out in Dunolly especially. It’s not as picked up out here,” she said.
“I would just say everyone should give it a go once in their life.”
Further information on homes participating in this Halloween can be found on Page 18 of the October 30 edition of the Advertiser or the Trick or Treat Maryborough Vic Facebook page.