Skullina Skellington (left) has disappeared from her Dapto home. Shonae Ward hopes she can be reunited with her family to celebrate her baby’s first Halloween. Photo: Shonae Ward.
It’s the time of year when the dead walk – a little too literally for Dapto’s Shonae Ward, whose Halloween skeleton up and left her front yard.
The Skellington family was featured outside Shonae’s Primbee home for the past three years, starting with the OG Skully.
He quickly expanded from Halloween and was dressed up to celebrate everything from Christmas to Pride to Father’s Day.
“We were dealing with infertility and I needed a bit of a distraction,” Shonae said.
“Our house was on the corner of the main road and people fell in love with Skully. We even dressed him up for the Barbie premiere.”
When Shonae found out she was pregnant on Halloween 2023, she and her partner decided it was time to expand Skully’s family, too.
Skullina joined the tribe, then on Father’s Day a smaller skeleton arrived, along with a skeleton dog and a pair of skeleton cats.
Three weeks ago, Shonae and her family moved to Avondale Road in Dapto and the Skellington family was set up for their first Halloween in their new home.
“Maybe she got a bit homesick in our move and made her way back to Primbee,” Shonae said.
“She’s wearing my clothes and she’s heavy. She’s mounted on a homemade PVC stand with a timber block at the base to stop her from blowing away, and she was taken from right outside our front door.
“It’s a bit of a mystery and it’s our daughter’s first Halloween so it’s even more sad – we had the little skeleton set up with ‘My First Halloween’ on her shirt.”
The remaining Skellington family members have been brought inside for their own safety.
Shonae plans to set them up in the window and hopes Skullina makes her way home in time for the big night.
“We loved having kids come to the house in Primbee and come out all dressed up – some of the little ones got quite scared, so we would take them off and show them it’s not real,” Shonae said.
“We want Halloween to be a special thing for our daughter.”
Residents in Bushranger Parade at Calderwood have gone larger than life with Halloween decor. Photo: Tegan Martins.
Families across the Illawarra have joined in the spirit of the season, and some spooktacular displays are on offer for those who plan to trick-or-treat this year.
In Kiama, Darren Parlett’s home at 111 Hillview Circuit is ready to horrify visitors.
And several families have gone all out with larger-than-life decorations in Bushranger Parade at Calderwood.
The Illawarra Light Railway Museum will host a Halloween event on Saturday, 26 October, with decorated grounds, gardens, carriages and dining car.
Visitors are invited to come dressed in their spooky best to ride the Ghost Train and the Mini Monster Express. Tickets can be booked at www.ilrms.com.au or purchased on arrival at the museum at 48A Tongarra Road, Albion Park.
The Port Kembla Fear Fest – including the iconic Port Kembla haunted house – is also back this year.
It will kick off at 10 am on Saturday, 26 October, and along with the haunted house, features activities for every member of the family. Highlights range from a doggy extravaganza to face painting, market stalls, live music and entertainment, and photo opportunities with beloved characters.
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