surprised at the number of people who have expressed support of my stand on the observance of

Halloween. So if we look back at Halloween, last Saturday night.

(1) Another “trick or treater” shot dead in USA.

(2) An over-80 lady living alone in South Tamworth, 10pm. “Trick or treaters” knocked on door. The lady ignored them, but they persisted. She got out of bed and told them to go away. They called out “trick or treat” so she repeated her demand that they go away. She didn’t open her door, but noticed an adult standing on the footpath and the “trick or treaters” were obviously young children.

(3) Another door knock, again around 10pm in West Tamworth. The house occupant was upstairs and didn’t hear the knocking. “Trick or treaters” entered house through unlocked door, stole various items including car keys. Car driven away and found later.

(4) Another “trick or treat” in East Tamworth at a very late hour. Not answered but the “trick or treaters” tried the door to see if it was locked.

What a splendid opportunity for anybody to go from door to door, pretending to be “trick or treaters”, finding homes unoccupied and “Let’s go in and see what we can find?” If the door is answered: “We are here for trick or treat”.

And we haven’t got around to finding drugs and razor blades in cheap Halloween lollies, but nobody would do that in Tamworth, would they?

I have spoken to the police about their callouts to out-of-hand Halloween parties. There were a few of those, with eggs being thrown at cars, party gatecrashers and

“celebrators” roaming the streets at 3am.

El cheapo shops are only interested in profit. So far all my appeals to their head offices have met with such replies as “some

people want it, so we cater for them”.

I would be very happy to debate anybody on the banning of Halloween. There’s no place for it in Australian society.

WJ (Bill) Forrest, OAM

Tamworth