Out on the prowl.
Wollongong Croquet Club members.
Halloween was on for young and old in the Illawarra yesterday as scores of residents stepped out to celebrate the ghoulishly themed US holiday.
Members of the Wollongong Croquet Club proved Halloween was for all ages when they added a fancy dress element to their monthly competition draw.
Regular player Lenora Everton said members had embraced the spirit of the day.
"Anything for a bit of fun and a laugh," she said.
Elsewhere, pint-sized princesses joined forces with vampires, pirates, witches and zombies in several streets across the region, hoping a knock on their neighbour's door would land them a cache of lollies.
Among those participating in the trick or treat tradition was Austinmer's Fingland family, with children Alex, 10, Thomas, 8, and Annabelle, 6, getting dressed up for their fourth Halloween, and Maya, 3, her third.
Kim Fingland said her children enjoyed the fancy dress aspect of Halloween.
"They love getting dressed up and going around and knocking on people's doors hoping to get lollies," she said.
"When we first started going around trick or treating there definitely weren't as many houses involved, but there's quite a few now, especially as we live in a street where there are lots of families with school-aged children."
PHOTO 1: Out on the prowl are (rear, from left) Lucas Ottaway, Braden Jelly, Alex Fingland, Max Ottaway and Thomas Fingland, (middle, from left) Abigal Bowes, Tamzin Bowes, George Bowes and Maddison Jelly and (front) Annabelle Fingland. Picture: KIRK GILMOUR
PHOTO 2: Wollongong Croquet Club members Betty Muller (left), Susan Bremner, Belinda Schuster, Rayna Murray, Joan Christopher, Lenora Everton, and (front) Chris Christopher, dabble in some Halloween fun yesterday. Picture: DAVE TEASE