Now that Paracon 2016 is over, and I have recovered from all the excitement, I can give a little report on my experiences at this amazing event.
I think a recovery period is needed for it all to sink in! What an event!
Firstly, its the meeting up with people that you may only get to see once a year, then there is the meeting and listening to great overseas guests, also staying in the Blue Mountains and enjoying the company of like minded people who all have come together to have a great time. What's not to like?!
There was a slight chill in the air in the mountains but The Carrington Hotel is such an iconic place to have a conference that the cold didnt matter - we all just took in the brilliant scenery and atmosphere.
Alex Cayas the creator of PARACON and master and commander of his team of "Spirit Guides" whose dedication in looking after all of the guest speakers, including myself, was faultless, can be proud in knowing that all of the overseas guests spoke very highly of the whole event calling it the best organised conference they had ever attended.
Yes...there was plenty of shenanigans - it wasn't all serious!
We started with a speaker's dinner with a special guest at each table. We got to know each other quite well and it was a great start to what was going to be a fabulous weekend.
Friday was a free day with many of the overseas guests, and those that had arrived early, heading off on adventures around the Blue Mountains while the Paracon team prepared the rooms for workshops and meetups.
Friday night was a 'meet and greet' and just a fun night.
I got to meet up with all of my Newcastle peeps - we had loads of laughs and they ended up chasing us out at the end of the night.
Saturday we started at 9am with a few workshops and talks happening at once - the only problem was that I wanted to be AT THEM ALL! the only problem I had was that I could not split myself into three so I could see it all.
And so it went on... all day, both Saturday and Sunday, with a break for lunch and a chance to meet the boys from Ghost Stop, Shawn and Paul, and Brian from the Haunted Collector and Calvin Von Crush with his very weird collection of haunted objects and Karen Rontowski who kept it all light and funny with her down to earth humor and beautiful heart and comedy.
All different subjects were covered, including UFOs, big cats, the Tassie tiger, Bigfoot, Yowies, children and hauntings, paralosophy, protection when investigating with the wonderful Bill Tabone, the role a medium can play in paranormal investigations, haunted objects, technical talk with the Ghost Stop guys, Paul talked about his time on Ghost Hunters International.
We had screenings of "Desolate" by Moonlark Media and "Australien Skies" by Don Meers - two intensely riveting and brilliant features created, filmed, directed by talented Aussies.
We even had a very talented artist who did a few caricatures which were often a little to close to reality!! That's me and Anne Rzechowicz (my spirit guide for the duration of Paracon) on the bottom far left!
Saturday night there were 'after hour' events including an investigation at Woodford Academy with Paul, Shawn and Brian and a workshop on physical mediumship including ouija boards, table turning, dowsing rods, tarot cards and more with Karen and Calvin.
On Sunday afternoon a little sadness started to come over all of us as we knew that Paracon was coming to an end.
It was time to think about getting back to reality - no one wanted to.
We would have been happy to stay another few days in the mountains and enjoy the vibe.
If you were thinking about coming but were not sure if you would have enjoyed it - let me tell you that you don't even need to consider that.
You WILL enjoy it.
I believe that there is always an opportunity to learn from everybody.
You can never know everything and this year's line up of overseas guests, just as last year's, were so very generous with their time. They posed for photo after photo and answered everyone's questions and made sure to spread themselves around.
Their comments were that they felt so welcomed and made to feel as though they were surrounded by friends.
Karen Rontowski wrote on her facebook page that she had Paracon withdrawals, and I think Brian fell in love with Newcastle (we hosted him here for two days) Paul loved Sydney Harbour and ventured to Adelaide for a few more tours with Haunted Horizon's and Shawn loved Sydney and his adventures at Q Station and Parramatta Gaol.
Karen Rontowski and Brian Cano (photo by Darrin Langbien Photography)
I am sure that Alex Cayas is already organising next year's event. That's usually the way. An event like this takes a full year to get right.
It wouldn't happen without the team that helped him throughout - just for the love of it and to see it be a success. Certainly not for any financial gain.
And that is why everyone of us, who loves the paranormal and all things, should get behind this wonderful event and support it.
We have a thriving and growing paranormal community here in Australia and we are so lucky to have dedicated people in every state that work really hard to bring the best tours, investigations and events with the best guests visiting and sharing their knowledge - what a great time to be a GHOST HUNTER!
See you at PARACON in 2017 - I'll certainly be there.
- Renata Daniel
I think a recovery period is needed for it all to sink in! What an event!
Firstly, its the meeting up with people that you may only get to see once a year, then there is the meeting and listening to great overseas guests, also staying in the Blue Mountains and enjoying the company of like minded people who all have come together to have a great time. What's not to like?!
There was a slight chill in the air in the mountains but The Carrington Hotel is such an iconic place to have a conference that the cold didnt matter - we all just took in the brilliant scenery and atmosphere.
Alex Cayas the creator of PARACON and master and commander of his team of "Spirit Guides" whose dedication in looking after all of the guest speakers, including myself, was faultless, can be proud in knowing that all of the overseas guests spoke very highly of the whole event calling it the best organised conference they had ever attended.
Yes...there was plenty of shenanigans - it wasn't all serious!
We started with a speaker's dinner with a special guest at each table. We got to know each other quite well and it was a great start to what was going to be a fabulous weekend.
Friday was a free day with many of the overseas guests, and those that had arrived early, heading off on adventures around the Blue Mountains while the Paracon team prepared the rooms for workshops and meetups.
Friday night was a 'meet and greet' and just a fun night.
I got to meet up with all of my Newcastle peeps - we had loads of laughs and they ended up chasing us out at the end of the night.
Saturday we started at 9am with a few workshops and talks happening at once - the only problem was that I wanted to be AT THEM ALL! the only problem I had was that I could not split myself into three so I could see it all.
And so it went on... all day, both Saturday and Sunday, with a break for lunch and a chance to meet the boys from Ghost Stop, Shawn and Paul, and Brian from the Haunted Collector and Calvin Von Crush with his very weird collection of haunted objects and Karen Rontowski who kept it all light and funny with her down to earth humor and beautiful heart and comedy.
All different subjects were covered, including UFOs, big cats, the Tassie tiger, Bigfoot, Yowies, children and hauntings, paralosophy, protection when investigating with the wonderful Bill Tabone, the role a medium can play in paranormal investigations, haunted objects, technical talk with the Ghost Stop guys, Paul talked about his time on Ghost Hunters International.
We had screenings of "Desolate" by Moonlark Media and "Australien Skies" by Don Meers - two intensely riveting and brilliant features created, filmed, directed by talented Aussies.
We even had a very talented artist who did a few caricatures which were often a little to close to reality!! That's me and Anne Rzechowicz (my spirit guide for the duration of Paracon) on the bottom far left!
Saturday night there were 'after hour' events including an investigation at Woodford Academy with Paul, Shawn and Brian and a workshop on physical mediumship including ouija boards, table turning, dowsing rods, tarot cards and more with Karen and Calvin.
On Sunday afternoon a little sadness started to come over all of us as we knew that Paracon was coming to an end.
It was time to think about getting back to reality - no one wanted to.
We would have been happy to stay another few days in the mountains and enjoy the vibe.
If you were thinking about coming but were not sure if you would have enjoyed it - let me tell you that you don't even need to consider that.
You WILL enjoy it.
I believe that there is always an opportunity to learn from everybody.
You can never know everything and this year's line up of overseas guests, just as last year's, were so very generous with their time. They posed for photo after photo and answered everyone's questions and made sure to spread themselves around.
Their comments were that they felt so welcomed and made to feel as though they were surrounded by friends.
Karen Rontowski wrote on her facebook page that she had Paracon withdrawals, and I think Brian fell in love with Newcastle (we hosted him here for two days) Paul loved Sydney Harbour and ventured to Adelaide for a few more tours with Haunted Horizon's and Shawn loved Sydney and his adventures at Q Station and Parramatta Gaol.
I am sure that Alex Cayas is already organising next year's event. That's usually the way. An event like this takes a full year to get right.
It wouldn't happen without the team that helped him throughout - just for the love of it and to see it be a success. Certainly not for any financial gain.
And that is why everyone of us, who loves the paranormal and all things, should get behind this wonderful event and support it.
We have a thriving and growing paranormal community here in Australia and we are so lucky to have dedicated people in every state that work really hard to bring the best tours, investigations and events with the best guests visiting and sharing their knowledge - what a great time to be a GHOST HUNTER!
See you at PARACON in 2017 - I'll certainly be there.
- Renata Daniel
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