World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Gold Coast Halloween display helps creator feel less afraid of people
Zoe McKavanagh has built a Halloween display at her Gold Coast home over the past six years.
The 30-year-old, who has autism, collects decorations including pumpkins, spiders and skulls.
At first, she hid from trick-or-treaters, even though she had helped make the display.
Her mother, Colleen Millard, says McKavanagh now stays outside and talks to visitors without her help.
McKavanagh says the visitors’ kindness has made people feel less scary and that Halloween brings happiness to the community.
Australians are expected to spend more than $500 million on Halloween this year, as retailers encourage people to buy decorations and treats.
A retail expert says Halloween spending can also help drive Christmas sales.
Gold Coast resident Zoe McKavanagh says creating Halloween displays has helped her feel less afraid of talking to people.
The 30-year-old, who lives with autism, has built up a collection of Halloween decorations over six years.
Her mother, Colleen Millard, says McKavanagh once hid from trick-or-treaters but now talks to visitors without her mother speaking for her.
McKavanagh said visitors are kind and excited about the decorations, making her realise that people are not so scary.
A retail expert said Australian Halloween spending has grown year on year for a decade, with more than $500 million in spending predicted for this year.
- Who
- Zoe McKavanagh, a 30-year-old Gold Coast resident who lives with autism.
- What
- Her Halloween display has helped her become more comfortable speaking with people outside her family.
- When
- Over the past six years; the specific date of the display’s effect is not stated.
- Where
- The Gold Coast, Australia.
- Why
- McKavanagh said visitors are kind and excited about the decorations, which has made her feel that people are less scary.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
McKavanagh began gradually collecting Halloween decorations.
McKavanagh did the work but hid inside when trick-or-treaters arrived.
McKavanagh began staying outside and eventually speaking to visitors without her mother speaking for her.
- Age
- 30
- Location
- Gold Coast, Australia
- Decoration collection
- Built up over six years
- Predicted Australian Halloween spending
- More than $500 million this year
What people are saying
It's made me realise that people aren't so scary.
I love Halloween because of how happy it makes everyone.
Slowly, over the years she's started to stay out … and now it's got to the point where she'll talk to people without me doing it for her.
If we go back 10 years, very few consumers would celebrate this tradition but now, 10 years on, we're seeing all sorts of people really buying into it.