Today Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AC and
Mr Richard Warner AM officially opened the “Stories from the Asylum” exhibition at Willow Court. The Willow Court Training Centre closed 20 years ago this month and the Friends of Willow Court have put together this display of storyboards from previous staff, residents, family members, along with a line up of guest speakers and music from Derwent Valley Band Brass Quintet.
Willow Court History Group have also added to the collection with 7 podcasts that can be found using QR codes. Six of these recordings have not been released before and have come from recordings of Oral History in 2015.
We also welcome Dr Christina Henri who conceived the ‘Roses from the Heart’ project in 2003. Her memorial has expanded to include a number of art forms and is now recognised as a global public art phenomenon with the ‘bonnet’ symbolism a metaphor for convict women and their children. Dr Christina Henri would be happy to chat with anyone interested in her project and those with convict lineage.
Saturday Program 28 November
10 – 11:30
Punishment and Health in convict Van Diemen’s Land – Hamish Maxwell-Stewart
11:30 – 12
Renovating Madness – Liz McQuilkin poetry readings
12 – 1 pm
Music – Derwent Valley Band Brass Quintet
1 – 1:30
Renovating Madness – Liz McQuilkin poetry readings
2-3 pm
Sharing Some Insights into the Closure of Willow Court – Pete Smith
Sunday Program 29th November
10 – 12
Digital Future for Tasmanian History – Hamish Maxwell-Stewart
12-1 pm
Music Derwent Valley Band Saxophone Quartet
1 – 2 pm
Punishment and Health in convict Van Diemen’s Land – Hamish Maxwell-Stewart
2 – 3 pm
Reflections on Lachlan Park Hospital school – Margaret Reynolds – former teacher
3:30 – 4 pm
Music Derwent Valley Band Saxophone Quartet
2 Comments
My sister spent more than 30 years at Willow Court. I have photos of her & fellow patients, as they were called then. I would like to contribute these photos to your organisation/group. It was not a pleasant time or place for my sister, memories of her time there are sad & disturbing. I hope I hear from someone.
Cheers
Beth.
Hi Beth, thank you for the contact and offer. I will send you an email to discuss.
Cheers
Mark Krause