Around the world we have to come to grips with what we have done in our history, by what we did or what we didn’t do as a community. This call to admit past wrongs is such a common call and all the more reason to have our own Willow Court declared a Site of Conscience. How can we move forward without due reconciliation with the past? How can we “do no more harm” unless there are lessons learnt from past errors? This documentary is from the ABC’s 360 program.
THE new Willow Court Conservation Committee
Great news for Willow Court
Great news for Willow Court…. the Derwent Valley Council has today been advised that they have been successful in receiving a $300000 grant that they will match dollar for dollar. The grant is for installation of power, security, toilets and some other work.
Anne Salt
Cassy O’CONNOR MP Inaugural speech
Cassy O’CONNOR MP Inaugural speech
Policies implemented by previous Tasmanian governments ensured the miserable incarceration of mentally ill, physically and intellectually disabled children in Willow Court, also known as the Royal Derwent, until the New Norfolk institution’s closure in 2000. What happened to these people? They were de‑institutionalised back into a poorly prepared… community. We should know, but we do not, really. As with former wards of the State harmed in care, it is our responsibility to find out. There are Tasmanians alive today who are still traumatised by their experience as young people in that unhealthy environment, hidden away, subjected to deprivations, abuse, neglect, even shock treatment. We must acknowledge that this trauma extends to the parents of these broken children who are now broken adults. They were told by the State that the best place for their handicapped kids was Willow Court. They were told that the care these children received at Willow Court would be better than what could be provided at home. How wrong that advice was. I fear that the victims of this profound duty‑of‑care failure would be voiceless but for the dedicated work of Margaret Reynolds and National Disability Services Tasmania. In a recent submission to government, Margaret Reynolds called for a parliamentary apology to the victims of Willow Court and for the establishment of a joint select committee inquiry to determine their current status and unmet needs. The joint select committee investigation would also be asked to use the recognition of this terrible period of institutionalisation to develop policies which protect the human rights of all Tasmanians living with disabilities. As a parliament, and on behalf of the people of Tasmania, we can work together to right a terrible wrong. We can apologise to the children and teenagers who were systematically abused and neglected, their human rights grossly breached, at Willow Court. We can and should also apologise in the Parliament to the families of those Tasmanians who have suffered a painful, lingering guilt as a result of an appalling dispassionate government policy. They have a right to acknowledgment, to be heard and to be compensated. I believe these are necessary steps towards a more just, socially inclusive Tasmania. I look forward to working with members to achieve these outcomes. I also very much look forward to serving the people of Denison with great care and respect. Cassy O’CONNOR MP Electorate: DENISON Inaugural speech: 22 July 2008
Audio Tour of Willow Court (part 1)
This is an Audio Tour approx 60 min long, part two available on request.
soundcloud.com
Boy Charged after fire, F Ward Gone Forever.
www.themercury.com.au
A tour should be part of everyone’s employment/training
A tour should be part of everyone’s employment/training. Can’t move forward unless you know where you have come from….
We couldn’t agree more and have been doing so for some time, There also needs to be an industry understanding of the history, as the workforce changes over time some of this history and the rights movement disappears with it. Workers have no theoretical basis and understanding and become weak advocates for those people whom they need to stand beside!
Janet & Mark
Open Day Report
The site of conscience advocacy group were well represented at today’s open day at Willow Court, we had part of the display we set up forthe students studying Community and Disability Services with audio and lighting. There was a count of between 600 and 1000 people looking at the site and learning from well experienced and knowledgeable presenters/guides. Lots of opportunities to educate people about Life “behind the walls”, which was the name given to our display. There are so many people interested in the preservation of the Site and the “People Heritage”.
Thanks to those people who assisted us at the door and setting up.
We have future opportunities to now present our case for Willow Court to become an institutionally listed Site of Conscience, we will not let any of these opportunities go. There was an announcement today about a Memorandum of understanding between the DVC and the State Government which will supply some certainty and money, but it’s only the start.
Cheers
Mark and Janet