Mystery Solved

Our facebook community are so good. On the weekend I was contacted and sent a picture of a old metal chest with the name MAJ C Boland Royal Derwent Hospital, New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia painted clearly on the top. The person who posted me the picture was after the provenance for herself and the owner. So the mystery started. I posted the picture in our Facebook Group, our Facebook Page and another local New Norfolk Facebook Group and asked for help. I had a couple of hints at whom people thought it maybe and at one stage we thought it might have belonged to a previous patient at the Hospital. As is our policy with respecting patient\resident privacy, I almost chose to stop the hunt there.

I went back to the picture and after one of the group members suggested there was a Doctor with that name there in the 60’s I realised that the MAJ was the abbreviation for Major. With this new information and a possible military connection I investigated further and was able to find a connection to a Dr Boland in New South Wales in 2003 and also with the The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 2008 after his death. With more information I was able to find Dr Boland’s eulogy, which had been thoughtfully written by his daughter.

maj c boland 2

Click to read DAD’S EULOGY which included Dr Boland’s family history at New Norfolk, Sandy Bay and finally Sydney. The owner of the case is planning to print out the eulogy and keep it with the old trunk. Mystery solved!

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Australian Research Council Linkage Projects Funding Proposal – Willow Court

 

mms_img889941132_20141126T201311-031“The project proposed by Ms Burke will investigate the archaeology of Willow Court, using material research, historical research and looking at the sociological perspective of the site . There will be a public archaeology program that will use the material evidence to explore the community’s relationship with the site. This project (proposal attached for Councillors information) will provide valuable archaeological and social historical information on Willow Court, including interpretive and educational information. It is anticipated that the project, which runs over 3 years, will look at the staff/patient experience within Willow Court over 170 years, charting the shifts in treatment and understanding of mental illness. It will also provide valuable information on the archaeology of the site, much of which is unknown. There has been a great deal of focus on the heritage architecture of the site, however relatively little is known about its archaeology. It is anticipated that this study will provide a new perspective on life in Willow Court/ Royal Derwent for both patients and staff.”

Read the full proposed agenda item to go before the Derwent Valley Council this month HERE

 

Left: Associate Professor Heather Burke and Associate exploring Burnett Street entry to tunnel.

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Books donated to Willow Court

Russell 001Friends Of Willow Court Chairwoman, Anne Salt yesterday received four books from Russell Penman the Ex CEO and Director of Nursing of the Willow Court Centre 1990-96. The books dated back to when the institutions was called “Mental Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk” and date from 1921. These (some extremely) rare publications with inscriptions from Lachlan Park and Mental Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk will now be place in the archive of documents and artifacts which are managed by the Derwent Valley Council and is currently under the supervision of Associate Professor Heather Burke at Flinders University in South Australia.

A volunteer at Red Cross who knew current CEO of Red Cross, Mr Penman and his work history and ongoing interest in the site brought the donated books to his attention. He then contacted us through the Willow Court History Group to have them placed into the archive collection.

The books are:

Elementary Hygiene for nurses 10th edition published in 1953 and with the name Helen Rainbird 1963 written in the front cover. It is stamped “Medical Library Lachlan Park Hospital”
Lectures for Nurses 4th edition 1944 with the name of a nurse in the front that I can’t make out – along with Lachlan Park Hospital
Medicine for Moderns published in 1953. It also appears to have been in the medical library
Lectures for Attendants and Nurses – Mental Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk printed by the government printer and dated 1921. On the plain red front cover is written “to be returned to the Chief Attendant”

temps

The Willow Court History Group are urging anyone who has artifacts, photos or documents that they wish to return, either on loan or as a permanent gift to please contact a member of the Friends of Willow Court so these precious items can be kept in public ownership for everyone’s benefit.

 

Please use the CONTACT PAGE if you need to contact someone.

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AGM of the Friends of Willow Court meeting

meeting

Last Wednesday I attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Friends of Willow Court (FoWC) held at the Derwent Valley Community House. The meeting went normally with elections of the Committee and reports given by office bearers. The Chairwoman read her report, please see below:

Friends of Willow Court
Chairpersons Report
AGM
7 October 2015

page 1It is with pleasure that I present this, the third report for the Friends of Willow Court special committee of the Derwent Valley Council. This past year started with much enthusiasm for the Friends of Willow Court, with the imminent completion of the Barracks & Bronte restoration, and the proposed open weekend to showcase the restoration to the community. Advice from the Conservation Committee was that the opening would consist of static displays of information, and as a result the FoWC committee started to collate information on WC for display. The potential date for the opening in December came and went, and disappointingly the Friends of Willow Court understand there is now no plan for an opening at this stage.

In anticipation of having the site open in the first half of this year, the committee continued to focus on developing an understanding of how to provide professional, respectful and informative tours and experiences based on thematic interpretation. The committee liaised with staff at Port Arthur and the Cascade Women’s Prison, and visited both sites to meet with staff who provided a wealth of information on how to develop thematic tours. The connection with both sites was invaluable, and provides an opportunity for sharing of resources when tours of Willow Court operate. 

Other activities undertaken by the committee over the last 12 months include the following:

• Hosting a BBQ for Associate Professor Heather Burke and her ten archaeology students, who were all impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of the FoWC, and the various historical records on Willow Court collected by members of the committee

• Lodgement of a submission to the Legislative Council Built Heritage Inquiry committee 

• Escorting the Built Heritage committee on a site tour of Willow Court

• Participation in the National Trust Heritage Festival in May with a display to depict Willow Court’s links to Australia’s world conflicts, and a play set in the grounds of Frascati House. The highlight of this event was the attendance by the Governor of Tasmania at the opening night, to launch the event.

• Responding to a request from the Derwent Valley Tidy Towns committee to help with removal of graffiti from the Willow Court perimeter wall. The outcome of this request is that both committees will work with the Centre for Heritage in Oatlands on restoration of the wall over the coming months, and the committee has suggested New Norfolk high school students also participate in the project.

• Participating in two strategic planning sessions facilitated by FoWC member Bec Tudor. The outcome of these sessions is a work in progress that will be completed over the coming months.

• Successful applications for DVC Community Grants

• Successful applications for DVC the Capital Works budget 

During the year the committee has made requests of Council to visit Willow Court to view the restoration, but these requests have been denied due to Willow Court being a construction site. However, limited access was permitted to escort the Built Heritage committee on a familiarisation tour of the site, and for two limited tours by one committee member for people with a potential interest in projects at Willow Court. We are also aware that various site visits have been undertaken by Councillors, and state and Federal Ministers and MP’s. 

It is very disappointing for this committee that has volunteered for years to provide input into projects such as the Malcolm McDonald report, host events, conduct working bees and tours of Willow Court, to be denied access for a site visit to see the restoration. We do hope however this situation can be rectified by the council in the very near future. 

In March the committee was advised that it was the intention of the council to seek international expressions of interest in Willow Court, a process that could take up to twelve months, and that we could lodge a submission for a 12 month calendar of events. What was not communicated to us at that time was that apparently all Friends of Willow Court access to Willow Court will only be through submitting a proposal. Again this is a very disappointing situation, which leaves the committee feeling disenfranchised and disillusioned.

While it is understood that it will take some time for new councillors to develop an understanding of the heritage value of Willow Court and the significant role this committee and others have played in the preservation and reuse of the site, to hear a councillor at a council meeting when voting on the proposal to move the Community House into Bronte state about Willow Court that ‘there is nothing to see there’ and ‘No-one wants it,’ leaves us and other stakeholders further disheartened. In fact the comment of one prominent Tasmanian historian with a significant interest in Willow Court was ‘I am broken hearted over what is happening at Willow Court’. A sentiment that is echoed amongst Friends of Willow Court members.

To those long term committee members who are stepping down this year for various reasons, I would like to thank you for your vision for Willow Court, your dedication and determination to give your time and skills to the work of Friends of Willow Court for the benefit of preserving this important historic site that has been so neglected and vandalised, your efforts are much appreciated. 

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to thank all committee members for their enthusiasm, contribution, hard work and good company over the past year. Thank you also to Councilor Pearce for supporting the committee and providing a conduit for communication with the council, and to the DVC for the opportunity to apply for Community Grants to support our projects. While we are a small committee we can again be proud of what we have achieved for Willow Court.

Thank you
Anne Salt
Chairperson
2014/15

UntitledThe guest speaker was the Mayor, Martyn Evan who stated the he liked to attend all the AGM’s for all DVC Committee’s. He gave an update of the progress of the conservation work, partnerships with Flinders University and explained where the “Expression of Interest” process was up to for the lease/sale of Willow Court Heritage Precinct. He was also generous in staying on to answer questions from members of the Friends of Willow Court Committee and members of the public who had an interest is seeing the site open and respectfully portrayed.

Some of those questions were:

Is there a time for an opening or handing over of the keys to the DVC? Answer “as soon as humanly possible” he also explained that there would not be an “opening” as the Council didn’t want to have an opening, only to close the site the next day. The concept would be more an events venue. He wished to stay away from the idea of an opening, as this would draw criticism when it closed the next day.

One question was raised about the relationship between the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee and the DVC and why the DVC own Committee was not informed of decisions relating to Willow Court and that the Committee was required to submit plan to access the site that same an other businesses wanting to have access to the site. It was commented about this situation that the Committee was set up by the DVC for the purposes of supporting the DVC however this had been frustrated by the many negative attitudes and private agendas that Councillors had and “Special relationships some members of the DVC had with “interested parties.

The Mayor was challenged because of his personal support of the site becoming a paranormal hot spot by personally declaring the site the “second most haunted site in Tasmania”, this was done without any supporting evidence.

There was also a question about a sympathetic guide that would be used for the Lease or Sale Expressions of Interest process. We were told that there currently isn’t a guide.

 

Some committee members chose not to stand this year and have sited their frustration at not being able to progress any plans at the site and disheartened because the of the restricted access for the Council’s very own Committee.

There was also a commitment from the Mayor to hear the DVC’s own Committee at a future workshop.

 

 

Please be aware that this is not a Friends of Willow Court Website or Blog.

 

 

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Willow Court; Museums times three??

museum

The Mayor and or the Derwent Valley Council has approved or given approval for three museums in the last 4 years at Willow Court, two are in the Council’s owned areas, The Barracks and Frascati House and the latest endorsement is in print on the front page article of the Derwent Valley Gazette.

In this article Hadyn and Penny Pearce, Antique Dealers and Collectors originally from Sydney are purposing to install a museum of Willow Court artifacts in their privately owned area of Willow Court after the donation of two fire helmets recently sold at auction.

This will mean that there will be three museums within a 200 metre area all dealing with the same history and all trying to tell the same stories if all go ahead.

It is a concern that this can happen, but it’s has been a measure of the Council’s recent ability to plan or follow their own plans in this area. The Mayor appears to be approving of all ideas, even if they are the same, and yet the Derwent Valley Council still has plans to sell or lease the site before the next Council elections!

While Hadyn and Penny are calling for donations for their new private venture their policy around ownership of donated items is not clear yet, but there is a clear policy and procedure in place from the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee, who put into place a “complex collection and de-accessioning policy” back in 2013. The existing collections has been extensively researched and modified to note all assets within the currently expanding collection by the PhD students supported and directed by Associate Professor Heather Burke at the Flinders University while on field evaluation.

If you are considering any loan or donation of goods be assured that this system is working and recording these valuable items so they can stay in the collection for the Community’s benefit. Please contact any member of the Friends of Willow Court or private email me and I will put you in contact with a committee member.

 

 

“Derwent Valley Council Mayor Martyn Evans said he liked the idea of a museum.” Reported in the Derwent Valley Gazette September 2015

Restoration of Frascati House, with inclusion of a high quality conferencing facility, museum including nursing memorabilia…” June 2015 Derwent Valley Council.

“A complete makeover of the “Willow Court brand” be undertaken so that ALL dimensions are featured, including the treatment and history of mental illness Malcolm MacDonald & Associates 2011 a Report commissioned by the Derwent Valley Council.

 

Policy and documents

Updated artifacts catalogue

Donation of artifacts

 

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1863 Drawings

MR1-1760 lunatic Asylum New Norfolk Tasmania 1863sml copy1863 Drawing of the Barracks, Willow Court. (c) Copyright 2015

This map was held at the National Archives in the United Kingdom and was sent to us by one of Associate Professor Burke’s PhD Students who recently spent a couple of days searching for Willow Court documentation. It is a rare image that shows the male and female divisions and where the foundations would be for any future dig site. The original Matron’s Quarters appears to be located near to, or over the currently privately owned Morgue and Antiques store. The foundations to the Gentleman’s cottage (top left) are still visible in the C Ward yard. You can click on the image to make it larger.

 

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Opening soon?

Well it’s hard to say, but the site is again taking on a Spring look, with green grass and lots of newly installed landscaping. The temporary fences at the very front have been removed and the ramps appear to be complete and a small area at the front gates has been created for people wishing to take photos (pictured below).

Sources for the Derwent Valley Council have reported that there will be an opening celebration followed by a closing of the gates (no date announced yet). The Community House is due to move into the Bronte Ward for the next nine years and the site remains on the market, either for lease or sale.

The Friends of Willow Court are seeking a meeting with the General Manager of the DVC to attempt to find out what their role will be as a committee of the DVC and where they fit into this DVC owned site and gain an understanding of the plans the Council have for the time in between the opening and the sale or lease.

The condition at the last tour of the remaining building is of concern, in Carlton House (C Ward) the unbreakable windows all have been smashed with what would appear to be a hammer or similar. We are hoping that the installed security will soon bring the vandals to justice.

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Social Trainers code of ethics

Well here is a blast from the past. While Willow Court was still operating a new industry was emerging and it was the community integration model. Many people did, what was then known as a Social Trainer course at TAFE. This consisted of two years of full time study within the disability support field with particular attention to the Community Integration Program (CLP) which was the social model. Out of this come the Social Trainers Association. This group of people started a community of practicing professionals and like other groups, looked towards continuous improvement along with education. They also come up with a code of ethics by which any professional Social Trainer would abide. Here is a copy of that, now historic document, for some this will bring back memories and for others it’s a bit of history of how we got to where we are today.

Social Trainers

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