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Aldo Fabian the writer of Women of the Willow; Guest Speaker

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meetingFriends of Willow Court  met last Thursday night with Aldo Fabian the writer of Women of the Willow, a play in three acts which was last presented at Willow Court in 2011. He talked to the Friends of Willow Court about the possibility of future involvement at the site. With a rich history of dramatic arts and tourist ventures here and in New South Wales he will be a welcome addition to the team. We can’t wait to see what can happen. So many stories can be told of life in the early colonial times through too much closer history, from all angles and from many people whom have come into contact with this historic precinct. Derwent Valley Players

The committee also put forward a draft terms of reference for Council to approve and discussed future Heritage Events for this year.

The minutes will be up on the Council Website as soon as they are approved at the next meeting.

 

 

 

 

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Supermarket plans for oval area (UPDATE)

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Update Click HERE or the picture Supermarket shopping centre announced

 

 

 

THERE is considerable interest in two supermarket proposals that have been lodged with the Council this month, says Councilor Bester.

 

Click HERE to visit Cr. Damian Bester’s web page to view the current plans for the oval precinct and some of his comments.

black-and-white-willow-court.jpgOne of the area marked to be a shopping supermarket

is this oval at Willow Court while just down the road

100 meters stands the Heritage Precinct of Willow Court.

It will be interesting to see what sort of legacy this

Council will leave the community of New Norfolk

and the Derwent Valley.

 

It’s not an easy decision for any Councillor to make

when there are competing ideas and philosophies

for this large site with many different pros and cons.

 

It would be good to let your Councillor know your opinion.

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Site of Conscience and the Ministers response to be discussed at Council (UPDATE)

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UPDATE

At the February Council Meeting this year it was announced that Minister Cassie O’Conner has granted a meeting date with representatives of the Council who are concerned about the possibility of any Apology to People who were housed and incarcerated within Royal Derwent Hospital/ Willow Court. This apology was around the past practises used at this location because of the public policy at of the time.

Restriction of freedoms that most people in the community never knew about and appalling conditions that are well recorded throughout history in books such at the “Troubled Asylum” compel political leaders to ask themselves, was this right, just or proper? The Mayor should be well advised about conditions and happening from the hospital as three Councillors were former employees at Willow Court/RDH and a number have indirect connection.

 

Taken from the Agenda for the November Derwent Council Meeting, this article sits out. This agenda item reported on both the “Site of Conscience” statement from the Hon David Llewellyn AM on ABC Local radio and the Minister for Human Services Cassie O’Conner’s  response to to the  question, “when are you envisaging an apology to the people who lived at Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital?”

There is no doubt that this is a sensitive issue and if the Minister is going to proceed, then a full consultation should take place.

Council Agenda

Cassie O’Conner article

Hon David Llewellyn AM Radio interview

 

Derwent Valley Council

Council Meeting Agenda

15 November 2012

9. MOTIONS ON NOTICE

Date: 15/11/12

File: 197

Sites of Conscience (Apology)

Moved: Cr Lester

Seconded:

That Council writes to the Minister for Human Services The Hon. Cassie O’Conner requesting a meeting with her to discuss the proposal for Willow Court Sites of Conscience before any decision is made by the State Government.

Discussion

I have been made aware that this matter must have been the subject of discussions with the Chairperson of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee, the Hon David Llewellyn AM. The reason I make that statement is because he has made the comment on ABC Radio. I was somewhat heartened to read Councillor Bester’s e-mail of the 6th November 2012 which reads in part as follows:“the following message was posted today on the Willow Court website operated by the Sites of Conscience proponents. At today’s meeting with Cassie O’Conner I was able to ask the question, as the Minister for Human Services, when are you envisaging an apology to the people who lived at Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital? The answer in short is late next year is the plan, the longer answer is that there needs to be a lot of support from People living with Disabilities and those that advocate on behalf of those people whom may not be able to advocate for themselves.

Silence on this matter will not give support, even though there is an evidence basis for an apology. It is also important that this is not seen as an apology on behalf of previous Staff of Willow Court, but more an apology for the past policies and practices”.

I feel it is critical that the consultation that is stated above from the Minister takes place but it is also important that those that previously worked in the hospital are fully consulted as well as the people who reside in the Derwent Valley.

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Power being connected

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electricWillow Court has a lack of electric power and security, but this last week and this week the Avenue will be closed while underground cables are installed. This will allow for the site to be well lite, secure and have the ability to have events at night. This is part of the Conservation Committee’s ongoing work to restore the historic precinct. Power will allow trades people to start the restoration process. Heritage Tasmania require that the cables be located underground to preserve the visual qualities if the area.

This is a major positive for Willow Court as it is a basic foundation program this will lead to many varied activities at and about Willow Court.

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Smear and incitement becoming wearing

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I believe that I have brought to the public ‘s attention a range of positive stories, even though some had to have interesting angle in their approach to see the positive side of the restoration of Willow Court, both building and people history. As someone who believes in positive behavioural re-enforcement, I have to look hard at the issues to write news stories around events and happening. The last few stories have lost that positive edge, not all things can be looked at when they simply don’t have a positive edge.

This week I have had to read false allegation against me by a paranormal enthusiast. After this person resigned from the Willow Court Committee we have had nothing but smear and incitement to create a toxic culture at New Norfolk and on social media. We have tried to rise above answering these group members, when they cut and paste comments and put their own swing on them.

As a volunteer who has offered every hour of work free and supported a wonderful team of Derwent Valley residents achieve and bring Willow Court sensitively to  the public over the last twelve months these attack are wearing.

This was removed after I stated on this site that I will hand this allegation to my legal advocate on Monday.

my comment apiu

 

Aiden Sullivan

 

Unfortantly the Documentary has been unlawfully leaked into the wrong hands, That being the Willow court committee which was behind the ABC news report on us last night.

This is just an example of what length some members of the Willow court committee will go to. I believe that they started out with the good of willow court in there mind, but now it is clear that their agenda towards my team have out shadowed whats good for the site.

The only copy’s of the Documentary that have been pubically released have been handed to each councillor of the Derwent Valley Council.

These people feel like they have more of a right than you to view this Documentary and will go to any length to stop it, Which now includes illegal activity.

 

Nicole N Nick Jarvis Interesting comment, if mark can get his hands on a copy it’s a wonder the Disability specialists have not also seen it. I’m a bit bemused why he and the committee would be bitter that we left, we must have meant more to them than we think or they lost some sort of control when we left.

Mark you are a bit hypocritical you didn’t have a problem showing the same archive footage at previous open days did you? But because it doesn’t fit your purpose or its not in one of your own films you chose to attack us for something you also endorsed.

The footage shown at Open days has all the people removed! Mark

Aiden Sullivan 100% agree Nick, this archive footage is know open to the public

 

Dave Condon It’s always a different story when it’s someone else and not them.
It’s funny how quick they are to point the finger at APIU and their documentary, but similar footage has been used before by Mark.
One word sums them up “Hypocrites”

 

Ben Crothers I don’t think that’s exactly fair, because it is not about the using the footage, it’s about what it is used for.

 

Nicole N Nick Jarvis That’s not really how its been explained to us Ben and even the article talks about showing patients which would be referring to footage. As for the paranormal investigation footage, it’s basically us talking to thin air in a sense, no patients in that section.

 

Carlene Ellis have u composed a statement yet?

 

Nicole N Nick Jarvis No not yet Carlene Ellis

 

 

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Shame Cr Judy Bromfield Shame.

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Judy BromfieldTonight the General Manager of the Derwent Valley Council confirmed that Cr, Judy Bromfield knew about the need for people to run the Long Table Fire Fundraising event at Willow Court tonight and knew the consequences of her plan to defer new (Insured)Members of the Willow Court Committee well before she moved a motion on Thursday Night’s Council Meeting to stop the event.

 

Her decision can only mean that she did deliberately stop the fundraising event tonight at Willow Court.

Is Councillor Bromfield aware of the stress she has caused to Council employees and volunteers?  Shame Cr Bromfield Shame. The General Manager along with Cr Bester did assist at the gates of Willow Court tonight to help inform people that the event would be not going ahead .

Cr Judy Bromfield owes the people who worked hard to arrange this event for the Tasmanian Fire Appeal and the New Norfolk Community an explanation and an apology, this is disgusting behaviour from a Councilor with over 20 years experience.

 

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Council blocks bushfire event

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WC Long Table cancel 001

The following email was sent to the General Manager on 8 February:
Hi Stephan
The following people have offered to help on the night of the Long Table  dinner and therefore need to be approved as Friends of Willow Court committee  members
Nigel Salt
Pam Salt
Alice Salt
Joel Schrederis
Eleanor Salt
Ali Assi
Janine Collins
Maree Reiper
Patrick Gerstner
Thanks
Anne
These names were listed on the Council meeting agenda for 21  February.
At the meeting Cr. Bromfield moved a motion that the agenda item sit on the  table until the FoWC Terms of Reference was drawn up. Her reason being that new  people kept getting added to the committee, and there was no decision on the  number of committee members required for FoWC.
The GM did not make the Councillors aware that the specific purpose of  approving these people was to ensure that the Long Table Dinner could be held,  nor did he inform the Councillors of the requirement that all volunteers have to  be listed as committee members for Public Liability Insurance purposes. As the  meeting was in progress I was not allowed to speak, although I kept putting my  hand up to indicate I had something to say, the GM and Mayor saw this and still  did not offer all the information the Councillors needed to make an informed  decision.
The Motion was carried.
We have 81 bookings for the dinner on 23 February, and will now have to  cancel the event because we do not have sufficient volunteers to provide  catering or the licenced people to run the bar. We do not have contact details  for those who booked so will have to stand at the WC gate on Saturday night and  hand them all back their $35, and an explanation of why we cancelled.
It was blatantly obvious to the FoWC members who attended the meeting  tonight that the problem appeared to be more with the number of Salt family  members on the list than anything to do with the Terms of Reference. The  decision of two Councillors at the 18 October to vote against three men joining  the committee (one of whom was a Salt) to help clean up the Willow Court gates  gives weight to the opinion of FoWC committee members.
It is also the opinion of the FoWC that Councillors made this decision  because the national Disability Discrimination Commissioner was made aware of  the FoWC concerns about Agenda item 10.5, which was the imminent approval of the  paranormal documentary, and that the Commissioner contacted the GM with the  concerns.
Regards
Anne Salt
Chair Person
Friends of Willow Court

Mr Stephen MacKey said today to Anne Salt that he would “try and get there at 6.30 but he had something on” to assist in notifying Ticket holders as they arrived at Willow Court of this shameful Council decision. Mr MacKey was present at the Council meeting seated next to the Mayor and didn’t not alert Councillors about this communication. Anne Salt asked to talk and was quickly told “NO YOU CAN’T” by Paranormal fringe group supporter Cr. Bromfield.

 

Members of this Fringe group have been busy on social media websites, protecting Council and accusing people of “illegal action” following a statement that I had seen the Paranormal Documentary. Without evidence it has been assumed that I have gained access to this in an illegal manner. This is wrong. It is also quite wrong to smear the whole of the Friends of Willow Court Committee. There are some really good people who have done nothing but positive works for Willow Court and don’t deserve to be treated in this way.

 

A number of paranormal enthusiasts were members of the Friends of Willow Court’s predecessor committee and left after their single narrow agenda was not endorsed by all committee members. Since then an ongoing campaign of negative statements and smear has become evident.

I find it personally very strange that a Committee of Council is set up without any terms of reference, would this be the job of Council, before they set up a committee to have in place a terms of reference?

 

It is time that this Council arranged for a mediator.

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Media Release

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Friends of Willow Court

Media Release

A Derwent Valley Council decision has resulted in the cancellation of the Long Table Dinner Bushfire Fundraiser at Willow Court on 23 February 2013.

At the Derwent Valley Council meeting on Thursday 21 February a motion was moved to have the agenda item to increase the membership of the Friends of Willow Court, to sit on the table until the following meeting, this Motion was carried.

It appears that the Councilors had not been made aware that the people listed were needed to ensure adequate numbers for catering purposes, and compliance with serving of alcohol legislation.

The nine people listed for approval by Council had contacted the Friends of Willow Court specifically to help with the Long Table Dinner. Among these people were a chef, three people with the Responsible Serving of Alcohol certificate and people experienced in catering.

As a result of the Council’s decision the Friends of Willow Court have no option but to cancel the Long Table Dinner Bushfire fundraiser.

Numerous businesses and individuals across Tasmania and some from interstate had supported the event with thousands of dollars worth of donations including food, alcohol, items for the silent auction, and in kind support.

In excess of 80 tickets were sold and together with the silent auction it was anticipated that a minimum of $5000 would have been raised for the Red Cross and Bonorong Bushfire appeal.

People who have booked and are known to Friends of Willow Court committee members will be contacted and advised to seek a refund from the Derwent Valley Council office. People who have booked and are un-contactable will be met at the gates of Willow Court at 6.30 pm on 23 February and advised to also contact the Derwent Valley Council for a refund.

As a volunteer group the Friends of Willow Court are bitterly disappointed that the hard work and enthusiasm they have put into organizing the event has not been supported by Derwent Valley Council elected members.

Anne Salt

Chairperson

Friends of Willow Court

0419213232

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Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner Steps In

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innes2011Australia’s Leading Disability Advocate and Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM stepped in to ask the New Norfolk Council to review allowing a Paranormal documentary involving the past residents of Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital, from being released. Robin Banks the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner also is involved in looking at this issue and asking if this is insensitive to the point of being against the Discrimination Act.

An agenda item on the Council Website informed the Willow Court Advocacy Group of this disturbing news and started a number of actions and some busy after hours work. Connections with Advocacy groups and organisations are set in place so previous residents and people living with a disability can have a say how they are portrayed at Willow Court by the Council and any fringe groups.

Despite Australia’s leading Disability Advocate contacting the Derwent Valley Council’s General Manager yesterday, the Council tonight approved the documentary without seeking legal advise and commended a small fringe group on their documentary that dehumanises people who lived, died and suffered at Willow Court.

The method and way in which this film was made has been questioned and is still a subject of legal debate between members of the Friends of Willow Court and the Derwent Valley Council. The Council tonight were asked to clarify this position during question time and did not answer any questions.

 

Although Chairperson of the Willow Court Conservation Committee was contacted and informed, David Llewellyn stated that this was a dispute between the Friends of Willow Court and the Council. David Llewellyn announced that Willow Court is a “Site of Conscience” on ABC Radio on the 21st Oct 2012. This has left us wondering, what is his interpretation of a “Site of Conscience?”

Tonight another motion was past by Council and states that all future tours through Willow Court be charged money, which is to go to the restoration fund. This paths the way for the same fringe group who made the documentary to conduct Ghost Tours.

The Malcolm McDonald report has a plan not only to restore the buildings on the site, but also the people heritage and that can’t be achieved by portraying people in a dehumanising manner.

Friday night’s ABC News story

abc news

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