Matron is waiting for you!
Phillip Crosswell retirement card after 39 years of service at RDH
Lots of signatures of staff wishing Phillip a great retirement
Willow Court Open Day 18 November 2012
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNL_bqq40r4&feature=youtu.be
Willow Court & BarracksOpen Day 18 November 2012, The Avenue, New Norfolk. Tasmania 10am – 4pm
The beautiful and historic Willow Court & Barracks precinct will be open for tours and a full program of activities in a not to be missed opportunity to explore and learn about Australia’s oldest continually run mental hospital and Military Barracks that pre-dates Port Arthur.
Open day coincides with Frescati garden tours—once the Hospital Superintendent’s residence
This is a rare opportunity not to be missed!
Willow Court & Barracks Open Day Flyer
It is done!
At long last the fence and old gates are finished. Rod and Scott along with all the various volunteers deserve a beer and a pat on the back. What a transformation!
Just imagine this transformation to the Barracks and Willow Court site? It’s possible within our time but takes a community that is willing and able.
Volunteers are needed, if you have a passion for history to be respectfully and sensitively restored and told, why not put your name down at the next open day on the 18th November.
Open day details HERE
See the full evolution HERE
Cassie O’Conner
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 long 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.
Site of Conscience call for notorious Parramatta Girls Home
Click here to see full article. Call for “Site of Conscience”
There has been a call for Parramatta Girls home to be declared a “Site of Conscience” with the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, the same group that we are advocating for Willow Court.
“Authorities promised to educate and reform “uncontrollable” young women but molestation, punishments and humiliation occurred, mirroring the thousands of cases of child abuse in institutional care that were recognised in the federal government’s 2009 Apology to the Forgotten Australians.”
“The redevelopment of the site needs to respect past occupants, recognise sufferings and wrongs and not be driven by commercial interests,” a 1970 inmate of Parramatta Girls Home and founder of Parragirls, Bonney Djuric, said. “The site can have interpretation centres, research facilities, art studios and memorial gardens.”
This call sounds familiar?
Closed Council meeting to discuss WC Oval Precinct future
From the DVC Council agenda for 18 Oct 2012
14 CLOSED COUNCIL MEETING
That pursuant to the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2005, the meeting be closed to the public in order to discuss the following:
1.2 CONTRACT EXTENSION AND PUBLICISING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OVAL SPACE WILLOW COURT
The Council agenda for Oct included a closed section for Councilors to discuss the contact extension and proposed development of the oval precinct
Willow Court. This could be the end of these buildings. Wards G, E and D are all in this area and have been a valuable educational tool as well as part of the Tasmanian Heritage.
Listen to the audio of what could be one of the last tours through these buildings as Anne McKinstary takes us through , not only her knowledge, but some memories of working in each of these Wards.
(Now Closed) Audio tour
Photos from the two weekend’s working bee.
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The last 10 photos are from this weekends working bee to finish off the fence and gates and WOW they look fantastic with a coat of pitch and kero. Well done Guys and Girls.
Willow Court in the Mercury
Its not all smooth sailing for “Morgue Hotel”, both Anne Salt and Margaret Reynolds are making their feelings known. The announcement of a pending Apology to those housed at Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital by The Minister Cassy O’Connor a few weeks ago is in gross contrast to this development. While the developer has bought a wonderful atmosphere to the old buildings and small businesses enjoy the patronage and add to the village theme, it is hard to say what damage can be done by going for “shock value”.
