A new gallery collection of photos, thanks to Samantha Bulmer for permission to upload and share your work.
AGM Report
Two important motions were moved at this meeting,
1) that the money raised from open days is forwarded to the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee and
2) The Memorandum of Understanding between the WCBWG and the DVC in regard to the making of a film is the responsibility of the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee.
Another meeting will occur Wednesday night 6.30 at the Community Centre New Norfolk, Chaired by Stephen MacKey General Manager DVC.
For those that maybe wondering why one committee is closed and another has started, this is following the Business Plan and Development Plan prepared by Malcolm MacDonald and Associates found on the website at: https://willowcourttasmania.org/documents/
Polytechnic display
The Certificate 3 Disability Studies students put together a wonderful display from their recent Willow Court two day tour. There has been a lot of sensitive thought that has gone into the works which are on display in the Clarence Library at the Polytechnic. Well done guys, I’m impressed. People from the Disability Industry are welcome to visit the Campus and stroll through the work.
Cheers
Mark
Fire in D Ward
Smoke damage in the corner window
Another website and facebook group has reported that there has been a fire in Ward D (Derwent)
They reported two fire units and police attended the scene and damage has been kept to a minimum.
Cheers
Mark Krause
ABC Local David Llewellyn and Willow Court
Today the Hon. David Llewellyn AM spoke about Willow Court on ABC local radio, it was a pity that the forestry debate overshadowed the conversation, so little new information was given. Tim from Austins Ferry called and suggested that Art works from People with Mental Health be displayed at the site. This has been raised before and suggested that a connection between the Dax Centre in Victoria be established. Some of the works in this display are from ex-patients of Royal Derwent Hospital.
http://www.daxcentre.org/
Cheers
Mark Krause
Minutes for Willow Court Conservation Special Committee
http://www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/wccsc
Please find all minutes for this committee on the Derwent Valley Council website.
Committee Member Profile: Paul Lan
Principal Partner, Lan & Skinner ArchitectsCame to Australia in 1962 and settled in the Derwent valley in Tasmania for over 30 years.
Educated in South Australia & Sydney Universities in Architecture. TAFE Tas trained & registered as a medical herbalist.
A practicing architect in SA, NSW and TAS in both public & private sectors. Practicing medical herbalist in Tasmania.
Post held includes: Past councillor of RAIA Past Examiner for Board of Architects Tas Past Tas & national Visiting panel for accreditation of UTAS Architectural School Tas government ministerial adviser or building regulations Municipal Architect for Derwent Valley Council Member of HIA Technical, Environmental & Planning Committees Past Chair of United Community Action Group (road infrastructure) Member of Australian Traditional Medicine Society
Agenda Item for Derwent Valley Council 16th August
We are happy to see the recommendation of Anne McKinstary to the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee. We hope that the Derwent Valley Councillors pass this recommendation.
Recommendation:
That Council ratify the following as members on the Willow Court Conservation
Special Committee:
1. The Hon. David Llewellyn AM (Chairperson)
2. Mr. Martyn Evans (Mayor Derwent Valley Council)
3. Mr. Barry Lathey (Deputy Mayor Derwent Valley Council ) Proxy
4. Dr. Dianne Snowden Proxy
5. Mrs. Michele Moseley (Deputy Secretary Department Primary Industries, Parks and Environment).
6. Mr. Paul Lan Architect
7. Mr. Tony Wright (Deputy Director Inland Fisheries)
8. Dr. Jane Harrington (Port Arthur Authority)
9. Ms. Anne McKinstray Friends of Willow Court Special Committee (Comunity Representative)
10. Mr. Richard Onn Friends of Frescati Special Committee (Community Representative Proxy)
Ref: http://www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/16%20August%202012%20Agenda.pdf
Discussion
As council is aware the Malcolm MacDonald Report suggested setting up a new committee which would oversee the Business and Development Plan. This new entity
would have experts in the following fields, ie. Engineering Heritage and Grant writing and would be chaired by an independent person.
Some members were in place early, these being the independent chairperson the Hon David Llewellyn who brought on board Mr. Paul Lan an Architect and Mrs Michele
Moseley Deputy Secretary Department of Primary Industries, Parks and Environment and Dr. Dianne Snowden as a proxy and Council appointed the Mayor Martyn Evans
with the Deputy Mayor Barry Lathey as proxy. The Chairperson has been continuing to recruit expert committee members to the committee and consulted with the CEO of
the Port Arthur Authority in an attempt to gain his support for a member of the Authority to join the Committee. They have now allowed Dr Jane Harrington and she
has agreed to be a member. The Chairperson also pursed several persons with financial and entrepreneurial skills and has been successful in convincing the Deputy
Director of Inland Fisheries Mr. Tony Wright to become a member.
The committee had previously agreed to appoint one person from either the Friends of Frescati or Friends of Willow Court to be the community representative and at the
committee meeting on the 9th.August 2012 a nomination from the Friends of Willow Court Ms. Anne McKinstray was appointed with the nomination from the
Friends of Frescati Mr. Richard Onn being appointed proxy.
Cheers
Mark Krause
Whats it all about?
Willow Court Advocacy Group Web Site Launch
Today we launched the Willow Court Advocacy Groups Website. We believe that this will complement our Internet presence with Facebook and allow people to understand why we would like Willow Court Tasmania to become a Site of Conscience. We are still constructing some sections and will be adding to this on a regular basis. We hope that the ONLY authorised website www.willowcourt.org.au will be up and running soon and we fully support that site, which we hope will educate people about Willow Court and it’s history. If you wish to contribute anything to this site please contact me through the “contact us” tab or visit us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/willowcourttasmania/
Cheers
Mark Krause
Castlebeck View
As a lot of people on here would already know about the abuse at Castlebeck View in the UK, It’s a story that I have been following and it makes me wonder if we have come far in supporting People with Disabilities. How can a Profit making organisation be allow to become so disconnected from their very purpose, is it because they have grown so big or is it because training is a cost best saved for the shareholder? Paul Brosnan, the 35-year-old chairman of Castlebeck and son of Denis Brosnan, resigned earlier this month in the wake of the closure of Winterbourne View.” “It employs 2,100 people, providing care for 580 service users at 56 facilities nationwide.” Why so big? http://www.guardian.co.uk/
“Professor Jim Mansell, the author of the government’s policy on disability care, said: “The staff don’t think that these are human beings just like them otherwise they wouldn’t be able to do what they’re doing. This is the worst kind of institutional care, it’s the kind of thing that was prevalent in the 60s.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
It is good to see justice taking its course, but what are the long term implications for such large organisations, is profit making the way of the future? The full documentary will be in the Clarence TasTAFE Library after the court has finished with the footage.
http://www.youtube.com/
Cheers
Mark