Past to Present. Memory to Action
The Willow Court Advocacy Group’s Facebook group has now climbed to over 300 members and the Facebook page has over 100 members. This is a great support for Willow Court and the sensitive restoration of the social and physical history. Help us grow even more by using the “invite by emailing” and asking your friends to support this cause. Together we can make Willow Court a Site of Conscience.
The lush green grass and weeds that were in the forecourt of the Barracks building have already been treated with a poison in readiness for the landscaping to start. These areas will consist of new raised green lawn and white pebble pathways. With the contrasting sandstone of the barracks in the back ground, this promises to be quite a sight. It is also a popular method of highlighting the structures above ground which works on a number of heritage sites around Australia. The existing road and brick paved surfaces that are in front of the barracks will form part of the substructure of the new surfaces while the existing drainage already in operation will manage future drainage needs. This is a cost effective solution that will make the limited dollars stretch further.
This week is going to be a big week in Bronte Ward as contractors start the arduous task of removing asbestos from the ward. While there was a program to remove asbestos from each of the wards in the 1980’s there are still some remaining areas that this needs attention. Asbestos is still part of the old electrical switch boards and also flange seals in between the huge metal heating ducting in the roof space of the ward.
No tour groups or visitors can enter the site while this work is carried out. It is also hope that the wind will ease next week as the asbestos is removed then taken outside for appropriate disposal in skip bins. These are all sealed packages to reduce the chances of airborne fibres being blown into surrounding properties.
The latest news letter from the Conservation Committee is here Newsletter from the Willow Court Conservation Committee
The development application has also been put into the Derwent Valley Council and can be viewed up until October 21st. Invitation are invited for public comment. New Norfolk news
A meeting with the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee will be held tonight at 7pm in the Community house. Mayor Martyn Evans will be attending.
New and exciting ways to get from Hobart to New Norfolk are being planned by 
Rod Howard from Hobart Ferry and water Taxi Services. Rod presented a marketing plan for the years 2013-14 to the Derwent Valley Council for the October meeting.
See full plan HERE
With the heritage trail walks, antique shops and Willow Court about to come online as a tourist venture the future is looking bright for New Norfolk. Lets hope that it gets a good hearing.
The latest agenda item from the Derwent Valley Council has this welcome addition from Cr. Bester. The large above ground pipe works do not fit into any heritage site. He has called for them to be re-installed under ground, in keeping with the street scape.
9. MOTIONS ON NOTICE
9.1 TAS WATER
Decision
Date: 17/10/13
File: 197
Moved: Cr Bester
That the Council instruct TasWater to remove the large water meters along The Avenue at Willow Court and reinstall them underground in consultation with the Willow Court project officer; and to review its procedures to be followed when working on heritage sites.
The next meeting of the Friends of Willow Court will be held next Thursday at the Community House at 7 pm.
AGM elections on the 26th September resulted in the follow people being elected
Chairperson: Anne Salt
Deputy Chairperson: Denise Rushworth
Secretary: Vivienne de Bressac
Treasurer: Graham McLean
Ordinary Committee: Mark Krause, Anne McKinstray, Janet Presser, Sharon Hutchison, Zefi Famelis, Rod Quarrell & Lyn Hopkins
Dewernt Valley Council Represetative was not in attendance.
Volunteers restoring historic garden
A group of Tasmanians is starting to transform the grounds of one of the state’s most historic houses, at Willow Court in New Norfolk. Click below to watch News report
Tonight’s annual general meeting of the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee had special guest, Mr Brett Noble who gave us an update on works at Willow Court. The development application plan will be submitted to Heritage Tasmania and will take at least 42 days before works can begin. The Heritage council were invited to visit the site and have accepted to tour with Mr Brett Noble.
A maintenance/development plan will be submitted to local council for approval and will be open for public consultation for 14 days. Willow Court Advocacy Group have been included in the electronic distribution of that information so stay tuned.
Some new and changed aspects from the last restoration report are; the plant room attached to Bronte Ward was originally thought to be an area which would be left with a Perspex viewing door. Now this will form part of a Care Taker’s Apartment.
Also the Recreation room in Bronte Ward will have the false ceiling removed which will expose the cell/room structures that once served as bed rooms. The carpet tiles will be removed and the old linoleum that is below will be cleaned up and some minor repair completed. This floor is in good condition.
The veranda will replace the toilets that were a later edition to the rear of Bronte. It was initially thought that this veranda would be open, but now it will be closed and the floor will be evened out with timber for easy level access for all visitors.
The Barracks will have all the doors and windows that face the courtyard fully restored and will be operational. The wooden rails will be painted. The roof will be painted with a modern product which is based on an old tar surface. It is believed that this roofing surface will give the building 10-20 years extra life. There is an issue with the galvanised iron and aluminium rivets reacting and causing a detrition and rust. It may be a future option when Willow Court is up and running that the roof can be replaced when the funding is available.
Frascati House will have some structural work to support the fireplace which has some large cracks.
The Derwent Valley Council policy about the collection and de-accessioning of Willow Court artefacts has been released.
There has been a lot of activity about artefacts that people have acquired when the Willow Court/ Royal Derwent Hospital buildings were abandoned on social media. People seem to be measuring their collection against other people’s collections while other people are returning artefacts, loaning artefacts and having the history recorded of the artefacts that has come into their family’s possession and doing so quietly. Most people want to share artefacts so they can be shown to the public when the restored site reopens and exhibitions can be put together. This photo was give to the collection through the official channel and it’s history recorded for all to share and know. Outside the Barracks 1908
Chief Attendant W. H Bennett with his uniformed attendants. (a copy can be found in “Troubled Asylum” page 140)
A conversation yesterday morning with a member of our team confirmed that the Derwent Valley Council, Mayor Martyn Evans will not be representing the ex-patients like Chas Canden when meeting with Premier Lara Giddings on October 2nd. In this divisive community move the Mayor will only be representing the ex-staff who had a choice about whether they worked in WC, but ignoring the rights of families and individuals who had no choice about their involvement with WC.
It is extremely disappointing that the Derwent Valley Council’s representative will ignore the rights of people who live or have lived in the Derwent Valley who have a disability. The Mayor’s ignorance on the issues around Willow Court has astonished many ex-staff members who advocated for the rights of the previous residents when they worked at the site.
It is acknowledged that the majority of staff operated to the highest ethical standards at all times and that an apology is not a slight on them. Some former patients who were not treated as well as they should have been, against the standards of the day, deserve some representation from their elected representative but it seems that this will not happen.
On another positive note Eric Hutchinson, Lyons newly elected Federal Government representative is meeting with Members of the Willow Court Tasmania Sites Of Conscience Advocacy Group.
This article has been censored from “Our New Norfolk” Facebook Group. Disappointed! Let the people decide for themselves.