Latest Films
As we report without fear or favour, this film has the potential to bring up many feelings for different people for different reasons. We don’t apologise for sharing this film but warn people that this is a film about Willow Court’s darker history that previously divided the community and still has the potential to bring back those memories. It should also be mentioned that this film also contains the images of people with disabilities and has previously air nationally on television.
This is the first time this footage has been available since it’s first airing in the late 1980’s. Media, such as TV, has previously been used to alert the public to “poor and abusive” conditions in many institutions around the world throughout our history. Often this results in formal reports such as a Board of Inquiry, a Parliamentary Inquiry and various Royal Commissions. This has resulted in the deinstitutionalisation program, improved living conditions and higher staffing levels in many cases for residents.
The following film was from the Hinch Program and shows two whistleblower staff who went to the media to report what they had experienced and witnessed as employees of the hospital. ABC also covered the story and interviewed both staff member and these news stories went around Australia. I have since completed a full interview with Mark Beach-Ross which has limited release and is only available in a research area (Members Area). A full version of the Ree Pettifer 1989 Report (61 pages) can be found here; https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B3A3pgFWqqrbUzhKOV9jekhPZWs
This footage also shows two senior staff members in discussions with the reporters in the Administration Building foyer, The taller staff member was Grant Lenox, former Administrator at WCC and the man with the ponytail was the late DR Jerry Von Bamberger, former Director WCC.
This 2016 interview with John Langford AM explores John’s experiences working at Lachlan Park Hospital/Royal Derwent Hospital located in New Norfolk Tasmania from 1962 through the seventies when he set up community based support organisations in the psycho-social model, a philosophy that he had studied in the United Kingdom to support those people with mental health issues at Royal Derwent Hospital that didn’t require incarceration.
The interview goes for just over 23 minutes.
httpvh://youtu.be/fa457q1n6B8
Tony Nicholson, Local Historian explains about staffing and training at Willow Court Training Centre. Recorded in the early 2000’s.
httpvh://youtu.be/Wk2CURa9SJA
Lachlan Park Hospital circa 1950-60?. This footage shows the Barracks from the front and rear enclosed yard (demolished early 1960’s), H Ward and I Ward, the old clock tower and accommodation rooms on the west side of the hospital including the old metal fold up bed originally from Port Arthur. This is very rare footage. Black & White silent footage which was given to us at Willow Court Tasmania History Group.
https://youtu.be/I-BEduVI_2I
This short film shows Ward 10 with its high, double fences and outer perimeter security system
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-BEduVI_2I&feature=youtu.be
This is the first release of this story since 1991, this footage has been publicly screened and all people had given permission to be filmed and broadcast.
In 1991 ABC News recorded a story about a number of ex-residents of Willow Court. It was screened on the 7.30 Report as a 9 minute story of “institutionalisation to community” and followed the stories of Neil, Don, Jean and Ian. It is believed that Jean and Ian were the first couple to be married in Willow Court despite negative pressure to their marriage. They also interview the Hon. Judy Jackson MHA who was key in the decision to de-institutianlise 300 residents with disabilities despite huge pressure from within her own political party. Where did they go? Staff and residents talk about their new life and how they felt about institutionalised care.
httpvh://youtu.be/GDRHPmdXCHs
From 1827 New Norfolk was the home of Tasmania’s first Asylum which later became known as the Willow Court Training Centre, part of the Royal Derwent Hospital. The oldest remaining Asylum in its same location continually ran until the year 2000. “The Barracks” is the original and oldest part that can still be viewed today.
Tony tells us about the history of the buildings and daily life within the walls of the Asylum with remarkable accuracy and respect. 173 years of history in 37 minutes.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbrPFaQg1y4&feature=youtu.be
Images of the past. Royal Derwent Hospital, Wards 7,8,3,4,10 and the Chapel.
httpvh://youtu.be/t7YurY3zGM0
Tony Nicholson, local historian talks about the Barrel Drain that runs from Willow Court to the Derwent River. Often believed (falsely) to be a tunnel for the passage of patients.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r_6R2r32Yw
Carla Paul talks about her time as a child patient in Royal Derwent Hospital, her escape attempts and her survival on the outside.
Carla talks to ABC Reporter, Judy Tierney about her life in Tasmania’s Royal Derwent Hospital, read the Transcript here.
Carla writes about entering Royal Derwent Hospital at the age of 13 and how she survived in an inhospitable environment and how the one kind Nurse persisted in reaching out to her. She talk about life outside of the Institution after release at the age of 19 years, how she re-adjusted and to difficulties she endured.
Carla Paul has written a book called “From Darkness into Light” this is out of print.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNLbQ27Yd-A&feature=plcp
Willow Court Bites short film on the Willow Court Barracks Building. This was the first main structure on the site.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-jgfJ6-tVQ&feature=plcp
Willow Court Bites short film of Carlton Ward. Owned by the Derwent Valley Council and is part of the heritage precinct. Originally created to house the criminally insane and later people with an intellectual disability.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0U9CZaQ3Ow&feature=plcp
Willow Court Bites short film about Muriel Knight Park, now privately owned.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7p8A43q8sY=plcp
Willow Court Bites short film of Glenora Ward (Oval Ward) guided tour by Paul Mayne ex-employee and ex CEO Langford Support Services Inc.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Gr6hXeXXc=plcp
Asylum is an educational documentary promotional short that was created before a 30 minute documentary.
httpvh://youtu.be/gWUzrs0s5xY
Willow Court Bites short film of Ward 7 in Royal Derwent Hospital, now demolished.
httpvh://youtu.be/m6xOrKrfFdo
Willow Court historical Bites, “still alive” shows Willow court as a functional Hospital circa 2000