During Human Right’s Week we saw the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks attend and speak at a White Flower Memorial Ceremony outside the Willow Court Gates on Friday. The event was organised by Flourish Mental Health Action in our hand Inc group and remembers those who suffered inside the former asylum.
In a strange coincidence the DVC’s sponsored Paranormal Tours also are happening in Human Right’s Week, they are remembering and selling tickets to hear about the suffering and negative spiritual energy that is believed to exists around Willow Court\Royal Derwent Hospital.
Despite calls to stop insensitive activities that continue to dehumanise past Patients and Staff the Derwent Valley Council have approved and sponsored these activities.
Historical the mentally ill and people living with disability were paraded in public to raise funds and appease the curious and fearful public.
Hospital staff recorded having to build protection to stop visitors using the mentally ill as entertainment in the well respected book a” Troubled Asylum”.
The screening of a Psychological Thriller at the Council owed section of Willow Court in January 2017, which was filmed in the private section of Willow Court and depicts Patients and Evil Staff along with the two approved, over 18 paranormal tours, it has become clear that Mayor, Martyn Evans and Cr Julie Triffett, who attended last year’s White Flower Memorial Ceremony didn’t understand or convey this message to other Councillors about the history and future implications to the reputations of those people living with mental illness and intellectual disability as they continue without any plans for the site and approving and sponsoring events in the historic site that demean the lived experiences of people who called the place home or work.
Please let your Councillors know if you are unhappy, they need know their actions are not acceptable in a modern and enlightened times. We know that anyone going to the tour tonight will have to walk past these flowers as a reminder of the suffering and continued suffering that is dealt out by our community leaders.
There have been a few things happening at Willow Court. Firstly this is a notice on the gates of the Council owned section informing the public of an application for the return of the Archaeology Student from Flinders University and the pending works they wish to start during their stay in February next year.
The second notice is about the pending Kitchen, Eatery and Store due to be fitted out next year and their application for a Liquor Licence. Rodney Dunn from the Agrarian Kitchen is aware of the sensitive nature of the site and is highly respectful of the history. This is a great way for the Council to raise long term funds without insensitive exploration of the site.
The Derwent Valley Council have see fit to sponsor and approve, not one but two insensitive Paranormal tours of the site. We know from worldwide experiences that these will soon start portraying the previous residents and staff as objects of dread to compete for the very limited audience and available dollars.
One is a private business and the other group has strong connections with a number of Councillors who have supported this activity, including the Mayor who once announced the location as the “most haunted in Australia”.
The expression of interest process for other businesses to operate at Willow Court has still not been completed by Council.
I have been sent a picture of this button and an inquiry as to whom would have worn this and from which uniform it would have come from.
If you can help please contact me and I will pass on the information.
On a happier note the Willow Court History Group website has clicked over one million views last month. We believe that people are interested in a sensitive and respectful telling of the history of the hospital.
The weeds are growing in the landscaped areas at the site. The Friends of Willow Court had requested to manage the lawns and gardens, but have been denied access. It is also believed that the FoWC have also been denied access at Willow Court to prepare their submission for general and educational tours.
This is your invite to an open conversation with two Tasmanian Leaders in the Mental Health and Disability industries. This free event will bring John Langford AM from Queensland to join in with David Kearney in what will be an interesting conversation. Both men had connections with Lachlan Park Hospital/Royal Derwent Hospital and Willow Court.
This map was measured in “scale of chains” and drawn by E. W. N. Butcher in 1866. It was then changed in 1904, 1938 and 1948. If you zoom in you can read the then current land title holders names. The map shows the land that was acquired for the expansion of the ever increasing needs for hospital under the medical model of treatment. This massive growth was demanded throughout the hospitals history and later became one of the reasons, along with changing ideas, for the downfall of the medical model of treatment. The map also includes the township of New Norfolk and sections of the town on the opposite side of the Derwent River. The site still remains unusual in this location close to a township, as most Asylums were located away from populated areas and therefore the two histories are and will remain closely linked.
The owners of the Willow Court have recently had a number of workshops to develop some parameters when people and groups wish to access the heritage site. The last workshop was attended by two members of the Friends of Willow Court, Councillors Julie Triffett and Barry Lathey and the General Manager of the Derwent Valley Council.
Educational and Historical groups did not attend and were not invited.
During this time they have considered and will propose a number of things at the next DVC meeting for approval:
Application of site use, (which includes insurance either from the DVC or separate, groups name and type of event. It isn’t clear about use of toilet facilities in the leased section of the site.)
Opening the gate fee
Cost per person for entry
Safety audits
Security arrangements
Bond
Any tours will have to have their scripts approved by the Council.
Access to the remaining part of the site when the Agrarian Kitchen take up their leased section will be closed off by a number of clear panels, it is proposed.
This will be put to the next DVC meeting.
Even though there hasn’t been a process of “Expressions Of Interest” a number of groups have been given access to the site outside of any process.
The proposed “night tour” entertainment group has not had any script approved according to the General Manager and the EOI process will be up to Council to discuss and develop.
It was also noted from recent public comments that there was more public access to the site in 2014 than what is being proposed by Council or on offer today.
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 that didn’t require incarceration.
A trained Psychiatric Social Worker, John, at the age of 80 years took the time off his full time job to speak with me. He recently opened an accommodation centre in Mackay Queensland to assist people in crisis and has been awarded the highest honour you can get from Rotary Australia the ‘Paul Harris Award’.
This now matched his 2014 member of the Order of Australia as part of the Queen’s Birthday honours list. It was a delight to meet and talk with this gentleman who has dedicated his life’s work to people with mental health issues, intellectual disabilities and those in crisis.
He starts with telling about the shock he received when he first started and was given a tour, this is not dis-similar to the comments I have received by many ex-staff when they first started. He then discussed the community based structures and training at the hospital that came out from the leadership of Eric Cunningham Dax. He was instrumental in a number of organisations including PRA, Community Hostels, Caroline House and Mara House.
John was one of a number of people who were in positions at the hospital that were able to make a real difference and it was only mentioned to me recently that we need to gather that history, so this is, one person and how they have and are still contributing to the ongoing care and support of people living with mental health issues and\or intellectual disabilities.
The interview goes for just over 23 minutes. Adjust to high Definition.
***This afternoon Ben Shaw the Deputy Mayor of the Derwent Valley Council stated that a working group has been formed and met last night to discuss access to the site. The meeting, he reported had members from outside interest groups, (not including Willow Court History Group) a Paranormal group and internal Committee’s of Council, Friends of Frascati, Friends of Willow Court, Councillors and Council Staff. Two Members of the FoWC attended last night.***
Three member of the Friends of Willow Court, which is a Special Committee of the Derwent Valley Council attended and asked question of the Councillors at the August Council Meeting. It would appear that the Derwent Valley Council, as owners and operators of Willow Court Heritage Site are dragging their feet when it comes to approving events or even having a simple process in place to approve access to the site.
The Derwent Valley Council have now been sitting on a planned events calendar from the Friends of Willow Court for nearly 12 months (August). It appears no feedback or acknowledgement has been forthcoming from the Council to their own committee.
5.2.3 Mr Tony Nicholson – Friends of Willow Court (FoWC) Calendar of Events
Mr Nicholson queried why the Friends of Willow Court (FoWC) had not received feedback or comment from the Council on a Calendar of events for Willow Court which has been provided by Councillor Pearce almost twelve months ago.
With the community keen to have Willow Court open and in use, why have Council not communicated with FoWC on our calendar of events?
The Mayor indicated that the Council was continuing to clarify the Terms of Reference following which there will be further consideration of a expression of interest process.
In another question, Mrs Vivviane De Brassac, a representative of the Friends of Willow Court asked about the sudden installation of information panels before the Dark MOFO event and inquired why Councilor Bester did not approach the Friends of Willow Court for information or assistance. The committee holds immense information of the site’s history with the presence of Local Historian and historical Author Tony Nicholson. Mr Bester clearly had time to consult the Friends of Frascati in gaining information about the Frascati Panel but couldn’t make a phone call to any members of the FoWC or the Council’s representative Cr Pearce.
5.2.4 Mrs Vivienne de Bressac – Consultation with Friends of Willow Court (FoWC)
Representative
Mrs de Bressac queried why Councillor Pearce was not asked to engage with the FoWC to develop the interpretation panels installed in the Willow Court Barracks given that he is the Council representative. Mrs de Bressac noted that Councillor Bester who is the Council representative for Friends of Frascati had been involved in the development of the interpretation panels for both Frascati House and Willow Court Barracks precinct.
The Mayor indicated that given the short time frame to ensure information panels were available for the Dark Mofo Event, the General Manager had organised for the installation to occur immediately.
Derwent Valley Council Minutes – 18 August 2016 Page 15
Next the Chair of the Friends Of Willow Court expressed disappointment in the lack of consultation and asked why if there was time to gather information about the panel for Frascati House that Councillor Pearce wasn’t given the same information to gather information for the Willow Court site from the FoWC?
5.2.5 Mrs Anne Salt – Communications with Friends of Willow Court (FoWC)
Mrs Salt stated that Section 9 of the Derwent Valley Council Code of Conduct Policy states:
Councillors will promote participation by all sections of the community by seeking their views and opinions and by ensuring that appropriate stakeholders have the opportunity to be involved in decisions that affect them.
It was noticed by the FoWC during the Dark Mofo event that interpretation panels were installed in the Willow Court Barracks. Interpretation panels had been a topic of discussion between the previous Willow Court Conservation Committee and the FoWC, and we are very disappointed not to have been made aware by the Council that the panels were to be installed.
We are more disappointed to learn that Cr Bester consulted with the Friends of Frascati on the content of the panel for Frascati House, when Cr Pearce and the FoWC were not consulted on the content of the panels to be installed in the Willow Court precinct.
Given there was time to consult with the Friends of Frascati, why was Friends of Willow Court not consulted or involved in the development of the Willow Court precinct panels?
The Mayor indicated that given the short time frame to ensure information panels were available for the Dark Mofo Event, the General Manager had organised for the installation to occur immediately.
There is a pattern of behaviour appearing and has been for some time that the Council won’t communicate with it’s own Committee and it now appears to be keeping one of it’s own Councillor’s in the dark about works and planning. Chair of FoWC Anne Salt pointed to the Council’s own code of conduct and it’s failure in this process.
We have a first draft “Position Statement” in relation to activities that disrespect the previous residents and staff at Willow Court. The current proposal before the owners, the Derwent Valley Council to have Paranormal Tours has forced us to create this document. It applies to any activity that disrespects the history and the people of Willow Court. While some people wont agree with this, it is however our view.
The current agenda for the Derwent Valley Council has some interesting and exciting proposals that are up for discussion and consideration for the Councilors. The first is on page 40 of the 113 page agenda for a meeting held on the 15th September 2016.
In this proposal Associate Professor Heather Burke from Flinders University is looking for joint support for the archaeological works that are planned in 2017 through til 2022. There are plans for respectful engagement with community. The research aims are:
Staff uniform, Peace collection
better understanding of the day to day life of patients and staff in the 19th and 20th centuries, the development of long and short term interpretive materials, community engagement, developing links between the site and other convict institutions and those portions of the site that are privately owned and training in techniques and processes for students.
The project has been designed along research lines to answer a number of research questions; focusing across a number of broad areas including:-
• The use of space and how this changed over time; • Changes to the physical structures; • Changes to medical treatments; • Conditions for staff; • The relationship between staff and patients and their experiences, and; • The interactions and lives of individual patients in relation to their daily lives at Willow Court and Frascati.
A brief indicative timetable has been provided for the works to be undertaken each February between 2017 – 2022. The project outline for 2017 includes underfloor excavation and surface collection of materials in sections the Barracks, verandah and Ladies Cottage.
As there is a possibility of contamination due to some of the activities previously undertaken in part of the site, a soil analysis has been requested prior to any underfloor activities being undertaken, this will help to ensure the safety of those people involved in underfloor excavations. An estimate of costs involved has been provided.
Due to the means of construction, it will be necessary to lift the floor in certain sections of the Barracks building to allow access, and estimate for this work has been provided by a suitably qualified person. The lifting and reinstatement of the floor could form part of forward works for any restorations to be undertaken in that part of the building. The requests contained in the above recommendation are for works to be carried out in the 2017 year only, future works will be the subject of further recommendations.
The proposal includes public engagement activities and open days (with dates to be finalised), included in this request is assistance from Council regarding public engagement in these days and funding for advertising the open days etc. Council may wish to have further discussions with Associate Professor Burke regarding the detail of the proposed open days.
Although work is not proposed to start until February 2017, this recommendation has been submitted to allow time for the preparation of all required heritage and other approvals. Council may wish to request that copies of these documents and a more detailed project plan be submitted prior to the commencement of archaeological works.
10.6 Archaeological Work at Willow Court and Frascati – Request for support
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council:-
1. Provide in principal support for future archaeological works under the supervision of
Associate Professor Burke to be undertaken at Willow Court and Frascati until 2022;
2. Provide the following assistance as requested by Associate Professor Burke for the
proposed works to be undertaken in February 2017:-
a. Marquees (or similar), tables and chairs to be used as shelter areas on the site,
for the display of materials and for students to undertake public engagement
activities;
b. Possible assistance with community engagement, including but not limited to
funding advertising regarding open days etc.;
c. Funding for interpretation materials , this may be a longer term project and
will be dependent upon what is discovered during the excavation period;
d. A secure storage area for any artifacts;
e. Possible assistance with the removal of dirt and debris after items of
archaeological significance have been removed;
f. A space for dirt that has bee removed to be sifted and examined, possibly the
small cement yard between the Barracks and C Ward;
g. A portion of costs associated with the removal of and reinstatement or
replacement of floorboards in the Barracks;
h. The cost of soil testing in the underfloor area to be excavated at the Barracks;
i. Accommodation for up to fifteen people for up to two weeks;
j. Barricading and coverings for trenches etc. to ensure public safety during this
period, and;
k. Back filling of excavations between field seasons.
3. Request a more detailed plan providing additional information regarding the nature
of the public engagement to be undertaken;
4. Be provided with a document detailing the finding following the completion of the
2017 field school.
The second proposal is for a paranormal tour investigation.
The proponents, it is believed have no formal qualifications in the areas of, ethics, science, tourism, workplace health and safety including risk assessment or business.
Previous statements from representatives of the Derwent Valley Council have talked about a “professional approach” to the future activities on the site and the plans for the Agrarian Kitchen to take up a lease (signed lease 2-9-16) in the old Bronte Ward early in 2017 and the installation of Mike Parr’s work during Dark Mofo are proof that this is the line that is succeeding.
The proposal also calls for the rate payers to subsides the insurance on this event. This event is also to coincide with the release of a documentary which depicts previous residents and staff as “other than human”. This film was approved, funded and insured by the Derwent Valley Council in 2012.
Please read our position statement to these events HERE
The third proposal is from John Davidson and is part of the worldwide Photowalk program for people wishing to take photos with other like-minded professionals and amateurs alike.
Date: 1 October 2016
Purpose: 50 persons participating in 2016 Worldwide Photowalk event.
The last proposal is from the Friends of Willow Court and members of the Derwent Valley Players. The Friends of Willow Court had submitted a list of activities and has been waiting for some time for a reply from Council. Two plays are planned for November this year.
Three of these events will showcase the site and its history respectfully and I’m looking forward to hearing if the DVC can get the approval process in place within the time lines. It’s a bit strange that this hasn’t happened already?
In an updated 2016 plan, the Derwent Valley Council were informed that the old Royal Derwent Hospital site may pose significant health risks. These are asbestos within the buildings, building rubble and in an undisclosed dumping site on the property. Other issues are undeclared flood prone areas and two dump sites which it still remains unclear if biological hazards were placed.
During Human Right’s Week we saw the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks attend and speak at a White Flower Memorial Ceremony outside the Willow Court Gates on Friday. The event was organised by Flourish Mental Health Action in our hand Inc group and remembers those who suffered inside the former asylum.
