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Archaeology tells a story

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“From the site of London’s notorious Bedlam Hospital, they are the long-buried remains of many asylum patients once subjected to the cruel and brutal treatments that characterised our early understanding of mental health” 

This article came to me at the same time as I am reading Sue Piddock’s recently released paper “Archaeology and the Lunatic Asylum“. Here she believes that the history of the place is told through the archaeology. She believes that the treatments and the mental illness itself can skewed the witnesses testimony. She believes that basic conditions are told through the interpretation of the archaeology of a site and can be considered more accurate.

“While patients have written about their experiences over the centuries (see Porter 1991), such accounts do not fully cover the patient experience, and their writers have their own agendas, often tempered by the belief that the person has been wrongly admitted to the asylum for various reasons and is not in fact mentally ill. There is also the problem of determining whether the experience described is accurate or influenced by mental illness which may produce delusions or paranoia. The archaeology of institutions allows us to explore the world of the asylum and to provide a different voice from the official one of documentation relating to the asylum produced by those given control over the asylum.”

The following article from the UK is the archaeology from a site that is the first known asylum in Europe, Bedlam mental health hospital, established in 1247 and is to become the new site of the UK’s Liverpool Street train station and new cross tunnel. Click here to read Susan work, which is a 58 page document and includes Willow Court: Susan Piddock article Susan is known as one of Australia leading writers and authorities of Asylum’s both in Australia and the UK. She has previously allow her works to be published on this site and that can be found HERE

 

*WARNING THE PICTURE IS LINKED TO THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE WHICH HAS PHOTOS OF HUMAN REMAINS AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN*

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Call for Expressions of interest.

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26 May 2015 Special Council Meeting

Closed Derwent Valley Council meeting on the 26th May to discuss the selling or leasing of Willow Court and expression of interest documents.

It is expected that the Expression of interest will take up to 12 months, so the site will be left abandoned again for that period of time.

 

Councillor Bester responds to this post HERE and points out that it was not a closed meeting as I have reported ( I agree that this is right).

He then goes on to write and suggest that the only source of truth about Willow Court is the “Councillors” of the Derwent Valley Council.

As we have previously seen, all have their own agenda and political futures to protect as is witnessed each time the State election is called.

While I suggest The Council is important in holding the current ownership of the site, anyone who looks back at the past 15 year after the closure of Willow Court, many of those that the Derwent Valley Council has had a leading roll in Willow Court, the proof of the work and negotiation can be found in the site as it is today.

“What’s not so good is when opinions are presented as facts” Councillor Bester tells us “opinions as fact” when the statements he refers to were those spoken either at Council meetings or by Councillors attending Friends of Willow Court meetings. So the only fact is the very confused messages that leak out of the Derwent Valley Council and from the many sources.

Here are some facts:

The Derwent Valley Council have no plans for Willow Court (Stated by a Councillor) Witnessed, despite spending $70k approx on a marketing\business plan which they are not following.

Despite the Liberal Government meeting recently with Council, there is nothing for Willow Court in the Budget. “At first glance there seems to be nothing in the budget for the major issues of Willow Court…” New Norfolk News 29th May 2015

A Councillor announced that on Friday 15th May after being asked what plans do the Council have for the site? The response was “NOTHING” (witnessed)

A Councillor announced on the same night that the keys would be handed over at the end of June.

A Councillor announced at a recent Council meeting that “Willow Court was a bloody eye sore”

A Councillor at a Council meeting also announced that “no-body wants it” referring to Willow Court.

A Councillor stated at the same meeting that the call for expressions of interest could take “up to 12 months”.

The Community House is moving into Bronte House without an impact study to know if there is any negative affect to the tourist potential of the site.

The Council is wanting to sign a lease with the Department of Health and Human Services because it will receive funds for ongoing restoration (one off), but will loose one of the main buildings of the site for tourist potential and education.

Funding is more readily available for Nationally Heritage listed sites which Willow Court is not. It has just recently been nominated for National Heritage listing. Why has the Council taken so many years to do this?

The DVC has spent 1.5 million dollars on restoration, $750 thousand of that was a state government grant, so where is the rest of the money for the assets and real estate since the DVC have been involved?

 

So while a local politician is smiling at you and saying trust me for all the truth, we should ask some of these questions and expect full answers.

It is surprising that Councillor Bester is using his personal blog site as the epiphany of truth.

History has indicate that any Government, local of otherwise should not be the only source of “trusted” information.

 

 

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Global, Local

Self taught psychologist at Millbrook Rise.

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Here are two letters in correspondence about the proposed appointment of Cpl. Heaney to the staff at Millbrook Rise Hospital in 1943. While the first letter, dated 14th January, 1943 is respectfully written, the second letter in reply is an interesting read including the statement “where angels fear to tread”. It was great that the hospital remained professional and employed qualified practitioners.

WC self taught psych

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Global, Local

Last weekends display, Conflict and Consequences.

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I just wanted to share with you the background to some of the display Conflict and Consequences and how we (Friends of Willow Court) were able to put it together last weekend. It was easy to get information about wars and times of conflict and it was easy to access documents that told us of the Hospital’s history but the challenge was to see where these two subjects intersected and the people who were involved. The research was done over a reasonable length of time and we had access to a Historian, the Archives Office of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Military Museum and private collector and also we had connections with families. These family connection were what was the most humbling because we were being told of family stories of pride, sorrow and pain. To be able to listen to each of these stories and come to an understanding of that place, that time, and that horror was educational and highly emotive for us, the researchers. A simple thanks doesn’t seem to suffice sometimes. We were able to show the completed stories to some of those families and that was a delight. For a short time we were able to understand the journey that they had to have and some continue to travel.

The history of mental health issues post war is well documented and now days is recognised as post traumatic stress disorder but previously throughout the history of this condition, could have been known as “shell shock”, “melancholy” or simply being “depressed”. It is a condition that some live with and for others it was too much to endure on the human spirit. The hospital’s admission rate increased during these time of world conflict as found in the graph below.img001 Matron Morey and others returned from areas of conflict themselves and either joined or rejoined the hospital staff. It was these people who supported those that came back only to find life too hard, especially after time spent in camps as a prisoner of war.

Some other interesting things we discovered during our research was that a lot of records were used as paper pulp because of the paper shortage experience at the time. Most of the paper was imported from Britain, even the Mercury and Examiner both wrote to the Hospital regretfully informing the administration that they could not longer supply free newspapers. Times were tough when you consider that was the main means of communication with events from abroad and locally. Some files were written on coloured paper as staff were asked to use and reused what ever paper they could including the carbon copies that were often different in colour than the original documents. Some records were also lost during the second world war in particular because of the need to make more paper and this was frustrating when Dr Crabbe came to write the history of Lachlan Park Hospital after his own war service and return after being a prisoner of war. He saw the files before he departed for war and on his return lots had gone. His book was on display last weekend and we had a voice over of the introduction (below).

Here is a small selections of photos of the display.

 

 

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Global, Local

New addition to Willow Court

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Somebody is watching! New security is now visible at Willow Court despite people on social media helping others enter the site with their knowledge of security. While many people wish to see the site, the Derwent Valley Council is not allowing anyone except those that have had private tours escorted by Councillors. The next Council agenda has a closed section of the meeting dealing with Willow Court security. Also recorded on the Derwent Valley Council’s VANDALISM REPORT is a cost of $1825.00 for repairs for April. Also on the agenda is a proposal to sell some Council owned  land and the funds to go towards the restoration of Willow Court.

That if approval is obtained for the calling of Expressions of Interest for the sale of the George Street Land that the Mayor undertake a press release advising that expressions of interest will be called for the sale and that the proceeds from the sale will be directed to undertake restoration works at “Willow Court”.  

Also of interest is the Council’s plan to lease part of the Bronte Ward to the Derwent Valley Community House and the Department of Health and Human Services. We are still waiting for more information on this one and would love to see an impact study on the potential of tourism at Willow Court before any decision is formalised.DSCF0635

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A big weekend at Willow Court

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DSCF0824It has been a big weekend at Willow Court and the place was buzzing today and yesterday with anyone who has a passion for the place. Friday started early for some and was the accumulation of months of research and sourcing of information, personal stories, interviews, meetings, rehearsals and the extensive hunting for authentic items for display and for costumes for the drama. The Governor of Tasmania Professor Kate Warner opened the Friends of Willow Court Display and Play which were advertised during the Tasmanian Heritage Month. Along with invited guests she looked through the professional display which was an intersection between the lives of people who served in conflicts or behind in the local community effort and the Lachlan Park Hospital’s history and the lives that these people had before, after and during such conflict. Limited themes were chosen which told this story and also the story of the consequences of such conflict and the care and compassion of others. The generous support of many people and businesses has to be acknowledged because without this community effort this wouldn’t have happened. A special thank you to those families that allowed us to respectfully tell the stories of their loved ones, patient and worker alike. Of particular interest to me was the story of returned serviceman Bruce McLean, who’s story of life within Millbrook Rise post WWII was told and while Bruce wasn’t the only person to return after conflict and time incarcerated as a prisoner of war, his is one of the limited stories we have permission to share.

Partners include:

Returned Serviceman’s League (RSL), New Norfolk

Masonic Lodge, New Norfolk

Tasmanian Heritage Council

Derwent Valley Players, New Norfolk

Derwent Valley Council

The Friends of Frascati, Willow Court

The Military Museum. Hobart

Business and organisations include:

Willow Court Antiques, New Norfolk

Antiques Warehouse, Hobart

NIDA School of acting, Sydney.

Coles Supermarket, Bridgewater

Woolworth’s Supermarket, New Norfolk

Top of the town Bakery, New Norfolk

The Handyman, Chris Salt, New Norfolk

St Mary’s College

Personal Supporters:

Mayor Martyn Evans

Craig Farrell MLC

Eric Hutchinson MP

Family of all the people displayed.

 

 

 

 

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Global, Local

Heritage Month Activities at Willow Court

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It is on this weekend!!!

DSCF0645The opening was on tonight and a Friends of Willow Court Member, Mr Tony Nicholson introduces Her Excellency The Governor of Tasmania Professor Kate Warner.DSCF0652 DSCF0665

Here is a sneak peek at the activities from the Friends of Willow Court during the National Trust Heritage Festival this Weekend 10 am til 4 pmheritage week flyer

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DVC host Minister

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groomToday the Derwent Valley Council played host to the current Liberal Government and from reports, each Minister was tackled about current issues facing the Derwent Valley. Among those issues and high on the agenda was Willow Court. The Minister, Matthew Groom who is Minister responsible for, State Growth, Energy and for Environment, Parks and Heritage was accompanied by Councillors, Damian Bester (passionate advocate for Willow Court), Julie Triffett (ex-employee of Willow Court) and Frank Pearce (present committee member of the Friends of Willow Court) and Barry Lathey (past committee member of the Friends of Willow Court). The group today toured the site in its current state. We are looking forward to any response from either Councillors or the Minister on funding or any other ideas that came from this meeting. We can only hope that the past 15 years of little action will cease and some of the efforts put into today will bear fruit.

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A special Mum on Mother’s Day

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Here is a special mum that we can read about on Mother’s Day, someone who knew that her rights were clearly being ignored. She was  clearly well educated and knew the power that the Newspaper had in finding answers for what must have been a personal tragedy of loosing her 12 year old son and not hearing about this til well after his death, nor did she hear of what ailed the boy. Willow Court’s history is rich and is dotted with tragedy, loss and the perils of institutionalisation. Yet we also hear of many good stories over such personal and institutional adversity. This weekend the Friends Of Willow Court will have two events to celebrate Heritage month, the first is the play about Dr Meyers at Frascati House. The play is set in 1853 when Dr Meyer was the Medical Superintendent of the Asylum at New Norfolk and after the loss of his own four children he heads off to the Crimean War. The play is set at his farewell afternoon tea.

monday 24 July 1881The second event is a display which shows the connection between war and the consequences suffered by individuals. The positiveness of those that supported people on their return at the Hospital is a feature of each display. Each story is connected by the history of the Hospital and the community that was around it.

 

 

Cost:

  • Play and Display: Adults $25, children 12 and under $10, including afternoon tea. Also includes entry to the display.
  • Play without entry to display: Adults $20, children 12 and under $10 (includes afternoon tea).
  • Display: Adults $5, children 12 and under $2.

Bookings for play to Derwent Valley Council 6261 8500, door sales available. (Some tickets still available for both days)

 

 

 

 

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Global, Local

Evelyn Rose Morey

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Pages 1 and 32 of Matron’s publicly available first world war records are only part of the display at Willow Court for Heritage Month. Along with original uniforms and the equipment used in the Hospital to treat ex-solders who returned needing the services of either the Hospital or Millbrook Rise. Matron Morey returned to the Hospital after her Military Service and after a short break became Sub-Matron and later Matron. She served the Patients for many years and died shortly after her retirement. The display will be in the Masonic Lodge which will also have open days and is in partnership with the RSL at New Norfolk and some funding received from the Derwent Valley Council, entry to the display is via Humphrey Street and cost $5. morey enlist page 1 morey enlist page 32

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