apology – Willow Court Tasmania

Public Lecture Series

April 29, 2014 No Comments

Invitation to a talk by Margaret Reynolds “The Royal Derwent Hospital at New Norfolk”

Many Tasmanians have links to this hospital but few want to talk about their experience of the
state’s only mental institution. Some people worked there and some had family in treatment
briefly or for many years. A large number of children with disabilities grew up there and some
recall abusive treatment.

Time: Thursday, 1 May 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Venue: Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, Ground floor, 91 Murray St (LINC Tasmania)

Jointly Sponsored by the Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office and the
Professional Historians Association (Tasmania)

RSVPs are essential
Please contact:
Caroline Evans
carolineevans@iinet.net.au

Global, Local

Lyons Candidates

February 11, 2014 No Comments

Tonight I have written to all the known candidates that are standing in the seat of Lyons in the upcoming state election. I hope to have a reply soon to share with all the Willow Court Supporters. This is what I have asked:

Dear Candidate,

As a candidate for the seat of Lyons this coming election we (Willow Court Advocacy Group) would like to know your thoughts or your party’s thoughts on the sensitive redevelopment of the Willow Court Site. We would appreciate if you would take the time to read and respond to our questions. Your response/non response will be published on our website, Facebook group and Facebook page so Willow Court supporters can make valid judgements at the ballot box this March.

1. This site is a world heritage site; will you support a listing to protect the social and physical history of the site?

2. Do you support an apology to the previous Residents for the Government policies that separated and denied people with a disability from being able to access their families and communities?

3. Many more dollars are required to fund the restoration of the site, how will you support this and help create jobs in the New Norfolk/Derwent Valley area?

Thank you for considering these questions and I hope I can upload your response soon.

Global, Local

2013 Report Card

December 26, 2013 No Comments

The biggest news story for the year would have to be the start of the physical restoration of the Barracks and Bronte Ward. Although the Derwent Valley Council have reported that

“The former psychiatric institution is recognised as having significant heritage values both in terms of its architecture and social history. After a chequered past, work is now being done to ensure its conservation for future generations and to look at adaptive reuse for some of the original buildings on the site”. (2012-13 annual report, page 9)

It appears that restoration is currently only for the architectural side only at the moment. However it is important that the DVC can see the “social history” from all parties who had something to do with the former hospital. It is this rich cultural heritage that should be shown to the world when the Derwent Valley Council opens the site to the public this Feb-March 2014.

We started the years off with being involved with the open days at the site and we released a 40 minute documentary to view free Willow Court Documentary (first public release). We then attended the Frascati House Heritage Day and made a podcast of the history that was spoken by the Daughter of Dr Brothers the Medical Superintendent during the second world war when she lived at the house with her brothers Frescati Heritage Open Day Our recording is now used as part of the New Norfolk Heritage Walk tour. Frescati House Plan (including audio link)

Tasmania was hit hard during the fire season and the Friends of Willow Court swung into action to raise much needed money for effected people with the Long Table Dinner Tasmanian Bushfire Fundraiser. This was cancelled by the actions of Cr. Judy Bromfield when she knowingly and deliberately stopped the insurance cover for people who were arranged as catering staff and had the necessary qualifications to serve alcohol for the evening’s event, Shame Cr Judy Bromfield Shame.

Another unfortunate event this year has been the Derwent Valley Council’s supported and sponsored “Paranormal Documentary”. This unpleasant work was reported to the Anti-discrimination and Privacy Commissioners, who found it to be in bad taste towards the previous patients who lived at Willow Court, but didn’t find it to be openly discriminatory. However the Privacy Commissioner believes if one of the previous residents depicted in this film should forward a complaint, there can be action taken to have the film maker remove the Archival footage obtained through Archives Tasmania. Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner Steps In

Tasmania released its tourism statement to the world in March this year and Willow Court was to be part of that promotion as arranged by Willow Court Tasmania Advocacy Group, only to be told that Council infighting causes exclusion to Tourism Tasmania advertising campaign.

Some great moments were the audio recording of Ken O’Brien’s recollection of his 90 plus years living in a community with a hospital as its main employer. Some of Ken’s podcast can be found on the audio tab and linked to this article, posted soon after the interview. Royal Derwent Hospital’s water supply, sewage and sullage systems. Ken’s living witness and this 1941 Agreement help us to resolve the many stories that had emerged from the community about what the tunnels under the township were used for. Tunnel discovery announced.

We also released an ABC 7.30 Report about “institutionalisation to community” and how a group of ex-patients were successfully making a new life in the greater community of Hobart, Tasmania. ABC 7.30 Report 1991.

The Tasmanian Heritage Council Approved New Shopping Centre next to Willow Court which will dominate the oval area, while the previous Wards around that oval passed to private ownership, with some major works starting.

The Derwent Valley Players, in conjunction with the Friends of Willow Court, presented two original plays, written by Sharon Hutchison and directed by Vivienne de Bressac at the Barracks. Willow Court, New Norfolk, was the site of a wonderful event over the week-end this was the last public event before the restoration started.

The website had 100,000, then 200,000 hits this year and continues to grow as does the Facebook group and Facebook page which shows many people are interested in Willow Court becoming a “site of conscience”, a place that saw human struggles and achievement. Our members join without the admin “nominating” them. This is a better and realistic gage of true support.

The new Restoration Tab took shape with reports and photos of the progress of works at the site and continues to record the restoration processes.

This year has also seen a big push for an apology to the former residents which dominated and brought up many mixed feelings from residents and staff alike, New article from Margaret Reynolds in today’s Mercury plus a news article from 1960, Mayor to meet with Lara Giddings over “Apology” We saw the DVC declare its position about the history and struggle of human rights in this article Derwent Valley Council; crisis talks over apology, No voice for previous patients from Mayor Martyn Evans.

The Federal election this year gave us an opportunity to contact all the candidates for the seat of Lyons and ask their opinion about Willow Court becoming a Site of Conscience. We had replies from the Tasmania Greens and the sitting Labor candidate Federal Election 2013 Lyons and we are arranging a meeting with the current elected Member, Eric Hutchinson in early 2014. All are supportive for an Apology to mend the past wrongs of Government policy and inaction at Willow Court as advocated by us and many parents and former staff and management.

A highlight this year was the tour from the Project Manager Brett Noble and being able to share a portion of the photos that I took while listening to this man’s immense knowledge and experience with restoration of Tasmania’s Heritage Willow Court tour of closed Barracks section

We also saw the podcasts of the social history and audio tour by ex-employee, Anne McKinstray being used as educational tools for students from Fahan School by having them loaded onto I-pads and listened to during a wander around the site. Educational Audio Tour.

We also had a number of very personal stories shared, A personal story, Nurse Miss Evelyn Rose Morey M.B.E.

In a year that I thought we had little activity, it was good to look back at the history of what we have been up to at a volunteer work level, political level and a public communications level. It was great to have the support page up and running this year with a collections of supporting statements from our support base Contact & Support Us, it is these positive messages that keep up going.

From our team we wish you a happy and safe new year and we would love to see you at the opening of the NEW RESTORED WILLOW COURT in 2014.

Mark Krause

Global, Local

No voice for previous patients from Mayor Martyn Evans

September 21, 2013 2 Comments

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.

Global, Local

Mayor to meet with Lara Giddings over “Apology”

September 18, 2013 No Comments

The Mayor of the Derwent Valley Council will meet with the Premier of Tasmania on October 2nd to further discuss the proposed apology to the previous Residents of Willow Court according to the September agenda of the Derwent Valley Council.

The Mayor, Martyn Evans is also a supporter of the insensitive Paranormal documentary about Willow Court which contains images of previous residents (without their permission) and is still on the agenda of the Council to deal with at it’s next meeting. This long waiting agenda item has had some issues according to Film Maker Aiden Sullivan “we have hit a few more legal speed humps in our efforts to release our documentary of willow court”.

Some Parents and ex-patients have also expressed concern about any release of a documentary containing and linking the suffering of people with mental health issues who were undergoing treatment and the hobby and past time of a small number of paranormal enthusiasts.

We are keen to have a position statement from the Mayor in regard to the previous Resident’s right to be represented by Council during the meeting with the Tasmanian Government, and the enthusiastic support of the Paranormal Documentary which was a joint Derwent Valley Council project with the film maker.

The Greens candidate recently wrote to this website and explained the apology in this way which we have found to be a wonderful explanation and extremely well written;

Support an apology. The Greens support and have been working towards a formal apology for those former patients who were not treated as well as they should have been against the standards of the day. We are cognisant of the feelings of former staff who assert that, to their knowledge, all patients were cared for in an appropriate manner, and feel that an apology is an accusation that their work in caring for residents was somehow inadequate. It needs to be 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. Our position is that an apology should occur as soon as possible, so that as many former patients as possible can be made aware of it.

Pip Brinklow,

The Greens House of Representatives candidate for Lyons

This was well explained, thank you Pip.

Global, Local

Eric Hutchinson

September 9, 2013 2 Comments

Today I wrote to the Member (elect) for Lyons Mr Eric Hutchinson to talk about Willow Court and his support level for the restoration both physical and social of the site. He has also been invited to tour the site with Mr Brett Noble the Senior Project Manager to discover what a hidden gem exists in the electorate that he is about to be the representative for.

I hope that he will take the time to answer and also to take up the offer of a tour. As a site of such historical value in Australia it is important that Willow Court have the active support of the Federal Member of Parliament.

I look forward to his early reply.

Mark Krause

Global

“Seared in their minds” Mercury Article 18th August 2013

August 18, 2013 No Comments

More from the Mercury about an apology to the previous Patients of Royal Derwent Hospital/Willow Court Training Centre. Two people are featured in this article, one an ex-patient and the other an ex-staff member. Both people wrote to the Mercury a couple of weeks ago with diverse and opposed opinions and experiences. Article from Margaret Reynolds in today’s Mercury

The apology…”in principle I would support it”

Global, Local

Federal Election 2013 Lyons

August 13, 2013 2 Comments

Today I wrote to each of the candidates that are seeking to be elected in the seat of Lyons, this is what I asked of each of the candidates:

Can you inform us about your plans to support the restoration of Willow Court?

The restoration fund is inadequate to meet the needs of the site, what can you do about this?

Do you support the apology to the previous Patients of Willow Court?

I look forward to their response and will inform you as soon as I have a reply.

(R -L) Dick Adams (Labor), Pip Brinklow (Greens) and Eric Hutchinson (Liberal)

Dick Adams Replies:

Thank you for your email in relation to Willow Court.

I am already supporting the development of Willow Court and the Federal Labor Government has contributed funds towards securing the site. I will continue to assist where I can.

Restoration takes time and once there are projects put forward to Heritage Australia, I will support them to be funded.

The apology is a matter the State Government needs to address and in principle I would support it.

Dick Adams MP

Federal Member for Lyons

Pip Brinklow Replies:

Dear Mark,

Thank you for emailing me in regards to my thoughts on this important issue. Willow Court is a very important part of Tasmania’s built and social heritage and must be protected.

Plans to support the restoration of Willow Court. The Greens are strong supporters of the restoration and sensitive adaptive reuse of the willow Court buildings. I believe that within the complex the story of the people who were patients and workers at Willow Court ( and Royal Derwent Hospital) should be told, honestly but sensitively.

Inadequacy of current restoration fund. The current restoration fund is substantially inadequate. I understand that there are currently some funds available that are facilitating some work, however the amount is undisclosed. With the sale of the oval there will be some additional funding. As we do not support the sale of any further land or building it will be up to all levels of government to contribute to the restoration and management costs of the site. The Greens strongly urge all three levels of government to meet to agree on a ten year funding plan. The longer term plan must be to develop enough commercial activity to pay the ongoing maintenance costs of the site.

Support an apology. The Greens support and have been working towards a formal apology for those former patients who were not treated as well as they should have been against the standards of the day. We are cognisant of the feelings of former staff who assert that, to their knowledge, all patients were cared for in an appropriate manner, and feel that an apology is an accusation that their work in caring for residents was somehow inadequate. It needs to be 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. Our position is that an apology should occur as soon as possible, so that as many former patients as possible can be made aware of it.

Pip Brinklow,

The Greens House of Representatives candidate for Lyons

I would like to thank Dick Adams and Pip Brinklow for taking the time to reply, I did get a reply from Erick Hutchinson who wanted to phone me, I still look forward to that call and hope I can relay Erick’s answers to the group soon.

Global, Local

Another letter to the Editor

August 1, 2013 No Comments

Another letter has appeared in the Mercury from an ex-staff member and Chairwoman of the Friend’s or Willow Court today. Speaking on her own behalf Anne has brought up some interesting points about the site and it’s history, policy and an apology. She also speaks candidly about the joint Council and APIU film that was created and shares concern about it’s appropriateness in the current light.

Willow Court Advocacy Group has also had a stance against the Paranormal film. While many of us are happy that this hobby and past time be pursed, we prefer that it’s not done at the expense of people living with disabilities who called Willow Court\Lachlan Park home.

The suggestion to join the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience is still a very good alternative to what’s happening right now. It would recognise the past struggles and assist to lay an ethical framework around the telling of Willow Court’s history. That will inform people today so that the human right will not be forgotten for our future. Well done Anne.

Sites of Conscience Website

Global

Site of Conscience and the Ministers response to be discussed at Council (UPDATE)

March 3, 2013 No Comments

UPDATE

At the February Council Meeting this year it was announced that Minister Cassie O’Conner has granted a meeting date with representatives of the Council who are concerned about the possibility of any Apology to People who were housed and incarcerated within Royal Derwent Hospital/ Willow Court. This apology was around the past practises used at this location because of the public policy at of the time.

Restriction of freedoms that most people in the community never knew about and appalling conditions that are well recorded throughout history in books such at the “Troubled Asylum” compel political leaders to ask themselves, was this right, just or proper? The Mayor should be well advised about conditions and happening from the hospital as three Councillors were former employees at Willow Court/RDH and a number have indirect connection.

Taken from the Agenda for the November Derwent Council Meeting, this article sits out. This agenda item reported on both the “Site of Conscience” statement from the Hon David Llewellyn AM on ABC Local radio and the Minister for Human Services Cassie O’Conner’s response to to the question, “when are you envisaging an apology to the people who lived at Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital?”

There is no doubt that this is a sensitive issue and if the Minister is going to proceed, then a full consultation should take place.

Council Agenda

Cassie O’Conner article

Hon David Llewellyn AM Radio interview

Derwent Valley Council

Council Meeting Agenda

15 November 2012

9. MOTIONS ON NOTICE

Date: 15/11/12

File: 197

Sites of Conscience (Apology)

Moved: Cr Lester

Seconded:

That Council writes to the Minister for Human Services The Hon. Cassie O’Conner requesting a meeting with her to discuss the proposal for Willow Court Sites of Conscience before any decision is made by the State Government.

Discussion

I have been made aware that this matter must have been the subject of discussions with the Chairperson of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee, the Hon David Llewellyn AM. The reason I make that statement is because he has made the comment on ABC Radio. I was somewhat heartened to read Councillor Bester’s e-mail of the 6th November 2012 which reads in part as follows:“the following message was posted today on the Willow Court website operated by the Sites of Conscience proponents. At today’s meeting with Cassie O’Conner I was able to ask the question, as the Minister for Human Services, when are you envisaging an apology to the people who lived at Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital? The answer in short is late next year is the plan, the longer answer is that there needs to be a lot of support from People living with Disabilities and those that advocate on behalf of those people whom may not be able to advocate for themselves.

Silence on this matter will not give support, even though there is an evidence basis for an apology. It is also important that this is not seen as an apology on behalf of previous Staff of Willow Court, but more an apology for the past policies and practices”.

I feel it is critical that the consultation that is stated above from the Minister takes place but it is also important that those that previously worked in the hospital are fully consulted as well as the people who reside in the Derwent Valley.

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