Frascati house damaged during break in.
Frascati House was broken into in the last 24 hours, Council on call worker and the Security Guard were there tonight repairing the damage caused by the break in. Continuing damage from people forcing their way into these buildings is still happening despite a Guard being present each night. We are against people entering these sites and discourage this action. These buildings are unsafe and are fragile, which will make the restoration more expensive..
Open Day Tour Guides
Information on the three tour guides for the next open day can be found by clicking in the blue hyperlink. (Subject to change without notice)
Willow Court Open Day 18 November 2012
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNL_bqq40r4&feature=youtu.be
Willow Court & BarracksOpen Day 18 November 2012, The Avenue, New Norfolk. Tasmania 10am – 4pm
The beautiful and historic Willow Court & Barracks precinct will be open for tours and a full program of activities in a not to be missed opportunity to explore and learn about Australia’s oldest continually run mental hospital and Military Barracks that pre-dates Port Arthur.
Open day coincides with Frescati garden tours—once the Hospital Superintendent’s residence
This is a rare opportunity not to be missed!
Willow Court & Barracks Open Day Flyer
Meeting of the Friends of Willow Court
When: Tonight
Time: 7pm
Where: New Norfolk Library
Site of Conscience call for notorious Parramatta Girls Home
Click here to see full article. Call for “Site of Conscience”
There has been a call for Parramatta Girls home to be declared a “Site of Conscience” with the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, the same group that we are advocating for Willow Court.
“Authorities promised to educate and reform “uncontrollable” young women but molestation, punishments and humiliation occurred, mirroring the thousands of cases of child abuse in institutional care that were recognised in the federal government’s 2009 Apology to the Forgotten Australians.”
“The redevelopment of the site needs to respect past occupants, recognise sufferings and wrongs and not be driven by commercial interests,” a 1970 inmate of Parramatta Girls Home and founder of Parragirls, Bonney Djuric, said. “The site can have interpretation centres, research facilities, art studios and memorial gardens.”
This call sounds familiar?
Closed Council meeting to discuss WC Oval Precinct future
From the DVC Council agenda for 18 Oct 2012
14 CLOSED COUNCIL MEETING
That pursuant to the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2005, the meeting be closed to the public in order to discuss the following:
1.2 CONTRACT EXTENSION AND PUBLICISING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OVAL SPACE WILLOW COURT
The Council agenda for Oct included a closed section for Councilors to discuss the contact extension and proposed development of the oval precinct
Willow Court. This could be the end of these buildings. Wards G, E and D are all in this area and have been a valuable educational tool as well as part of the Tasmanian Heritage.
Listen to the audio of what could be one of the last tours through these buildings as Anne McKinstary takes us through , not only her knowledge, but some memories of working in each of these Wards.
(Now Closed) Audio tour
“Walking Through Time”
Recently the Derwent Valley Council received confirmation that it had been successful in its application for a grant from the Australian Government’s Your Community Heritage Program. This grant is for the amount of $11,363.64, with Council supplying some cash matching and inkind support. The amount of $10,000 is required for cash matching from the DVC, of the Australian Government Grant, this funding is available from and has been budgeted for in the current budget grant funding reserve.
In the latest minutes the setting up of a working group, comprising of identified stakeholders and Councillors for the purpose of expending the Australian Government’s “Your Community Heritage Grant Program” Grant was agreed to.
“Walking Through Time” program will facilitate the development of the walking tour (with signage) and podcast (or similar) and will call upon a representative from each of the following committees of Council.
- • The Historical Information Centre Special Committee
- • New Norfolk Business Alliance
- • Friends of Frascati Community Garden
- • The Willow Court Conservation Special Committee
- • Tynwald Park Development Committee
- • Friends of Willow Court
- • Spatial Planning Review Committee
- • Rivers Run Tourism Association
Morgue development, Llewellyn announces “A Site of Conscience”
ABC News tonight had a report that Haydn Peace, owner of the Morgue at Willow Court will now renovate and set this place up as an accommodation. This area is privately owned. The Morgue has served the Derwent Valley Community up until the closure of the institution, it was also believed to have served as an over flow for Hobart during the Port Arthur massacre.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/64318009″ iframe=”true” /]
David Llewellyn announced that Willow Court is a “Site of Conscience” on ABC Radio today, while David is happy to have businesses and people occupy the area because it adds to the security of the area. He refused to endorse or be drawn to comment about Haydn Pearce’s idea, instead he gave an update of the works on the Council owned areas by some members of the Friends of Willow Court and some options that were on the table for future development.
Radio interview copyright ABC Local. Interviewer: Leon Compton
Committee Nomination Forms (Friends of Willow Court)
Want to get involved in the sensitive and respectful restoration of Willow Court? Here is your opportunity, download and print the nomination form and return to the General Manager Stephen Mackey DVC via this email address; executiveassistant@dvc.tas.gov.au
Even if you just want to volunteer at the working bees, you will need to be on this committee as a non executive committee member to obtain the insurance cover that is offered by DVC. Those interested in being on the executive or committee should forward their nomination no later than Friday 2 November 2012.
Need to talk about it? mark@willowcourttasmania.org