Derwent Valley Council – Page 3 – Willow Court Tasmania

Study into Willow Court use.

November 23, 2017 1 Comment

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with both Dr Norrie and Dr Osvald about the engagement project that they have been investigating at Willow Court. They explained the project and stated that this will be approximately the 15-16th report into Willow Court. We were able to explain some of the history and the complex and mixed history of the site and plan on returning to have more input.

The reports range from the Architectural values through to the large McDonald Report (found in the documents tab on this site) created to plan for the future use of the site. This project was put forward by The New Norfolk Business Alliance which is a Special sub committee of the Derwent Valley Council. The study will look at future community engagement opportunities for the site and is seeking interested groups and individuals to have an input into the process.

As I reported in an earlier report, the Derwent Valley Council are currently also looking at an expression of interest process for the site, which they have been announcing for nearly two years. The Council are looking at interested parties to restore, occupy and use the site.

Interested parties are yet to see the conditions and details that are set out but the Council have been looking at the advertising costs and options up to $76, 960 (+GST) which they admit is unfunded from the ratepayers at this stage. The proposal from the DVC agenda is below.

University of Tasmania Community Engagement Project
The New Norfolk Business Alliance has been exploring how a community arts project could be used to promote visitation to New Norfolk. As a result of discussions Dr Helen Norrie (Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Design) and Dr Tamas Osvald (Research Assistant at the College of the Arts) from the University of Tasmania have shown an interest in the collation of information and undertaking a short community mapping exercise which will inform future community engagement opportunities.
Dr Norrie and Dr Osvald have been successful in receiving approximately $5,500 through an internal University of Tasmania grant (Creative Culture and Society Research) to further explore the potential for collaborative and interdisciplinary projects with Willow Court as the basis of the discussion. The project is a short term program which will be completed by December 2017 and will collate information, map the community and identify potential future collaborations and opportunities for future projects. Dr Norrie and Dr Osvald intend to provide the results of their project to the Council for further discussion once completed. This project does not involve any financial commitment from the Council and the outcomes may assist in future funding applications. A brief outline of the project is attached.

Global, Local

Friends to continue preservation

September 12, 2017 No Comments

The Friends of Willow Court announced in partnership with the Derwent Valley Tidy Towns group, that work to preserve the outer perimeter wall at Willow Court will continue.

Thanks to some funding from the owners, the Derwent Valley Council the limewash and restoration will continue. The works to preserve the wall stopped in December 2015, two months after restoration work on the whole site ground to a stopped in November of the same year. No funding has been forthcoming for the site through either State of Federal Governments and almost appears to be off the agenda again.

The AGM of the Friends of Willow Court will also be held tomorrow night and Guest Speaker, Dallas Baker OAM will present his experience as a conservation volunteer at Deal Island.

Friends of Willow Court
Annual General Meeting
13 September 2017
7pm
Derwent Valley Community House
Guest Speaker Dallas Baker OAM
Dallas will talk about his experience as a volunteer on the maintenance of the Deal Island convict built (1848) lighthouse.
Members of the public are very welcome to attend the meeting.
The Friends of Willow Court together with DV Tidy Towns will commence a project this year to continue lime washing of the entire Willow Court perimeter wall after receiving a DVC Community Grant to purchase scaffolding for the project. Anyone interested in this project can contact Friends of Willow Court via friendsofwillowcourt@gmail.com

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Asbestos photos

July 21, 2017 No Comments

The location of the asbestos dump site was photographed in a 1996 report and was the result of a massive job to remove as much asbestos from the wards on both sides of the Lachlan River. The exact where about of the dump site has been a mystery according to Derwent Valley Council documents, but this report locates the site with a number of photos. The low quality photocopies make it hard to identify the location without some local knowledge. The only indication is that the site was part of the old tip site which was on the south side of Glebe Road, once a site used for grazing cattle.

Can you help identify the area?

The Derwent Valley Council reported that they knew that asbestos was dumped on the site, but didn’t know where in the last plans for the area.

Build Heritage call for action, unheard

July 11, 2017 No Comments

The Friends of Willow Court took part in the Legislative Council Inquiry into Built Heritage Tourism in Tasmania in 2015.

“because we want the tourism potential of Willow Court realized”

and believed “Our concern is that while the ownership and management of this nationally significant heritage site is the responsibility of a small regional council, the tourism potential of the site and economic benefits to the Derwent Valley economy will not be realized”.

At the time they believed that, “Willow Court in its current state is a prime example of neglected recognition and interpretation”.

At the end of their submission they made a clear statement and called on the State Government to act.

“To ensure that the full tourism potential of Willow Court is realized there must be a clear State Government leadership role and expectation of how sites are to be protected and integrated into a Heritage Tourism Strategy.”

While there has been some State Government money put into the Agrarian Eatery there has been little to no investment from Local, State and Federal Governments into the decaying buildings beyond that and the heritage buildings have appeared to have slipped of the agenda. The current plans of the owner, the Derwent Valley Council, have stated their total goals for the current year

“Council is aware of the need to continue the works started at Willow Court and is looking into various ways of funding this.”

The full report can be found on our documents tab or click HERE

Reflective Dark MOFO

March 31, 2017 No Comments

After going through the site during Dark MOFO I was taken by surprise how some people had written messages on their mirrors to loved ones. It doesn’t take much to realise how profound these are. I started to look through the documents that I have to see if I could find a matching name and time frame. I could only find this:

In 1975 in M Ward I found someone with the same name. They were 9 years of age at the time and had already been there for 2 years which would have made them 7 when that entered the Hospital in 1973. This part of the hospital closed in 2000 and the children were the first to move out, so I don’t think this is the person or the right fit for the data I have.

On another issue, in excess of 260 mirrors were found and counted during the week leading up to the recent Open Day. This is after the staff from Dark MOFO had “removed” them after Mike Parr’s performance during the Dark MOFO 2016 event. Some had been stuck to Heritage walls and there is now damage. Some people had pushed their mirror onto the walls by finding cracks or even creating new places in the old walls to leave their mirror.

One original plaster wall collapsed shortly after the event and it was believed to be because of the foot traffic up the stairs. Another ceiling plaster had also collapsed, this was believed to be original and dating back to the first construction in 1830 according to Brett Noble, Archaeologist.

The Archaeology team from Flinders University are preparing a report of what they found when they visited the site in January 2017. It is hoped the the Derwent Valley Council can then look at this and make informed decisions about the use of the site, obligations of users and create policy and procedures about the sensitive use and compensation around damage caused to the site in the future. The Council manage this site on behalf of the people of Tasmania.

The site is unsafe to walk around because of the broken glass (mirrors). Also left behind are power cables and even a large screen that was used for one of Mike Parr’s films.

It is unclear who was responsible for doing a final inspection of the site after it was handed back to the Derwent Valley Council, but it appears to be a big fail in ensuring that the site was left in a condition it was found in.

Global, Local

Archaeology digs and open day approved.

January 21, 2017 8 Comments

The archaeology digs proposed by Flinders University have been approved at the last meeting of the Derwent Valley Council on Thursday night. The digs are at the Ladies Cottage (J ward) on the privately owned section, Frascati House and at Willow Court. Also included in the proposal is an open day for members of the public to see and hear about what is happening.

The Council also approval a proposal by the Friends of Willow Court during a public meeting for “supervised walks” around the Barracks area on the same day. The Council will look at approving a media release by the committee once it is submitted. The submission was passed with a number of amendments, they are; that all people visiting the site have appropriate safe footwear, that access to Carlton and Allonah House be restricted to the outside only and that any media release be put to the General Manager and the Mayor within three weeks.

The open day will be on February 12th. Detailed information about Friends of Willow Court activities will be released soon.

Archaeology at Willow Court

Community Open Day

Sunday 12^th February, 2017

10am-4pm

Willow Court, New Norfolk

The Willow Court Barracks is one of the nation’s oldest hospital buildings, built between 1830 and 1833 to treat convict invalids and free settlers. A second barracks building (now demolished) was attached at the rear for patients with mental health issues—this was the first purpose built asylum in Australia.

Archaeologists have been working at the site of Willow Court since 2014 to try to understand the daily life of patients and staff in this institution across 170 years. As the longest lasting, continuously used mental health hospital in Australia, Willow Court is a rare example of changing attitudes to mental health, its nature and its treatment across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Come and meet the archaeologists, learn about the excavations, ask questions and contribute to understanding the site and its history. Entry and tours are free.

The archaeological work at Willow Court is supported by the Derwent Valley Council, Flinders University and the University of Tasmania.

All ages are welcome.

Willow Court History Group are not associated with the Derwent Valley Council, Friends of Willow Court or any paranormal groups.

Global, Local

White Flower Memorial

December 10, 2016 No Comments

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.

Contact details are below:

Derwent Valley Council Contact

Global, Local

Latest News

December 3, 2016 No Comments

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.

Global, Local

New access rules and costs to be discussed at the next council meeting

November 14, 2016 No Comments

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.

Global, Local

Council’s own Committee ignored for nearly 12 months

September 21, 2016 No Comments

UPDATE

***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.

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