The Friends of Willow Court have released their tour dates for the next three month. Tours include ethical and well researched knowledge about treatments and past patients by trained guides and local historians, some have past employment history on the site.
The next Willow Court History tours are coming up this Sunday, 17 April.
FREE ENTRY
Come along and learn about the history of this site from 10am Sunday.
Booking for tours can be made on 0419 213 232
Friends of Willow Court Derwent Valley Tasmania Tyga FM Community Radio Derwent Valley Arts
Here is a great opportunity to visit Willow Court for a free tour conducted by trained guides. No need to book, good for the whole family and it’s ethically respectful of the people who called this place home or a workplace.
The Friends of Willow Court Special Committee are holding a two day event in and around the Barracks Building on 28 & 29 November to acknowledge the closure of the Willow Court side of the Royal Derwent Hospital. The event will be officially (invite only) opened by, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AC and the schedule of Speakers include Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart (Convict Historian), Margaret Reynolds (ex teacher Lachlan Park Hospital), Pete Smith (ex staff member) and poet Liz McQuilkin. co author of Renovating Madness (Karen Knight and Liz McQuilkin 2018).
Music will be from the Derwent Valley Concert Band who will bring back the sounds of the concert bands that were based at the Hospital.
‘Stories from the Asylum’
***NEW UPDATED PROGRAM***
‘Stories from the Asylum’ marks the 20thanniversary of the closure of Willow Court that falls on 28thNovember, 2020. The event seeks to acknowledge this milestone in the asylum’s 193 year history through talks by guest speakers, poetry, music, storyboards, and podcasts (QR code only) recordings of former staff reflecting on their time at the hospital, and the Roses from the Heart bonnet tribute to the convict women who spent time at the New Norfolk asylum.
Saturday 28 November
10 – 11:30 Punishment and Health in convict Van Diemen’s Land – Hamish Maxwell- Stewart
On the 28 & 29th November the Friends of Willow Court are holding an event “Stories from the Asylum” to mark the 20th anniversary of the closure of Willow Court.
The event will include guest speakers, stories, biographies about former convict patients, and stories from former staff, poetry readings, music, and a display of bonnets to commemorate the female convicts who were at the Asylum/Hospital at the time.
The Friends of Willow Court would like to know the stories behind the names of the female convict women, and then have this information as part of the display, but we need help researching this information.
Early this week the Friends of Willow Court, members of the Derwent Valley Players and a representative of the Willow Court History Group conducted an educational tour for students from Sacred Heart College at Willow Court. This was a Thematic interpreted tour with dramatized, evidence based stories, all presented and linked to the school curriculum.
The students first met with Matron Coates (Sharon Hutchison) who explained, within her busy schedule, the rules for visitors the Hospital. A short history of the development of Social Services within Van Diemen’s Land was presented, this put the New Norfolk Invalid Barracks into a context and explained why a Hospital needed to be built on the site.
Sharon Hutchison (Matron Coates)
A number of historical characters presented themselves throughout the Barracks building and along the tour path including Ruth Montgomery who played the part of a Nurse circa 1960’s. The nurse advocated on behalf of a patient at the time and read the patient’s account of being incarcerated in the Hospital.
Ruth also played the part of Mary Dingle a Convict who found herself transported to Tasmania and ending up in the Hospital. Mary’s story was referenced 36 times to ensure a high degree of accuracy, likewise all the stories, were either first hand accounts or came about because of research.
Ruth Montgomery (Nurse circa 1960’s & Mary Dingle Convict)
Jeff Windsor (Patient C Ward Criminal Division) waited in the Carlton yard ready to tell his story of being in the secure ward during the 1968 mass escape. A number of security staff were brutality beaten during the escape. He describes the scene before and during the escape and the energy levels before the attack on two security staff. The aftermath and consequences were still in his mind as the free patients were returned to the hospital and the ring leader sent back to Risdon Prison.
Jeff Windsor (Reflective Patient C Ward Criminal Division)
All the tour guides have been trained in thematic interpretation by Phil Fitzpatrick who was instrumental in thematic guide training in other Tasmanian Heritage sites like Port Arthur and Sarah Island. Tour guides continued their training in 2015 at both Port Arthur and the Cascades Female Factory in a behind the scenes applied learning experience.
A great email was sent to the Friends of Willow Court, Derwent Valley player and the Willow Court History group.
“I wanted to send you an email to let you know how fantastic the experience was at Willow Court earlier this week. The feedback I got from students was that they had never experienced the “thematic” approach that you and the actors delivered and they found this to be really interesting to hear these primary accounts within the confines of the rooms that these people worked in, students came away with some incredible insights, shocked by the tragic circumstances of some of the people incarcerated at this facility, as well as a deeper appreciation of the history of the site”
Teacher; Sacred Heart College
Missing from the pictures was Derwent Valley Player, Linley Hopkins who played the role of Mrs Smyth-Jones.
The first of two groups about to head off around the site.
This was posted on our Facebook Group a few days ago by Anne Salt who is a member of the Friends of Willow Court. I had the pleasure of assisting them on one Sunday with the tours of the site.
The Friends of Willow Court are overwhelmed by the interest in Willow Court’s history shown by people from all over Tasmanian, and the mainland. Over the last two open days, and from a private bus tour 286 people have visited the site. Many have expressed concern and disbelief that the Derwent Valley Council is in the process of subdividing and handing significant parts of this site to a private developer, without consideration for ongoing community access and interpretation.
One couple decided to let our Councillors know their thoughts on Willow Court, and the economic benefit to the district when the site is open. Hopefully the Councillors received, and read the email.
This is what the visitors had to say in part,
‘We are Tasmanians from the Launceston area. We came south specifically to New Norfolk for the weekend. We drove around the area, ate at a local bistro, filled the car with fuel at a local service station, stayed overnight in local heritage accommodation, had coffee at three different local cafes, purchased snacks and milk from a local corner shop, ate breakfast at a local café, purchased goods from a local antique shop and paid to attend the Willow Court Tour. In all, for the Saturday afternoon and Sunday we spent in New Norfolk specifically to attend a Willow Court tour we spent over $780. If it was not for Willow Court, we would not have visited at all.
We urge the recently elected local Council to look at some of the decisions that are being made and consider what their footprint on the local history may look like to visitors to New Norfolk in the coming years. Don’t let our grandchildren or great grandchildren (we are both 47 and don’t have grandchildren yet) not have the opportunity to visit this facility in the future if they wish. Keep it open, restore and upgrade the facility for Tasmanian locals, interstate and international visitors for generations to come.’
The clean up of the rear Carlton Ward (Willow Court) Courtyard is nearing completion thanks to the Friends of Willow Court working bees. They have been able to reveal some garden beds after much weed and blackberry removal . These beds may have been used for Occupational Therapy for the people in Carlton (C) Ward (House). With just a few more bits of graffiti to be removed, the walled and gated area will now be a usable public space and fits into the T.R.A.C.E.S plan for activating the spaces on the site for public use.
Thanks to the GREAT volunteers for giving up two weekends to help clean up and find these garden beds. Helpers to continue activating our heritage spaces are always welcome and can contact the Friends of Willow Court to join in on the next Community Based Project. friendsofwillowcourt@gmail.com
The T.R.A.C.E.S Plan is as follows;
TRAILS and Tours. Develop guided tours with Friends of Willow Court. Engage with tourism operators to develop and promote. Develop walking and driving routes.
RESTORATION and Reuse **Clean up the courtyards.** Staged repairs of buildings. Develop training programs for young people interested in repairing historical buildings.
ACTIVATION and Access Continue open days and events Setup venue hire rates and rules. Install internal gates to improve access.
CURATORS and Custodians Engage with the community to collect stories. Gather community history through schools and universities. Align exhibitions with events in the Derwent Valley and Tasmanian arts and events calendar.
EMPOWERING Develop a community garden project. Establish a community kitchen. Facilitate continuing relationships with DV Community House and Agrarian Kitchen.
SIGNAGE Develop a signage strategy to contribute to the interpretation of New Norfolk and its history. Promote signage for sites as landmarks within the town and the Valley. Tree planting strategy to spatial links between Willow Court sites particularly High Street and The Avenue.
Can you help remember the 57 (known) convict women who were at Willow Court?
Friends of Willow Court together with Dr Christina Henri plan to have a bonnet for each woman on display at Willow Court during Human Rights Week in December 2019.
If you would like to make a bonnet, or donate $10 to have a bonnet made on your behalf please let FoWC know. And please let others know about this important memorial to the forgotten convict women of Willow Court.
Friends of Willow Court will be hosting an open day on 7 April, providing another opportunity to showcase this very unique and significant part of Tasmania’s heritage, and for visitors to learn about the significance of the site through displays, artifacts and walking tours.
