Museum tells story of mental health

“Our goal is to tell the story of the people who lived and worked in the hospital,” Dysart said during a tour of the museum. “And, also, to raise the issues of mental illness. There is no one in the world who hasn’t been touched by mental illness or doesn’t know someone who has been touched by it.”

This story tells the history of the Oregon State Hospital and the people who went through the doors. I like this comment on page two; “”In the world of mental health, there is the stigma and the shame, which is so sad,” Dennie Brooks said. “Because we now know more than ever.” How true of Willow Court and any other system in Australia for that matter. We could well look back and think the same in twenty years time. There is an opening and opportunity for Willow Court to tell it’s story and allow people to make up their own minds about our past practices and the full social history.

UrnsMuseum tells story of mental health care

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The Site and Buildings of New Norfolk

new hospital proposal glenorchy

The Proposed Glenorchy Site

Dr Macfarlane, the current Superintendent of New Norfolk, thought that overall the New Norfolk site was best and would not recommended its movement closer to
Hobart as this would allow greater public intrusion and disturbance of the patients. A view supported by Dr. Coutie, the Assistant Medical Officer, who
believed the site was healthy, with a good view, abundant water, and the grounds could be expanded. While Rev. W. Murray who gave services at New
Norfolk, thought that patients were more excited after the visits of friends and relatives so some distance from the main town was advisable if it would
decrease visits. Dr. Huston, the former Superintendent, echoed this view indicating the site was the best and a new asylum was not required. If placed
near Hobart he believed the patients would be less able to go outside the walls due to a natural dread of the insane by people. Miss Laland, the Matron,
offered a different view believing the asylum should be near Hobart. More entertainments would be accessible, there would be more intercourse with
friends, and patients could go out to church and on outings.

The New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane.   Susan Piddock

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What’s in a name?

1“In 1937 the name of the asylum changed to Lachlan Park Hospital. This was the first time that reference to an asylum, insanity or mental disease was removed from the name of the institution. It had previously been known as the Lunatic Asylum, New Norfolk (1829), the Hospital for the Insane, New Norfolk (1855), and the Mental Diseases Hospital (1915). The dropping of references to mental diseases and insanity with the name changes to Lachlan Park Hospital reflect an attempt to distance the institution from the social stigma attached to these terms.”

 

 The New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane.   Susan Piddock

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Whats going on here?

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A Council notice, applied 15 metres back from The Avenue on a gum tree advises the public that there is an application for planning approval to install storage containers inbetween Frascati House and the Lachlan River. This notice is hard to see from the road and gives no more information about the storage, it’s purpose and how long it is planned that these storage containers will be in the area. Plans are avalable at the council for 14 days from the application date, which is 27 May.

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ABC 7.30 Report 1991

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-BEduVI_2I&feature=youtu.be

This is the first release of this story since 1991, this footage has been publicly screened and all people had given permission to be filmed and broadcast.

In 1991 ABC News recorded a story about a number of ex-residents of Willow Court. It was screened on the 7.30 Report as a 9 minute story of “institutionalisation to community” and followed the stories of Neil, Don, Jean and Ian. It is believed that Jean and Ian were the first couple to be married in Willow Court despite negative pressure to their marriage. They also interview the Hon. Judy Jackson MHA who was key in the decision to de-institutianlisl 300 residents with disabilities despite huge pressure from within her own political party. Where did they go? Staff and residents talk about their new life and how they felt about institutionalised care.

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ABC Broadcast; Whose heritage is worth saving in Tasmania?

ABC-logo-420x0Is Tasmania preserving the right things and whose heritage is worth saving anyway?

This is ABC’s Louise Saunders and Sarah Gillman interview of a mixed group of Tasmanians about our Heritage and what is worth saving and at the expense of what other heritage sites? She starts with the question, what is Heritage?

ABC Radio Tasmania Heritage Audio 44 minutes.

A general discussion about Heritage within Tasmania with guest speakers Paul Johnston, Architect; Warwick Oakman, architectural historian and member of the National Trust; Briony Kidd, Hobart-based director and playwright who was involved with the Save 10 Murray Street campaign; Dr Dianne Snowden, chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council; Aaron Everett, Aboriginal Heritage Officer with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and Adrian Kelly, President of the Tasmanian Real Estate Institute.

Dianne Snowden is an ex-officio member of the Willow Court Conservation Committee as well as being the chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council.

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Tunnel discussed in Agreement 1941

Taken from an agreement between Local Council and the Minister for Lands and Works this document talks about joining Lachlan Park to the new New Norfolk Sewerage system and abandoning the old system which runs under Burnett Street.

“AN AGREEMENT made the 18th day of June one thousand nine hundred and forty-one between THE HONOURABLE THOMAS HENRY DAVIES being and as the Minister for Lands and Works for the time being in the State of Tasmania (hereinafter called “the Minister”) of the one part and THE WARDEN COUNCILLORS AND ELECTORS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF NEW NORFOLK (hereinafter called” the council”) of the other part WHEREAS for many years past the sewage from Lachlan Park Hospital (hereinafter called “the hospital”) at New Norfolk in Tasmania owned and controlled and managed by the Crown under the Mental Diseases Hospital Act 1858 has flowed through a drain beneath Burnett-street (hereinafter called “the drain”) and has been emptied into the River Derwent at New  Norfolk aforesaid AND WHEREAS the council has recently undertaken the construction of a modern sewerage scheme for the Town of New Norfolk and it is desirable for reasons of health and sanitation that the sewage from the hospital be emptied into the sewers so to be constructed by the council and that the use of the drain for the passage of sewage be for ever afterwards abandoned”

tunnel Government agreement, document (full) 1941

Old story Click Here

 

 

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Want to add to the site?

electricNot all posts are written by the website owner, I am happy to put posts up that pertain to Willow Court’s sensitive re-development. All posts submitted must have links to the quotes if they are being used or I must sight the original documentation. In particular we would like stories of the past from previous Residents, Staff and those people who have been connected with Willow Court in some way.

We are increasing our documentary library every month at the moment and we are happy to share works that you have permission and or copyright to share. The website has unlimited storage and bandwidth so can contain as much information as can be supplied. Digital loans of exhibitions can be catered for for long or short term loan period. Some shared material can be secured to only allow access to certain groups i.e.. Educational, Tourist, previous Staff, Residents or Parents and Friends groups. Passwords can be managed between those groups.

Any upload must comply with the groups objectives which can be summed up in this statement: DO NO MORE HARM.

 

Contact me through this site at mark@willowcourttasmania.org

 

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Frescati House Plan

Frescati House Plan

This was the House Plan that was on display on the Sunday Heritage Day. It shows past structures and rooms combined.  Looking at the current shot (right) taken from the fire escape of “E” Ward this has been a substantial reduction in the structure. The areal shot (left) confirms the plans. All the out buildings have now gone. Margaret’s Richards, Dr Brothers daughters conversation is now loaded   on the “audio tab” Click HERE.

frescati house  Frescati House 2012

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