The case of the missing gate

Yesterday it was noticed that one of the gates to the avenue was missing and questions were asked to find where it had gone. After a short investigation it was found out that they had been removed for repair after being vandalised. This weekend the Friends of Willow Court will again be working on the front fence and remaining gate under the supervision of Rod Quarrall. Rod has been ill and the job was delayed, but we are glad to see him again this weekend. Stop by and say hello if you are in the area, Rod, like the Friends of Willow Court donates every minute of his time with this project and the conservation of Willow Court as it reaches the end of its first stage.

new norfolk 019     Willow Court GatesRod QuarrellTwo large trees that were recorded in the Botanical Report have also been removed, one because it was rotten and posed a danger and will be replaced with the same species,

the other one because it was in appropriately planted in the first place. The stumps will be removed.new norfolk 016

Continue Reading

The Kettering Incident

Busy times in Willow Court and around New Norfolk today with the filming of The Kettering Incident. There are plans to film in the Willow Court Hotel and the Morgue. Today the crew filmed at Sorell Creek  below and blocked the Avenue for a while trying to workout how to get all the trucks into the privately owned area of Willow Court. Catering service were set up behind the Nurses building. The filming is done by Foxtel and the BBC with one million dollars from the Tasmanian Government.

new norfolk 084 new norfolk 087 new norfolk 024 new norfolk 028 new norfolk 022

Continue Reading

The “Electrical Machine” found in the attic in the old Officer’s bedroom

Electrical machineThe “Electrical Machine” found in the attic in the old Officers bedroom is contained in the history of Lachlan Park book by Dr G.M Crabbe. This book is a review of file notes from the early to mid 1800’s and beyond. It is able to shine a light on treatments and practices within mental health services in early Tasmania. The extensive use of  Convicts and ex-convicts as support staff appeared as a common practice and also an ongoing problem according to the book, “In contrast to this, those in charge did seem to have the patients interests at heart and did their best to care for them. They were very handicapped by having the hospital staffed by convicts and ex-convicts, the Medical Officers, Matron and Headkeeper being the only “Free”.

There is also a lot mentioned about Electricity being used as far back as 1851, “strong galvanic current” however a clear difference was the time that the electricity was used for a patient in that time and what would be used today with modern ECT. The Galvanic battery would be able to deliver long doses of electricity to the patient and there are clear records indicating that the use of the electricity was used verbally as a threat instead of a treatment. Reasons for long electrical treatment could be, not eating, being idle, being violent, refusal to work and delusions. Dr Grabbe also questions whether the electric shock or galvanic battery were also delivered through hip or foot baths, the file notes are unclear.

Treatments involving cold bath or shower, hip bath are also mentioned in the patient notes that Dr Crabbe reveals.

The treatments given were the usual ones in those days. Emetics and purgatives, especially on admission, were used frequently; heads were shaved; setons were inserted in the neck, great satisfaction being expressed when they discharged freely; heads were blistered; disturbed patients were given cold showers, which frequently did anything but quieten them; mercury was given in full doses, till a stomatitis was produced, but this was not considered an indication to discontinue the administration. Sedatives were not much favoured, the only one in use being opium, but in spite of its being effective, it was not used very often.

There is clear history of the Barrel tunnel being put in, to stop issues and complaints from downstream residents.

Dr Crabbe clearly had an interesting in the treatments used and proposed in the early history of Willow Court and a number of terms used throughout the book are clearly that of an educated medical practitioner with a keen sense of gathering this history before his own death, most of the research was done while he coped with his own health issues.

cover history of lachlan park

Continue Reading

New fence approval from Heritage Tasmania

“The Project Manager advised that the fence has now received the go ahead from Heritage Tasmania, and will be installed shortly”. Minutes of the Willow Court Conservation Committee (June 2014).

We are looking forward to having the fence erected on the site and we remain keen to know the type of fence that will be installed. There is hope that the new fence will cover up some of the old cars and junk that has been allowed to be stored next to the Heritage Precinct on the neighbouring property. It is unclear what action the Derwent Valley Council can do to have this mess cleared up before the proposed opening in September. Often Council by-laws allow for health and safely issues to be rectified. It is unclear what action can be pursued about storing of old car bodies and an assortment of old building materials.

mt field 7.2014 and TasTAFE 012

Continue Reading

New opening time proposed

mobile 024

mt field 7.2014 and TasTAFE 006

The Derwent Valley Council have proposed new (revised) dates for the opening of the Heritage Precinct of Willow Court. After being informed about possible dates and then having them changed a number of times, it is great to see that the end of the current conservation works and the proposed times look like this may be it.

“It was generally agreed that an open day for the community to tour the Willow Court site be held in September 2014.”

“It was generally agreed that the official opening of the site be held in October 2014.” 

 

 

Continue Reading

Specialist to investigate tunnel in February 2015

Untitled

Mayor Martyn Evans announces that there will be an investigation into the tunnel that runs between Willow Court and the Derwent River. The investigation will be conducted by Associate Professor Heather Burke who teaches a range of archaeology subjects at Flinders University in South Australia. Her expertise and teaching includes Australian Historical Archaeology and Heritage Management Planning.

 

Assoc Professor Heather Burke: Heather is an historical archaeologist with research interests in the archaeology of standing structures, social memory and the creation of cultural landscapes, as well as the public interpretation and presentation of heritage sites. She graduated with a PhD from UNE in 1996, and has worked on historical and indigenous archaeological sites throughout New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Her PhD looked at the construction of social identity through style in architecture and the uses of the past in the present. Heather is currently a series editor for the Global Cultural Heritage Manuals series published by Springer, New York and editor of the national, peer reviewed journal.

tunnel

 

 

Continue Reading

Current reading

Currently reading Dr G. M Cragge’s History of Lachlan Park and hoping that we will have permission to share this writing with all that are interested in Willow Court’s history soon.

FOREWORD
The form and concept of this paper present all outstanding illustration of the evolution of our thinking and our methods of treatment of the mentally ill. With its strong basis of historical interest I find that it also underlines rather graphically the measure of progress which has been made in the application of psychiatric methods and practice in Tasmanian during  a relatively brief period, since the time when humanity simply was floundering in ignorance and misconceptions about the care of those admitted to mental institutions or similar places.

M. G Everett, Q.C MHA Minister for Health Hobart 1966

cover history of lachlan park

Continue Reading

Progress on Bronte

mt field 7.2014 and TasTAFE 002

Bronte Ward has had some significant works done, with the old toilet block removed and some start made on the full restoration of the old veranda as it was in the original building. (above). There is some roof work still needed, but the general concept is now a bit clearer. Below is the photo with the toilet block still in place.
willow court 234

Continue Reading

Circular to staff of Willow Court Training Centre.

Click Here for the full document on the Articles page

18th May, 1988 Circular to staff of Willow Court announcing the closure of C Ward and the opening of group houses. This 4 page documents tells staff about the upcoming major change at Willow Court Training Centre. It gives a background briefing to the proposed changes and the timing for the “phased relocation of residents”. It concludes with a staffing proposal for each house. Signed by the late Jerry Von Bamberger, Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer.

cropped-S5000234.jpg

Continue Reading

ASSID letter to Hon Ray Groom, Minister for Health Tasmania 1988

(ASSID) Australian Society For The Study Of Intellectual Disability is a disability peak body that studies and presents best practice within the Australian Disability Support Industry.

ASID has a clearly stated mission

Mission:

To improve the quality of life for people with an intellectual disability.

Strategic Goals:

The goals of the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability are:

  • to be an independent authority on intellectual disability issues across Australasia;
  • to forge interaction between intellectual disability research, policy and practice;
  • to lead the development of strategic partnerships;
  • to engage and strengthen membership; and
  • to ensure sound governance.

31

ASSID Document

This is the document that was written to the Minister for Health in Tasmania, Mr Ray Groom by the National President of ASSID Australia, Mr Ron Joachim encouraging him to proceed with the de-institutionalisation process of Willow Court Centre and not to fall prey to ideas of community education and understanding which would slow or stop the process. While the impact of the closure was going to be offset by land release and development according to Government papers, the reality of the closure was strongly felt within a close knit community and has left a long lasting and painful memory.

A range of documents are available on the “articles page” to read and study more about Willow Court Centre.

Continue Reading