Kick start Arts Tasmania are completely aware of the building that they occupy and have sympathetically and culturally tackled the history. For those that believe in any remaining spirit activity within this old Hobart Orphanage can read about how this has been addressed.
At a healing ceremony, elder Jim Everett led a procession of fire sticks and garlands through the building.
“We needed to refresh the place, to say the spirits are not here, and the children’s spirits who were here can feel safe,” he said.
“We open up a new future for the diversity of cultures in Tasmania, and the collaborations that will come from it.”
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In complete contrast on the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance Facebook Group a member responded to a question about Paranormal Tours within the old institution and any funds being returned for the upkeep and restoration of this historic place, that once housed people with intellectual disabilities.
“Yes, unless it’s just some kids trying to get beer money. The whole idea of running a “paranormal investigation” tour is not only exploitative, selfish, and a condition of emotional constipation, it’s completely juvenile. I’m not saying the belief in ghosts is juvenile, but to profit off of tragedy by twisting it into a more Hollywood version is wrong no matter what way you look at it. Rather than viewing the buildings with any sort of empathetic and meditative thought process that one would hopefully gain while looking at, say, a war memorial, people seem to have chosen a route that requires a much more shallow thought process when it comes to places like Pennhurst.”
Pennhurst haunted tours website
Both views are vastly different from each other but the contrast poses a question for Willow Court and how can this history be culturally and respectfully dealt with and how can healing begin? It has long been thought about and there has been suggestions from Committee’s, families and Advocates. Some of those suggestions have included memorial gardens and places of peace and sculptures which tell the complex story of Willow Court’s mixed and diverse history.