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Museum tells story of mental health

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“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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Local

Willow Court Media Release

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The Derwent Valley Council has put a media release up on their website well after the community already knew about it nearly two weeks earlier. It would appear that the Council is better at leaking news and not taking the opportunity to be the first to announce to the community the positive stories of Willow Court’s restoration progress. In the latest news from Councillor Damian Bester own  web blog, which contained the media release over a week earlier, he suggests that Mercury Columnist, Leo Schofield needs to get the facts right before reporting in the Mercury Newspaper about Willow Court. Both men are employed by the Mercury Newspaper. Social media comments on New Norfolk Facebook groups are condemning Leo Schofield for his critical reflections of The Valley, it’s people and it’s lack of progress over the last decade with Willow Court. The media release offers little new information however the reply on Cr. Damian Bester web-blog will help secure public notoriety before the next local election due in 2014.

Official Media Release

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ABC Broadcast; Whose heritage is worth saving in Tasmania?

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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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Tasmanian Budget tomorrow

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budget

The Tasmanian State Budget will be handed down by the Treasurer on Thursday 23 May 2013.

 

We are interested to know how the State Government will look after it’s State Heritage Assets after Port Arthur announced that it needs 6 million dollars for restoration and ongoing maintain of the current structures. Mercury article.

Willow Court is also in need of more funding for this new financial year if restoration works are to continue. We are interested in looking at how the Tasmanian Government lead the way in restoring and protecting our Heritage sites of Tasmania. The full cost of restoration for Willow Court is in the order of 9 million dollars.

It is unclear if the Conservation Committee, Derwent Valley Council or Heritage Council have been lobbying for any funding.

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Restoration process to continue

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After the Friends of Willow Court Committee started restoration of the front gates in October 2012 and concluded in November (Gates Completed) in an attempt to get the ball rolling with restoration at the site we saw yesterday a leak from the Derwent Valley Council to the Mercury about a briefing given DSCN3327 by David Llewellyn about further restoration works that are about to start in April. The unsigned article informed the Public that;

“In a briefing to the council, they (David Llewellyn and project manager Brett Noble) said the installation of a power supply was almost complete, giving a kick-start to further works.

Mr Noble said there was about $1.5 million available to do the priority work and it would have to go a long way.

This included the development of a visitor centre in a wing of the adjacent Bronte building (1925).

He said the two buildings were in remarkably good condition and it would be possible to reuse many original features, including doors and windows.

The site would soon close to all visitors for six to eight months”

Full Mercury article.

While this article states that the site will be closed for six to eight months, Project Officer Brett Noble is in discussion with the Friends of Willow Court about holding events that have been planned for the next few months.

Jane-Harrington-aloneThe Conservation Committee sort a report from Dr Jane Harrington about restoration and Priority Conservation Works on the Willow Court Precinct and this was presented to the Derwent Valley Council in November 2012. These works are of great importance and the report highlighted three points

The need to preserve and maintain the Barracks building as a matter of urgency

Funding for works to conserve the buildings being immediately available

The potential existing for Barracks and Bronte to be developed as a historic interpretation centre for the site.

Conservation Committee get on with the job.

We (Willow Court Advocay Group) are please that the first official restoration works will occur soon and that this bandage work will assist the site from deteriorating any more. The Friends of Willow Court were informed that Mr Paul Lan and Dr Jane Harrington presented a range of fencing types for Willow Court that would comply with Heritage standards but they haven’t heard anymore about security on the site and hope that something will be in place before work commences and tradesmen are employed.

As soon as talks with Brett Noble have completed a list of events will appear here.

 

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Global, Local

Power being connected

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electricWillow Court has a lack of electric power and security, but this last week and this week the Avenue will be closed while underground cables are installed. This will allow for the site to be well lite, secure and have the ability to have events at night. This is part of the Conservation Committee’s ongoing work to restore the historic precinct. Power will allow trades people to start the restoration process. Heritage Tasmania require that the cables be located underground to preserve the visual qualities if the area.

This is a major positive for Willow Court as it is a basic foundation program this will lead to many varied activities at and about Willow Court.

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More volunteers

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Sally WiseWelcome to all new prospective Friends of Willow Court Committee members, among the new members is local identity Sally Wise, well known business woman and passionate food advocate. Sally has a passionate interest in the history of the colonial food era. With a history of The Willow Court Heritage Precinct going back to 1827, this is a beautiful match and I am looking forward to the outcome.

More people are joining the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee in a community driven revitalisation of the Willow Court Heritage Precinct. The committee have been planning for a year of events while the Conservation Committee are working hard toward getting power and security restored back to the site so restoration work can proceed. Some immensely talented people are interested in the work at Willow Court Heritage Precinct and it is an exciting time to be part of this project and I’m looking forward to the year.

Click Sally Wise on the picture to know more about Sally or facebook icon to visit and join Sally’s Facebook Page

Derwent Valley Council Agenda Page 33-34 DVC agenda
Discussion
There has been much debate on the issue of being able to cover volunteers who wish
to help this committee when they have working bees. After much debate it was agreed
that the best option would be to extend the membership of the Committee.
To this end the committee has again provide a list of names of a people who have
shown a willingness to volunteer on the Willow Court Site with Friends of Willow
Court. These are as follows:
1. Sally Wise
2. Ardelle Young
3. Ronee Featherington
4. Alyssa Woolley
5. Cindy Huett
6. Sally Currie
7. Beverley Taylor
8. Vivian DeBrassac
9. Lyn Hoplins
Recommendation
That Council approve the appointment of the following on the Friends of Willow
Court Special Committee:
1. Sally Wise
2. Ardelle Young
3. Ronee Featherington
4. Alyssa Woolley
5. Cindy Huett
6. Sally Currie
7. Beverley Taylor
8. Vivian DeBrassac
9. Lyn Hoplins

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Here is our 2012 Report Card

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report cardFrom the Team here at Willow Court Tasmanian Advocacy Group we hoped you had a safe and happy Christmas and wish you all the best for the New Year.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support in seeing the Vision of Willow Court as a sensitive and respectful tourist attraction and museum that interprets the story, not only of the people that worked at the Centre, but those that called it “Home”.

Report Card 2012

Cheers

Mark Krause

 

 

 

 

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Willow Court Conservation Special Committee Communication Brief

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David's Notes Communication Brief November 2012

The Chairman of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee (WCCSC) David Llewellyn today reported that a productive meeting of the WCCSC had occurred on the 8th November 2012.

Mr Llewellyn said “The recent meeting had been important in clarifying the role of the WCCSC and in establishing a number of priorities”.  The most important priority was a recommendation to the Derwent Valley Council of an immediate start to establishing a works program for the Willow Court Barracks Building.

“This will require the preparation of an appropriate brief and the development of a works program by a suitable qualified heritage practitioner”   he said.

Reports on progress toward the major upgrade of the power supply to the site and on the site security fencing were also given at the meeting.

Gratitude was expressed regarding the recent efforts of the Friends of Willow Court in their work of painting and restoring the avenue gates.

The recent meeting held in Hobart discussed a large number of other issues, the details of which will appear on the Derwent Valley Council’s web site following the confirmation of the minutes at the WCCSC December 13th 2012 meeting.

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