A new tab has been added to the website containing images and footage of open days at Willow Court. Many volunteers work hard to present lots of activities and learning experiences that are senstitive and respectful to the past history of the site. Run by the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee, open days are recorded here to show the new history and the positive work that a community is working towards. Open Days Tab
Power to the Avenue, The notice says it all! Well done Conservation Committee.
Matron is waiting for you!
Frascati house damaged during break in.
Frascati House was broken into in the last 24 hours, Council on call worker and the Security Guard were there tonight repairing the damage caused by the break in. Continuing damage from people forcing their way into these buildings is still happening despite a Guard being present each night. We are against people entering these sites and discourage this action. These buildings are unsafe and are fragile, which will make the restoration more expensive..
Open Day Tour Guides
Information on the three tour guides for the next open day can be found by clicking in the blue hyperlink. (Subject to change without notice)
It is done!
At long last the fence and old gates are finished. Rod and Scott along with all the various volunteers deserve a beer and a pat on the back. What a transformation!
Just imagine this transformation to the Barracks and Willow Court site? It’s possible within our time but takes a community that is willing and able.
Volunteers are needed, if you have a passion for history to be respectfully and sensitively restored and told, why not put your name down at the next open day on the 18th November.
Open day details HERE
See the full evolution HERE
Meeting of the Friends of Willow Court
When: Tonight
Time: 7pm
Where: New Norfolk Library
Site of Conscience call for notorious Parramatta Girls Home
Click here to see full article. Call for “Site of Conscience”
There has been a call for Parramatta Girls home to be declared a “Site of Conscience” with the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, the same group that we are advocating for Willow Court.
“Authorities promised to educate and reform “uncontrollable” young women but molestation, punishments and humiliation occurred, mirroring the thousands of cases of child abuse in institutional care that were recognised in the federal government’s 2009 Apology to the Forgotten Australians.”
“The redevelopment of the site needs to respect past occupants, recognise sufferings and wrongs and not be driven by commercial interests,” a 1970 inmate of Parramatta Girls Home and founder of Parragirls, Bonney Djuric, said. “The site can have interpretation centres, research facilities, art studios and memorial gardens.”
This call sounds familiar?
Photos from the two weekend’s working bee.
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The last 10 photos are from this weekends working bee to finish off the fence and gates and WOW they look fantastic with a coat of pitch and kero. Well done Guys and Girls.
Willow Court in the Mercury
Its not all smooth sailing for “Morgue Hotel”, both Anne Salt and Margaret Reynolds are making their feelings known. The announcement of a pending Apology to those housed at Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital by The Minister Cassy O’Connor a few weeks ago is in gross contrast to this development. While the developer has bought a wonderful atmosphere to the old buildings and small businesses enjoy the patronage and add to the village theme, it is hard to say what damage can be done by going for “shock value”.
