Past to Present. Memory to Action
I have been talking to Paul Wellings and looking at his photo collection on his Flickr account and he has given me permission to share these with you. Paul has a great eye for composure and has captured the Oval Wards, Chapel and Admission Ward in a dark and surreal time.
We have revamped the education tab now for easier student and teacher access, lesson plans, handouts. student resources and films all add to the education that Willow Court and it’s history can provide to people who are studying in the community services, medical and allied health industries.
This is the past informing the future through the present, allowing student to understand the methods and standards of care Tasmanian’s demanded for People living with a disabilities and/or Mental Heath issues, who called Willow Court home.
Along with lots of open source resources this website can assist in informing students of the 173 years of history with audio and video tours, articles, maps and photos throughout time. We can also arrange guided tour with qualified Educators and visiting Guest Speakers. All tour guides have a long history of the site and it’s social and physical history.
Education at Willow Court, media release
(Willow Court Heritage Precinct is currently closed during restoration) Restoration Page
If you have any documents that would interest our members and you would like to share them please send us a message through the “contact us” tab Click Here . Here is the new look page with links to articles, reports, letters and publications about our Willow Court.
Alan Pearson who was the Chairman of the RDH Board for many years until closure of the site in 2001, and Lew Rice, well known former employee of RDH and talented saxophone player have passed away. Lew Rice died on Friday, he was in charge of C Ward for many years and both men will be a big loss for the knowledge and social heritage of Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital. We send our condolences to the families.
Monochrome photograph of the XL Orchestra. Lew Rice (alto sax & clarinet), Max Whittaker (sax) Vera Maxfield (piano), Jock Morison (violin), Geoff Rice (drums),
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.
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
“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
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.
John working in the afternoon sun as it streams through the Bronte ward windows. He is applying a coat of paint to the restored frames.
This is what restoration looks like! So many of us have been looking forward to seeing some photos and evidence of work starting at the site.
