Tasmanian Heritage – Page 9 – Willow Court Tasmania

Alan Pearson and Lew Rice

July 9, 2013 3 Comments

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),

Global

Museum tells story of mental health

July 3, 2013 1 Comment

“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.

Museum tells story of mental health care

Local

Willow Court Media Release

July 2, 2013 No Comments

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

Global

100,000 HITS!!! Thank you

June 27, 2013 No Comments

Global

The Site and Buildings of New Norfolk

June 18, 2013 No Comments

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

Local

Whats going on here?

June 11, 2013 No Comments

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.

Global, Local

Bronte Ward under repair.

June 11, 2013 No Comments

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.

Global

ABC Broadcast; Whose heritage is worth saving in Tasmania?

May 23, 2013 No Comments

Is 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.

Global

Tasmanian Budget tomorrow

May 22, 2013 1 Comment

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.