The Friends of Frascati – Willow Court Tasmania

Protest at Frascati House

May 19, 2021 No Comments

Last weekend anyone passing along the Avenue might have noticed a number of signs outside the front of Frascati House, these were placed there by a member of the Friends of Frascati House, a committee of the Derwent Valley Council.

The committee has been at odds with the decisions of the Derwent Valley Council to make a car park at the front of Frascati House and Gardens. Both the gardens and the home were created in the early 1830’s and the DVC put together a committee of community representative to assist with managing and preserving the site, it’s history both physically and socially.

The house was built by John Burnett, Colonial Secretary to Van Diemen’s Land. The Colonial Secretary occupied the home from 1834, after it’s construction, while the Governor was in residence at the Government retreat know as Turriff Lodge. The home was later sold to the Hospital and was used as a residence for the Medical Superintendent and his family. Two granddaughters of Dr Charles Brothers took the time to write a letter to the local news paper (New Norfolk News).

Sandra Hetherington’s Letter to the editor

Committee member Sandra Hetherington also wrote a letter to the New Norfolk News (above) expressing her discontent at the Council’s decision to keep making ad hoc decisions about the site in the absence of a master plan. The approved car park will be located next to an existing empty car park. The new car park is meeting demand from the Derwent Valley Arts group, who have taken a short term lease of the east wing of the Barracks for a number of events and exhibitions, the Agrarian Kitchen and the New Norfolk Distillery’s paranormal night tours, which have been subcontracted to Tasmania’s Most Haunted. The proposed New Norfolk Distillery tasting room, function centre and multi story hotel which was approved over two years ago has yet to appear beyond The Public relations companies contract to sell the idea to the local community.

As an update to the story there is an increasing number of signs appearing on the front lawns of Frascati House in a silent but determine protest at the lack of Council’s planning despite already paid for plans which are being ignored.

Global, Local

Reflective Garden

December 20, 2017 2 Comments

Last week I had the opportunity to speak with some of the Friends of Frascati House (FoFH) as they inspected the new layout and progress of the Reflective Garden, sited between the rear of the Frascati House (1834) and The Avenue.

Over the past 2-3 years the “Flourish Mental Health Action in Our Hands” self advocacy group have been in discussions with the Derwent Valley Council and the Friends of Frascati House to see if it is possible to also contribute a plaque for the Gardens.

I have been involved in this committee for over twelve months and while there has been some progression, little physical evidence has happened. Last week I was able to have a discussion with Councillor Bester and Mr Greg Winton, General Manager along with three members of the Frascati House Committee who agreed to further discussions with Flourish.

It would appear that the wording of the proposed plaque that the FoFH have submitted to Council and the wording on the plaque that Flourish self advocacy group have proposed are almost identical.

I am currently waiting for Jess Dallas who is the Council’s Project Manager to contact me back with the wording*. If both groups can agree, there is an opportunity for a plaque to be installed to remember past residents, staff and community members that were involved in the Hospital’s 174 years of operation.

Frascati House Committee and the Derwent Valley Council have also considered some proposed insensitive activities in the old home but it is nice to see that there is an opportunity to have some respectful and sensitive activity on the site.

*p.s. Jess Dallas had sent the wording but due to a communication issue I only received it yesterday. Thanks Jess.

APIU, DVC may approve tour of “Satan’s House”!

Friends of Frascati House looking at the Reflective Garden

Global, Local

APIU, DVC may approve tour of “Satan’s House”!

September 22, 2017 8 Comments

Last night the Derwent Valley Council (DVC) discussed a proposal for the (APIU) Australian Paranormal Investigation Unit (collection of friends) to conduct After Dark Tours (Paranormal Tours) of Frascati House. Previously the Group have referred to the house as Satan’s House in a podcast interview with Naked Zombie TV.

They also have told the interviewer about their experiences of “mild possession, unexplained scratches, evil presences, ghosts following people home”

While the group say they are not prone to over exaggeration or being disrespectful the above comments and naming of the place as “Satan’s House” would have to be questioned.

Frascati has a wonderful and long history starting with it’s construction in 1834, later it was the home of the many Medical Superintendents and then a Training Centre for some of the Residents.

“This request comes about as a result of the APIU recognising that Frascati House plays an important role in the history of the Willow Court precinct.
The APIU has indicated that they have had a discussion with a member of Friends of Frascati and at the time of writing was intending to attend a committee meeting of that group to discuss the After Dark Tours.

The APIU has advised that if the Council approves its request the use of Frascati House will not be advertised in its promotional material, rather it will be referred to as a ‘secret location’.

This will assist in preventing unwanted attempts to access the building prior to the tours. Further to this the APIU will ensure that the area will be patrolled during the tour operations to ensure that the site is kept secure.
All profits made from the tour will be donated to the Council for use in restoration activities on the site.

Should the APIU wish to conduct additional tours on any part of the Willow Court site a further report will be presented to the Council.”

Item 10.7 DVC agenda

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Council’s own Committee ignored for nearly 12 months

September 21, 2016 No Comments

UPDATE

***This afternoon Ben Shaw the Deputy Mayor of the Derwent Valley Council stated that a working group has been formed and met last night to discuss access to the site. The meeting, he reported had members from outside interest groups, (not including Willow Court History Group) a Paranormal group and internal Committee’s of Council, Friends of Frascati, Friends of Willow Court, Councillors and Council Staff. Two Members of the FoWC attended last night.***

Three member of the Friends of Willow Court, which is a Special Committee of the Derwent Valley Council attended and asked question of the Councillors at the August Council Meeting. It would appear that the Derwent Valley Council, as owners and operators of Willow Court Heritage Site are dragging their feet when it comes to approving events or even having a simple process in place to approve access to the site.

The Derwent Valley Council have now been sitting on a planned events calendar from the Friends of Willow Court for nearly 12 months (August). It appears no feedback or acknowledgement has been forthcoming from the Council to their own committee.

5.2.3 Mr Tony Nicholson – Friends of Willow Court (FoWC) Calendar of Events

Mr Nicholson queried why the Friends of Willow Court (FoWC) had not received feedback or comment from the Council on a Calendar of events for Willow Court which has been provided by Councillor Pearce almost twelve months ago.

With the community keen to have Willow Court open and in use, why have Council not communicated with FoWC on our calendar of events?

The Mayor indicated that the Council was continuing to clarify the Terms of Reference following which there will be further consideration of a expression of interest process.

In another question, Mrs Vivviane De Brassac, a representative of the Friends of Willow Court asked about the sudden installation of information panels before the Dark MOFO event and inquired why Councilor Bester did not approach the Friends of Willow Court for information or assistance. The committee holds immense information of the site’s history with the presence of Local Historian and historical Author Tony Nicholson. Mr Bester clearly had time to consult the Friends of Frascati in gaining information about the Frascati Panel but couldn’t make a phone call to any members of the FoWC or the Council’s representative Cr Pearce.

5.2.4 Mrs Vivienne de Bressac – Consultation with Friends of Willow Court (FoWC)

Representative

Mrs de Bressac queried why Councillor Pearce was not asked to engage with the FoWC to develop the interpretation panels installed in the Willow Court Barracks given that he is the Council representative. Mrs de Bressac noted that Councillor Bester who is the Council representative for Friends of Frascati had been involved in the development of the interpretation panels for both Frascati House and Willow Court Barracks precinct.

The Mayor indicated that given the short time frame to ensure information panels were available for the Dark Mofo Event, the General Manager had organised for the installation to occur immediately.

Derwent Valley Council Minutes – 18 August 2016 Page 15

Next the Chair of the Friends Of Willow Court expressed disappointment in the lack of consultation and asked why if there was time to gather information about the panel for Frascati House that Councillor Pearce wasn’t given the same information to gather information for the Willow Court site from the FoWC?

5.2.5 Mrs Anne Salt – Communications with Friends of Willow Court (FoWC)

Mrs Salt stated that Section 9 of the Derwent Valley Council Code of Conduct Policy states:

Councillors will promote participation by all sections of the community by seeking their views and opinions and by ensuring that appropriate stakeholders have the opportunity to be involved in decisions that affect them.

It was noticed by the FoWC during the Dark Mofo event that interpretation panels were installed in the Willow Court Barracks. Interpretation panels had been a topic of discussion between the previous Willow Court Conservation Committee and the FoWC, and we are very disappointed not to have been made aware by the Council that the panels were to be installed.

We are more disappointed to learn that Cr Bester consulted with the Friends of Frascati on the content of the panel for Frascati House, when Cr Pearce and the FoWC were not consulted on the content of the panels to be installed in the Willow Court precinct.

Given there was time to consult with the Friends of Frascati, why was Friends of Willow Court not consulted or involved in the development of the Willow Court precinct panels?

The Mayor indicated that given the short time frame to ensure information panels were available for the Dark Mofo Event, the General Manager had organised for the installation to occur immediately.

There is a pattern of behaviour appearing and has been for some time that the Council won’t communicate with it’s own Committee and it now appears to be keeping one of it’s own Councillor’s in the dark about works and planning. Chair of FoWC Anne Salt pointed to the Council’s own code of conduct and it’s failure in this process.

Global, Local

Heritage month plans

March 15, 2016 No Comments

Heritage week

The Friends of Willow Court and the Friends of Frascati are both planning events for 2016 Heritage month. The Friends of Willow Court are looking at tours with Associate Professor Heather Burke and Mark Woodley on the 14th and 15th of May 2016, while the Friends of Frascati House are looking at an Open House on the 8th May 2016.

This is a great opportunity to hear from those that have been working at Willow Court. Hear what has been found so for from Archaeology investigation and listen to Mark talk about his work on the external wall, pictured and restored below.

Both tours are before the Derwent Valley Council for final approval.

IMAG0659

More information when it becomes available.

Global, Local

A big weekend at Willow Court

May 17, 2015 No Comments

It has been a big weekend at Willow Court and the place was buzzing today and yesterday with anyone who has a passion for the place. Friday started early for some and was the accumulation of months of research and sourcing of information, personal stories, interviews, meetings, rehearsals and the extensive hunting for authentic items for display and for costumes for the drama. The Governor of Tasmania Professor Kate Warner opened the Friends of Willow Court Display and Play which were advertised during the Tasmanian Heritage Month. Along with invited guests she looked through the professional display which was an intersection between the lives of people who served in conflicts or behind in the local community effort and the Lachlan Park Hospital’s history and the lives that these people had before, after and during such conflict. Limited themes were chosen which told this story and also the story of the consequences of such conflict and the care and compassion of others. The generous support of many people and businesses has to be acknowledged because without this community effort this wouldn’t have happened. A special thank you to those families that allowed us to respectfully tell the stories of their loved ones, patient and worker alike. Of particular interest to me was the story of returned serviceman Bruce McLean, who’s story of life within Millbrook Rise post WWII was told and while Bruce wasn’t the only person to return after conflict and time incarcerated as a prisoner of war, his is one of the limited stories we have permission to share.