Global, Local

It is done!

No Comments

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

Continue Reading

Global

Site of Conscience call for notorious Parramatta Girls Home

No Comments

 

 

 

 

 

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?

Continue Reading

Global

Closed Council meeting to discuss WC Oval Precinct future

No Comments

From the DVC Council agenda for 18 Oct 2012

14 CLOSED COUNCIL MEETING

That pursuant to the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations  2005, the meeting be closed to the public in order to discuss the following:
1.2 CONTRACT EXTENSION AND PUBLICISING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OVAL SPACE WILLOW COURT
The Council agenda for Oct included a closed section for Councilors to discuss the contact extension and proposed development of the oval precinct
 Willow Court. This could be the end of these buildings. Wards G, E and D are all in this area and have been a valuable educational tool as well as part of the Tasmanian Heritage.
Listen to the audio of what could be one of the last tours through these buildings as Anne McKinstary takes us through , not only her knowledge, but some memories of working in each of these Wards.
 (Now Closed) Audio tour
Continue Reading

Global

Willow Court in the Mercury

No Comments

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”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Global

“Walking Through Time”

No Comments

 

Recently the Derwent Valley Council received confirmation that it had been successful in its application for a grant from the Australian Government’s Your Community Heritage Program. This grant is for the amount of $11,363.64, with Council supplying some cash matching and inkind support. The amount of $10,000 is required for cash matching from the DVC, of the Australian Government Grant, this funding is available from and has been budgeted for in the current budget grant funding reserve.

 

In the latest minutes the setting up of a working group, comprising of identified stakeholders and Councillors for the purpose of expending the Australian Government’s “Your Community Heritage Grant Program” Grant was agreed to.

 

“Walking Through Time” program will facilitate the development of the walking tour (with signage) and podcast (or similar) and will call upon a representative from each of the following committees of Council.

 

  • • The Historical Information Centre Special Committee
  • • New Norfolk Business Alliance
  • • Friends of Frascati Community Garden
  • • The Willow Court Conservation Special Committee
  • • Tynwald Park Development Committee
  • • Friends of Willow Court
  • • Spatial Planning Review Committee
  • • Rivers Run Tourism Association

Minutes of DVC Meeting.

Continue Reading

Global

Willow Court Shopping Village Gates

No Comments

The Gates that Haydn & Penny Pearce bought from England are being installed today. Leading off The Avenue into the privately owned Willow Court Shopping Village this will give the public two access points to the many new businesses in the shopping village.

Trades people are working today to straighten the gates and install them onto the newly placed posts, despite cold, wet and forecast snow down to the 700m level conditions, it is hoped that they will be installed before the open day at the Barracks on the 18th November 2012.

The second working bee to restore the original Willow Court Gates will happen this weekend, weather permitting.

Continue Reading

Global

Open day 18th November

No Comments

A planning meeting was held tonight for the open day that will be held on November 18th. I am excited with the possibilities and program of events. The Community House will have their swap meeting and Haydn Pearce will have some activities also, so it will be a big day in the valley!

I will get the news out as quickly as possible. Next meeting November 8th and then 15th. Three tour guides arranged and confirmed already, a drama in the Barracks and Art displays by Artists living with disabilities etc etc.

Cheers

Mark Krause

Continue Reading

Global

Morgue development, Llewellyn announces “A Site of Conscience”

1 Comment

ABC News tonight had a report that Haydn Peace, owner of the Morgue at Willow Court will now renovate and set this place up as an accommodation. This area is privately owned. The Morgue has served the Derwent Valley Community up until the closure of the institution, it was also believed to have served as an over flow for Hobart during the Port Arthur massacre.

Click Here

 

 

 

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/64318009″ iframe=”true” /]

 

David Llewellyn announced that Willow Court is a “Site of Conscience” on ABC Radio today, while David is happy to have businesses and people occupy the area because it adds to the security of the area. He refused to endorse or be drawn to comment about Haydn Pearce’s idea, instead he gave an update of the works on the Council owned areas by some members of the Friends of Willow Court and some options that were on the table for future development.

 

Radio interview copyright ABC Local. Interviewer: Leon Compton

Continue Reading