Great news for Willow Court

Great news for Willow Court…. the Derwent Valley Council has today been advised that they have been successful in receiving a $300000 grant that they will match dollar for dollar.  The grant is for installation of power, security, toilets and some other work.

Anne Salt

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Cassy O’CONNOR MP Inaugural speech

Cassy O’CONNOR MP Inaugural speech

Policies implemented by previous Tasmanian governments ensured the miserable incarceration of mentally ill, physically and intellectually disabled children in Willow Court, also known as the Royal Derwent, until the New Norfolk institution’s closure in 2000.  What happened to these people?  They were de‑institutionalised back into a poorly prepared… community.  We should know, but we do not, really.  As with former wards of the State harmed in care, it is our responsibility to find out.  There are Tasmanians alive today who are still traumatised by their experience as young people in that unhealthy environment, hidden away, subjected to deprivations, abuse, neglect, even shock treatment.  We must acknowledge that this trauma extends to the parents of these broken children who are now broken adults.  They were told by the State that the best place for their handicapped kids was Willow Court.  They were told that the care these children received at Willow Court would be better than what could be provided at home.  How wrong that advice was.  I fear that the victims of this profound duty‑of‑care failure would be voiceless but for the dedicated work of Margaret Reynolds and National Disability Services Tasmania.  In a recent submission to government, Margaret Reynolds called for a parliamentary apology to the victims of Willow Court and for the establishment of a joint select committee inquiry to determine their current status and unmet needs.  The joint select committee investigation would also be asked to use the recognition of this terrible period of institutionalisation to develop policies which protect the human rights of all Tasmanians living with disabilities.  As a parliament, and on behalf of the people of Tasmania, we can work together to right a terrible wrong.  We can apologise to the children and teenagers who were systematically abused and neglected, their human rights grossly breached, at Willow Court.  We can and should also apologise in the Parliament to the families of those Tasmanians who have suffered a painful, lingering guilt as a result of an appalling dispassionate government policy.  They have a right to acknowledgment, to be heard and to be compensated.  I believe these are necessary steps towards a more just, socially inclusive Tasmania.  I look forward to working with members to achieve these outcomes.  I also very much look forward to serving the people of Denison with great care and respect.   Cassy O’CONNOR MP   Electorate: DENISON  Inaugural speech: 22 July 2008

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A tour should be part of everyone’s employment/training

A tour should be part of everyone’s employment/training. Can’t move forward unless you know where you have come from….

We couldn’t agree more and have been doing so for some time, There also needs to be an industry understanding of the history, as the workforce changes over time some of this history and the rights movement disappears with it. Workers have no theoretical basis and understanding and become weak advocates for those people whom they need to stand beside!

Janet & Mark

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Open Day Report

The site of conscience advocacy group were well represented at today’s open day at Willow Court, we had part of the display we set up forthe students studying Community and Disability Services with audio and lighting. There was a count of between 600 and 1000 people looking at the site and learning from well experienced and knowledgeable presenters/guides. Lots of opportunities to educate people about Life “behind the walls”, which was the name given to our display. There are so many people interested in the preservation of the Site and the “People Heritage”.

Thanks to those people who assisted us at the door and setting up.

We have future opportunities to now present our case for Willow Court to become an institutionally listed Site of Conscience, we will not let any of these opportunities go. There was an announcement today about a Memorandum of understanding between the DVC and the State Government which will supply some certainty and money, but it’s only the start.

Cheers

Mark and Janet

 

Hi all, I have been reading everyones posts and must say Congratulations to both Anne Salt and the committee and also Mark , Janet & Co for making yesterday a success , well done all, sorry I had prior committments.
Paul Mayne CEO Langford Support Services
Well done to everyone involved. Today was a challenging day for many people. The tour that I went on was honest and not without its mix of emotions. I hope that the signing of the MOU also went well. It wouThis should be at lead an annual event.
Regards Margie Nolan
It was an excellent opportunity,  so many people visited…..well done to you all for organising a great event…
Kathryn Ellston
Seeing some positive posts in my feed already – sounds like it was a successful day! Wished I could’ve come along for my “refresher”, alas my current health status would not allow it. But you guys know my thoughts on this – I think it is so important. Especially with the NDIS becoming a reality, we need to acknowledge the history, and learn from it. Know how far things have come, but remember how much further we have to go… Much respect to all involved, quite a number of you are responsible for inspiring and maintaining my own passion as a support worker!
Tiff Cooper
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“Behind The Walls”

Where to find us tomorrow: We are setting up our educational display “Behind The Walls” in Allonah. Here is the wording on the pamphlet I am printing tonight.
BEHIND THE WALLS Welcome to this exhibition. Please read before entering. This exhibition is normally on display for students studying Community and Disability Services and contains images that may be unsuitable for children or need explanation. Students learn the history of Disability Support internationally, nationally and locally, this exhibition contains images, and stories from around the world including Willow Court.
Stories are from Patients and Staff and should be taken in the context of the time that they occurred. As a society we all excepted that the Disability Support System was the best we could do in the time context, we could think this about the current support system in years to come. This exhibition should create questions about how we support “people” then, now and into the future. Willow Court should be remembered as the model of care we all excepted as “state of the art”. If there are lessons to learn from our past, these building and the people who lived here should remain, be preserved, so their stories can be forever told.
Find us on : Facebook Willow Court Tasmania. A site of Conscience Past to Present, Memory to Action
Cheers
Mark
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