State election news early report

Willow Court has many friends that are fighting to be elected at the next Tasmanian state election.

Yesterday the Chairwoman of the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee, Mrs Anne Salt has appeared on the ABC news as a representative for the National Party in the seat of Lyons.

Mayor Martyn Evans has announced some time ago that he will also be seeking to be elected to the seat of Lyons for the Liberal Party. Martyn Evans also sits on the Willow Court Conservation Committee along with the Labor candidate David Llewellyn, who is the chair person of the Willow Court Conservation Committee.

We will again ask each of these candidates about their thoughts of Willow Court becoming a Site of Conscience and what would their contribution be to the restoration, both socially and physically of the site.

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Tasmania Library and TasTAFE referring people to this site!

lincjailtastafeA couple of weeks ago I visited the State Library to source some information about Willow Court/Royal Derwent Hospital and was delighted to find that they referred me to this website(Willow Court Advocacy Group). They said it was a great site for people studying the history of the hospital throughout time and through the eyes of the patients, families and also the staff.

We have been asked to supply our website to students studying Community Services while incarcerated at Risdon Prison on a local intranet which we have been please to do. It’s been great to have a good quality resource about the hospital history for students who are studying the past practices that the community had to support people living with a disability and/or mental health issues together in one place and in a respectful manner.

We have supplied teaching resources to high schools and guest speakers, often ex-staff and ex-patients to interested groups.

If you have anything to share about the history of Willow Court/Royal Derwent Hospital please contact us HERE, we would love to speak to you about sharing your historic knowledge, artefact, report or picture etc. We are able to professionally interview and present your knowledge and we can create a professional podcast to the highest industry standards.

 

 

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Lachlan Park Hospital circa 1960

httpvh://youtu.be/Wk2CURa9SJA Lachlan Park Hospital circa 1950-60?. This footage shows the Barracks from the front and rear enclosed yard, H Ward and I Ward, the old clock tower and accommodation rooms on the west side of the hospital including the old metal fold up bed. This is very rare footage. Black & White silent footage which was given to us at Willow Court Tasmania Advocacy Group. We would like an accurate year that the footage was taken if anyone could help?

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Ree Pettifer’s report of Willow Court Centre

JacksonIn September 1989 Ree Pettifer released her report and final recommendation to The Hon. J. Jackson, Minister for Community Services. As the Minister for Health and Human Services from 1998 to 2002, Judy was instrumental in deinstitutionalising of mental health and disablity services at Willow Court Centre/ Royal Derwent Hospital.

Ree Pettifer was asked to prepare a report “Review of Clinical Nursing Practice Institutional Living Program Willow Court Centre. This report has never been publicly available. Below are the recommendations from the report.

SUMMARY OF: RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. that priority be given to the environmental needs of the residents of Esperance House.
2. that a written maintenance ‘program be developed for each house and surrounds.
3. that maintenance requirements be classified and prioritised in accordance with the overall development plans for Willow Court Centre.
4. that routine surveillance for maintenance be undertaken and a preventative maintenance program be developed.
5. that essential furniture and personal needs of residents of each house be assessed and appropriate action taken
6. that the daily routine on each house be reviewed and adjusted to reflect a culturally normative “rhythm of life”.
7. that the laundering service is urgently re-examined with due consideration to the establishment of a properly equipped personal clothing section including a dry cleaning service.
8. that regular review of the menus be conducted in consultation with a dietician.
9 that progress toward the maintenance and re-establishment of family contacts be continued.
10. that consideration be given to the establishment of a resident advocacy program.
11. that the restrictions imposed on freedom of movement in each house be reviewed in accordance with individual resident needs.
12. that a medical records consultant be engaged to advise on the format and maintenance of the medical records system.
13. that individual continence programs be developed for residents and appropriate aids utilised.
14 that an active Occupational Health and Safety Committee be established and regular surveillance undertaken.
15. that the Infection Control Committee include standards pertaining to all sanitation techniques within the policy and procedure manual.
16. that regular surveillance of infection control practices be undertaken and pertinent findings submitted to appropriate personnel.
17. that emergency evacuation procedures be rehearsed at least once a year.
18. that a balance between individual, ward, centre and leisure programs be established and appropriate in-service programs for staff developed and implemented.
19. that a philosophy, long term and short term objectives be developed in accordance with the philosophy of Willow Court Centre.
20. that objectives for each committee be developed and that appropriate evaluation of the committees activities be measured on an annual basis.
21. that meetings be held with various categories of staff at regular intervals.
22. that the Director of Nursing be involved in the development of the budget for the Institutional Living Program.
23. that senior nursing staff be encouraged to undertake management training.
24. that review of the nursing staff establishment and staff skill mix be undertaken in conjunction with a review of the responsibilities and tasks of the various categories of staff.
25. that clearly defined policies for the allocation and rostering of staff be developed.
26. that consideration be given to undertaking negotiation between unions and management in regard to the two-on, two-off twelve hour shift pattern.
27. that a review of the current staff appraisal.
28. that a review of the current staff appraisal system be undertaken.
29. that trials be undertaken to determine appropriate modalities of care delivery.
30. that a complete review of the nursing  documentation system be undertaken.
31. that a policy committee for the Institutional Living Program be established with representation from all categories of nursing staff.
32 that appropriate review and follow up of all accidents, errors and serious disruptive incidents be undertaken on a regular basis.
33. that an appropriate in-service education program be developed and implemented.
34. that a Quality Assurance Committee be  established to develop an appropriate quality assurance program for the Institutional Living Program.

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Many mixed memories

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Had a wonderful day at New Norfolk last weekend, lots to visit and see. We had lunch at the Patchwork Café (Therapeutic Centre/School house) and I would recommend it. For those that don’t know the area as well, this is in the privately owned and operated section of Willow Court and has budget accommodation, antique shops and a craft shop.

There was a note left in the visitors book at the nurse’s quarters, pictured above. You are never far away from a diverse opinion when up at Willow Court. While the author writes that this is not a place to celebrate, it could be said that the human struggle that took place there is something to celebrate, as victory over an oppressive system (for some) did happen and many remember their time as residents and staff with fondness.

It really screams “social restoration” which would allow everyone to tell their story from their view. That would and should include the past residents as well.

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Media coverage for the opening of Willow Court?

mobile 025The Derwent Valley Council is about to open the restored Willow Court heritage precinct late February or early March, so how are they going to get the word out to the Tasmanian community and the tourists that it hopes to attract? This is a good question and the DVC have been sitting on the domain name “willowcourt.org.au” for nearly two years, it is going to be good to see what the DVC will reveal.

It would have been good to have the website already running so the local community can see what is happening from the official channels and know what type of activities and attractions will be available in a couple of months time.

This will be the revealing of the master plan and the large “Port Arthur” style attraction, it could only be expected that a media package equal to the sites heritage values be applied as soon as possible. It is also unclear what level of local employment will be generated by the opening. No positions vacant have been seen yet in the public domain.

Communication between the DVC and the Council Committees has been limited and the plans of council have not been revealed to the volunteer support base, that are the Friends of Willow Court, who normally run open days and arts events at the site. Local business that will have to cater for the opening have not been advised about an opening date or what to expect. Normally with an event this large in Tasmania some months of planning would be expected and would be well underway. A skeleton of the event and how the Council are going to management it could be shared.

We look forward to the opening, the events and wonder how the previous residents/patients are to be involved?

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