Willow Court Report by Brett Noble, Senior Project Manager.

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Report: 

What has been happening at the site during the last couple of months?

Quite a lot.

As with any project of this nature, a lot of time and energy is being   devoted to planning and detailing the works , which doesn’t immediately translate into visible activity on the site. The Development Application (DA) and heritage permit are now secured.  Tenders and negotiations with contractors for substantial elements of the works are well progressed. Getting the sequence of works right — between conservation, visitor   access and services — has been organised, but is an ongoing   management task.

If you walk past the site along The Avenue today you will see a very active construction site.

Ø  Scaffolding has gone up around The Barracks, in preparation for roof plumbing and painting

Ø  Landscape works have begun in the Barracks forecourt and along the access route to The Avenue

Ø  The Barracks  windows and doors have been uncovered and restored to working order

Ø  The Barracks verandah posts have been repaired and painted and the base rendered in preparation for lime washing

Ø  Work has also begun  inside the south wing of The Barracks.

Ø  Five rooms have been selected to be opened up for visitors.

Ø  A considerable amount of carpentry, masonry and rendering work has  already been completed

Ø  One room has been lime washed

Interior works will be continued, but roofing works will be the priority while scaffolding is up. The scaffolding will be up around The Barracks for about four weeks, and then will be erected around Bronte in  preparation for roofing works there.

Work has also begun on an inventory of artefacts held in storage, supported by an Arts Tasmania grant. The focus of this work is on understanding what has been collected, how to keep it in good condition, and what items will help tell a story for visitors.

We have found some interesting bits and pieces but haven’t yet got to the point of deciding what to do in relation to displays and the like.  Local contractors and specialists from around the state are being used.  It is pretty busy on site at the moment.  We are still looking at an April finish, but it is getting pushed back a bit – these things do take time and there is a lot of work to sequence and get through.  Hopefully we will not get an unexpected holdup.

Thanks

Brett

Brett Noble

Senior Project Manager (Willow Court Project)

For a full overview of the restoration works you can visit our Restoration Page

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ASSID letter to Hon Ray Groom, Minister for Health Tasmania 1988

(ASSID) Australian Society For The Study Of Intellectual Disability is a disability peak body that studies and presents best practice within the Australian Disability Support Industry.

ASID has a clearly stated mission

Mission:

To improve the quality of life for people with an intellectual disability.

Strategic Goals:

The goals of the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability are:

  • to be an independent authority on intellectual disability issues across Australasia;
  • to forge interaction between intellectual disability research, policy and practice;
  • to lead the development of strategic partnerships;
  • to engage and strengthen membership; and
  • to ensure sound governance.

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ASSID Document

This is the document that was written to the Minister for Health in Tasmania, Mr Ray Groom by the National President of ASSID Australia, Mr Ron Joachim encouraging him to proceed with the de-institutionalisation process of Willow Court Centre and not to fall prey to ideas of community education and understanding which would slow or stop the process. While the impact of the closure was going to be offset by land release and development according to Government papers, the reality of the closure was strongly felt within a close knit community and has left a long lasting and painful memory.

A range of documents are available on the “articles page” to read and study more about Willow Court Centre.

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Willow Court Conservation Special Committee Minutes December 2013

Willow Court Conservation Special Committee Minutes December 2013

The minutes for the December Conservation Special Committee have been released and are here for you to read. There is still no clear direction for the opening date and events after the restoration is complete. A letter was sent to the Project Officer Mr Brett Noble asking for an update, but nothing has been received back yet. While visually we can see some works progressing on the external building we are not sure of any internal works.

wc restoration 13.02.14 001

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Restoration continues

Restoration work is continuing at the Willow Court Site and the preparation below the Barracks veranda is nearing completion, this will enable the foundations to remain dry and protected from excessive damaging moisture. New scaffolding can be seen on the west wing ready for restoration work to begin. The planned completion date has been pushed out to April and possibility May according to reports. Sealasash Window restoration company has posted a number of videos on YouTube about the Willow Court Restoration. I have added one which explains all of their restoration work. This is found on the restoration page, Click Here to view.

wc restoration 13.02.14 005wc restoration 13.02.14 001wc restoration 13.02.14 003

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Synopsis of residents, statistics, Willow Court institutional living program 2.8.1988

First time to be publicly released.

This memo records the Examiner News Paper’s letter to the editor by Clarrie Strochnetter, State Secretary, Disabled People International (Tas)  two years after the Tasmanian State Parliament made the formal decision to start the de-institutionalisation process of Willow Court Centre. Clarrie asks what is happening after two years?

Also there is a full break down of staffing numbers both day and night shift and resident numbers for each ward, dated 02.08.1988.

ward stats 1988

 

 

 

 

Click here to view the full Document

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Article from the Sunday Tasmanian 25-10-1987

This dual article writes about Ken and his hopes and dreams of leaving the Willow Court Centre as well as expressing his mixed feelings of leaving his home for the last 13 years. Ken’s journey and experience was not unlike the many residents that started the de-institutionalisation process that took another 13 years to complete.

The second part of this article quotes Royal Derwent Hospital’s Administrator, Mr Grant Lennox announcing that he expected the majority of the Centre’s 300 residents to eventually live in the community houses.

At the time this lead to much anxiety among staff and families who were concerned for their own situations and those of the residents and family members they knew so well.

ken full

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Lyons Candidates

flag tassieTonight I have written to all the known candidates that are standing in the seat of Lyons in the upcoming state election. I hope to have a reply soon to share with all the Willow Court Supporters. This is what I have asked:

Dear Candidate,

As a candidate for the seat of Lyons this coming election we (Willow Court Advocacy Group) would like to know your thoughts or your party’s thoughts on the sensitive redevelopment of the Willow Court Site. We would appreciate if you would take the time to read and respond to our questions. Your response/non response will be published on our website, Facebook group and Facebook page so Willow Court supporters can make valid judgements at the ballot box this March.

 

1. This site is a world heritage site; will you support a listing to protect the social and physical history of the site?

2. Do you support an apology to the previous Residents for the Government policies that separated and denied people with a disability from being able to access their families and communities?

3. Many more dollars are required to fund the restoration of the site, how will you support this and help create jobs in the New Norfolk/Derwent Valley area?

 

Thank you for considering these questions and I hope I can upload your response soon.

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Dignity

Generally staff adopted a non-patronising and courteous manner todignity final

residents. Many were treated in an informal light-hearted manner

and conversations often revealed a deep knowledge and

understanding of the individual resident. Displays of genuine

affection and mutual respect between staff and residents were

frequently observed.

In contrast were the occasions when residents were addressed in a

harsh manner. However, on the occasions observed criticism cannot

be levelled at staff. Residents can be maddening and exasperating·

at times and when coupled with a shortage of staff, situations

arise where in all but the most saintly employees irritability and

short temperedness develop.

 

Ree Pettifer September 1989

Review of clinical nursing practice institutional living program,

Willow Court Centre Report.

 

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