Landmark Willow Court Report supplied to Friends of Willow Court

WC Report PC

 

This new report was given to members of the Friends of Willow Court during an oral history gathering session.

The ex-staff member offered the report so it could be digitised and used for future education.

The Report refers to new ideas and experiments that were allowed by Senior Staff to have a better service for people who lived at Willow Court (Lachlan Park Hospital). The exact date of this report is unclear, but it would appear that it was pre 1965 because “Lachlan Park” is used. The names of the male “patients” involved were also included and are helpful in dating the document. The subject matter is about, new methods of treatment in a social, small setting with skill development of life skills. The report looks at the hypothesis of people with disabilities being able to receive and respond to training and skill development. The timeline for this report becomes critical here, because within Tasmania this could be one of the first, if not the first formal training programmes for the development of living skills of the seven young boys that it refers to. It was a handwritten document of 5, A3 pages. During the early 1960’s, skill development in life skills in a block treatment system was not only difficult, but considered quite impossible and in some cases fruitless. As soon as I receive permission to reprint I will load the document up for public availability when approved by the FoWC.

 

 

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$9 lease of Bronte on agenda

The Derwent Valley Council will raise $9 over 9 years for the lease of the old and refurbished Bronte Ward in the Willow Court Heritage Precinct according to the new agenda item on the Council’s own website. It is common practice to have a “peppercorn” rent for community services, so this is not unusual. However this will tie up the business capacity of the location for that 9 years to any prospective lessee that the Council hope to attract with their current plans to seek out an International Tourist Operator (or favourable business) to run and operate the site. How this joint lease arrangement and the impact on each party will be affected has not been explored with any type of impact study to date.

Discussion On 16 April 2015, Council considered a proposition for the DVCH to lease a portion of the Bronte Building located at Willow Court. In accord with the Councils direction, discussions and negotiations have continued between Council representatives and DVCH Inc. The proposed Lease Agreement is presented to the Council for confirmation prior to the property being formally offered to DVCH Inc. The lease provides for:

 Annual rental of $1

 Nine year lease term

 Lessee responsible for utility costs such as electricity, water etc.

 Standard conditions associated with maintaining the premises in good order with fair wear and tear accepted, indemnification of liability, and the processes to be followed in the event that the building is substantially damaged through fire, floor or tempest

 Processes if failure by the lessee to observe any of the covenants or conditions The lease is not for the sole occupation of the entire Bronte Building; as is indicated on the diagrams attached to the lease the area known as the dormitory will remain with the Council, together with the area known as the caretakers apartment and adjacent Plant Room. Provision is included within the lease for non exclusive possession of the dining room and kitchen area.

This provision has been incorporated given the unknown future uses of the Derwent Valley Council Agenda – 20 August 2015 Page 58 dormitory area and the need to utilise the dining room and kitchen facilities and the like potentially in the circumstance. During the ongoing discussions the representative the opportunity for utilisation of portions of the external areas to the Bronte Building to be utilised by DVCH Inc. It was considered reasonable to incorporate the use of these areas into the lease Agreement on the basis that DVCH Inc would be prepared to undertake maintenance. The areas are again indicated within the Lease Agreement diagrams.

A further issue that has arisen has been a suggestion by the DVCH Inc that Council make a contribution towards a security system for that portion contained within the dining and kitchen areas. This has not been incorporated into the lease is proposed that it would be more appropriate for quotations to be sought by DVCH Inc for the entire building. The Council could then consider a proposal for a cost sharing arrangement once the likely costs are known. Further, in the event the shared space of the dining room and kitchen comes to fruition, and then it is proposed that a booking system be overseen by DVCH Inc and that costs of cleaning be negotiated closer to that time.

It is understood that the occupation of portion of the Bronte Building stems from the desire to provide some degree of activity and utilisation of the Willow Court areas owned by the Council. Given the Councils intention to also call for Expressions of Interest into the future use of those areas owned by the Council, there is a degree of risk in offering the lease proposed as it may compromise the extent of interest. It is acknowledged, however, that given the degree of uncertainty the expression of interest process may reveal, and likely timelines in the event there are any firm proposals, this arrangement provides a degree of certainty in the immediate term.

It is therefore recommended that the Council offer the Lease of a portion of the Bronte Building to the DVCH Inc for a term of nine years with a annual lease rental of $1.

Consultations That Have Taken Place

(a) The Community Not applicable

(b) Experts Councils Legal representative

(c) Stakeholders Derwent Valley Community House Inc Representatives Proposed Community Consultation, Public Relations and Media Issues Upon formal acceptance of the lease by DVCH Inc, it is proposed that appropriate media release be issued and advertising take place. Derwent Valley Council Agenda – 20 August 2015 Page 59 Budget/Financial Issues The properties owned by the Council in the Willow Court Complex represent a late and significant investment. Maintaining the structural integrity of the buildings will potentially escalate over time. The leasing of a portion of the Bronte building will allow for outgoings and some minor maintenance to be incurred by the lessee. The lessee has also access to grant funds which may enable some additional restoration works to be undertaken. Policy Implications There are no significant policy implications associated with this particular lease arrangement.

It is noted however that a former resolution of the Council associated with embargoing rate payer funds whilst not a policy position, it will need to be addressed by the Council into the future.

Recommendation It is therefore recommended that the Council offer the Lease of a portion of the Bronte Building to the DVCH for a term of nine years with a annual lease rental of $1 under the terms and conditions contained in the lease enclosed.

 

P.S.

Councillor Bester wants best for Bronte if you consider his post on his Bog Site. He is not happy with the shared use of the building, especially with the previous plans as a tourist attraction and also now the Community House. While we have had these concerns for some time we are yet to hear from any Councillor who voted in favour of the multi use of the building. The 9 year lease will severely affect the likelihood of anyone or an organisation taking on the management and investment in the historic precinct as suggested by the Derwent Valley Council.

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Spirits at Willow Court

Kick start Arts Tasmania are completely aware of the building that they occupy and have sympathetically and culturally tackled the history. For those that believe in any remaining spirit activity within this old Hobart Orphanage can read about how this has been addressed.

orphanage

At a healing ceremony, elder Jim Everett led a procession of fire sticks and garlands through the building.

“We needed to refresh the place, to say the spirits are not here, and the children’s spirits who were here can feel safe,” he said.

“We open up a new future for the diversity of cultures in Tasmania, and the collaborations that will come from it.” 

Click here for full story or image above.

In complete contrast on the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance Facebook Group a member responded to a question about Paranormal Tours within the old institution and any funds being returned for the upkeep and restoration of this historic place, that once housed people with intellectual disabilities.

“Yes, unless it’s just some kids trying to get beer money. The whole idea of running a “paranormal investigation” tour is not only exploitative, selfish, and a condition of emotional constipation, it’s completely juvenile. I’m not saying the belief in ghosts is juvenile, but to profit off of tragedy by twisting it into a more Hollywood version is wrong no matter what way you look at it. Rather than viewing the buildings with any sort of empathetic and meditative thought process that one would hopefully gain while looking at, say, a war memorial, people seem to have chosen a route that requires a much more shallow thought process when it comes to places like Pennhurst.”

Pennhurst haunted tours website

Both views are vastly different from each other but the contrast poses a question for Willow Court and how can this history be culturally and respectfully dealt with and how can healing begin? It has long been thought about and there has been suggestions from Committee’s, families and Advocates. Some of those suggestions have included memorial gardens and places of peace and sculptures which tell the complex story of Willow Court’s mixed and diverse history. 

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