Friends of Willow Court AGM

The Friends of Willow Committee invite interested people to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Derwent Valley Council’s Friends of Willow Court Special Committee to be held on Wednesday 7th October 2015, 7pm at the Derwent Valley Community House, The Avenue, New Norfolk. Please come and hear the latest from this committee and the Derwent Valley Council about what the plans for future use for the site are. If there has been a time when Willow Court needs friends, it is now. There is a wonderful and talented group of local individuals that have been on this committee for the past three years and longer for some that have trained themselves professionally to manage such a historic tourist site at Willow Court. They have arranged and participated in workshops and behind the scenes tours with some of Tasmania’s leading tourist attractions managing Port Arthur and the Cascades Female Factory, they have trained with leading tourist industry trainers in Thematic Interpretation and Influencing Ethical Decision Making. Over the last year while the site has been closed they have also made a professional Strategic plan, met with the Legislative Council Committee on Tasmania’s Built Heritage and engaged with The Federal Government around listing the site for World Heritage.

While at times this was overwhelming for the small number of people on the committee we did accomplish much and have clear plans for the future.

Does this sound like something you wish to be involved with?

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Pictured here with the Legislative Council’s Build Heritage Committee is (right) Anne Salt, (middle) Vivienne de Bressac and (left) Sharon Hutchison.

Other Committee members are Tony Nicholson, Nadia Lobb, Denise Rushworth, Emily Bullock,  Rodney Quarrell, Graham McLean, Lin Hopkins, Rebecca Tudor, Mark Krause and Anne McKinstray.

There have been many other people who have willingly given their valuable time over these past years. Also we can’t forget Cr. Frank Pearce.

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1863 Drawings

MR1-1760 lunatic Asylum New Norfolk Tasmania 1863sml copy1863 Drawing of the Barracks, Willow Court. (c) Copyright 2015

This map was held at the National Archives in the United Kingdom and was sent to us by one of Associate Professor Burke’s PhD Students who recently spent a couple of days searching for Willow Court documentation. It is a rare image that shows the male and female divisions and where the foundations would be for any future dig site. The original Matron’s Quarters appears to be located near to, or over the currently privately owned Morgue and Antiques store. The foundations to the Gentleman’s cottage (top left) are still visible in the C Ward yard. You can click on the image to make it larger.

 

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Opening soon?

Well it’s hard to say, but the site is again taking on a Spring look, with green grass and lots of newly installed landscaping. The temporary fences at the very front have been removed and the ramps appear to be complete and a small area at the front gates has been created for people wishing to take photos (pictured below).

Sources for the Derwent Valley Council have reported that there will be an opening celebration followed by a closing of the gates (no date announced yet). The Community House is due to move into the Bronte Ward for the next nine years and the site remains on the market, either for lease or sale.

The Friends of Willow Court are seeking a meeting with the General Manager of the DVC to attempt to find out what their role will be as a committee of the DVC and where they fit into this DVC owned site and gain an understanding of the plans the Council have for the time in between the opening and the sale or lease.

The condition at the last tour of the remaining building is of concern, in Carlton House (C Ward) the unbreakable windows all have been smashed with what would appear to be a hammer or similar. We are hoping that the installed security will soon bring the vandals to justice.

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Social Trainers code of ethics

Well here is a blast from the past. While Willow Court was still operating a new industry was emerging and it was the community integration model. Many people did, what was then known as a Social Trainer course at TAFE. This consisted of two years of full time study within the disability support field with particular attention to the Community Integration Program (CLP) which was the social model. Out of this come the Social Trainers Association. This group of people started a community of practicing professionals and like other groups, looked towards continuous improvement along with education. They also come up with a code of ethics by which any professional Social Trainer would abide. Here is a copy of that, now historic document, for some this will bring back memories and for others it’s a bit of history of how we got to where we are today.

Social Trainers

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