Willow Court Open?

This morning Willow Court had its first event in the old Bronte Ward called the “Lyons Community Breakfast. The site officially remains closed for conservation work. Tours, or any sort of access for the general public hasn’t been available. This morning special guest the Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Turnbull MP and the Member for Lyons Eric Hutchinson MP had an early start at the oldest asylum in Australia. Minister responsible for the Environment and Heritage, Mr Greg Hunt is also in Tasmania at the moment and it is unclear if he will attend. We are not sure if the Prime Minister had a tour of the buildings that are currently going through the Heritage listing process or if there was an opening ceremony of the site.

malcolm Turnbull MP

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Senate inquiry: Violence, abuse and neglect of people with a disability.

We have recently learnt that some people have made submissions to the Senate Inquiry while living at the former Lachlan Park Hospital and Royal Derwent Hospital. Further submissions from people with disability or mental health conditions are sought by 11 November 2015.

The Inquiry are looking at Violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings, including the gender and age related dimensions, and the particular situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability.

abuse

 

The terms of reference are:

the experiences of people directly or indirectly affected by violence, abuse and neglect perpetrated against people with disability in institutional and residential contexts;
the impact of violence, abuse and neglect on people with disability, their families, advocates, support persons, current and former staff and Australian society as a whole;
the incidence and prevalence of all forms of violence, abuse and neglect perpetrated against people with disability in institutional and residential settings;
the responses to violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability, as well as to whistleblowers, by every organisational level of institutions and residential settings, including governance, risk management and reporting practices;
the different legal, regulatory, policy, governance and data collection frameworks and practices across the Commonwealth, states and territories to address and prevent violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability;
Australia’s compliance with its international obligations as they apply to the rights of people with disability;
role and challenges of formal and informal disability advocacy in preventing and responding to violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability;
what should be done to eliminate barriers for responding to violence, abuse and neglect perpetrated against people with disability in institutional and residential settings, including addressing failures in, and barriers to, reporting, investigating and responding to allegations and incidents of violence and abuse;
what needs to be done to protect people with disability from violence, abuse and neglect in institutional and residential settings in the future, including best practice in regards to prevention, effective reporting and responses;
identifying the systemic workforce issues contributing to the violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability and how these can be addressed;
the role of the Commonwealth, states and territories in preventing violence and abuse against people with disability;
the challenges that arise from moving towards an individualised funding arrangement, like the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including the capacity of service providers to identify, respond to and prevent instances of violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability; and
what elements are required in a national quality framework that can safeguard people with disability from violence, abuse and neglect in institutional and residential settings.

2. That for this inquiry:

‘institutional and residential settings’ is broadly defined to include the types of institutions that people with disability often experience, including, but not restricted to: residential institutions; boarding houses; group homes; workplaces; respite care services; day centres; recreation programs; mental health facilities; hostels; supported accommodation; prisons; schools; out-of-home care; special schools; boarding schools; school buses; hospitals; juvenile justice facilities; disability services; and aged care facilities; and
‘violence, abuse and neglect’ is broadly understood to include, but is not limited to: domestic, family and interpersonal violence; physical and sexual violence and abuse; psychological or emotional harm and abuse; constraints and restrictive practices; forced treatments and interventions; humiliation and harassment; financial abuse; violations of privacy; systemic abuse; physical and emotional neglect; passive neglect; and wilful deprivation.

People looking to understand what is required can find “easy read english” versions through the link below.

Help can be found at Advocacy Services:

Speakout

Advocacy Tasmania

 

Senate inquiry Violence, abuse and neglect of people with a disability.

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Lectures for Attendants and Nurses, 1921 book

to be returned to chief attendant

Picture of the front cover. Click picture to open the book.

This book is now scanned and available for you to read. This extremely rare publication contains the information for staff at the Mental Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk to carry out their work role.

Subjects include:

Anatomy and Physiology

Contagions and infectious diseases

Ethics of nursing

Nursing of Mental Diseases

The publication was printed in Tasmania for the Hospital and contain language, theories and practices of the time and should be read in this context

“Idiots and Imbeciles. They should be sent to special hospital, where they may, as far as possible, be educated or specially nursed and cared for.”

 

 

Click lectures for nurses and attendants 1921 full to read the full book in a separate tab.  (this will take sometime to download, due to the size of the file)

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Mystery Solved

Our facebook community are so good. On the weekend I was contacted and sent a picture of a old metal chest with the name MAJ C Boland Royal Derwent Hospital, New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia painted clearly on the top. The person who posted me the picture was after the provenance for herself and the owner. So the mystery started. I posted the picture in our Facebook Group, our Facebook Page and another local New Norfolk Facebook Group and asked for help. I had a couple of hints at whom people thought it maybe and at one stage we thought it might have belonged to a previous patient at the Hospital. As is our policy with respecting patient\resident privacy, I almost chose to stop the hunt there.

I went back to the picture and after one of the group members suggested there was a Doctor with that name there in the 60’s I realised that the MAJ was the abbreviation for Major. With this new information and a possible military connection I investigated further and was able to find a connection to a Dr Boland in New South Wales in 2003 and also with the The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 2008 after his death. With more information I was able to find Dr Boland’s eulogy, which had been thoughtfully written by his daughter.

maj c boland 2

Click to read DAD’S EULOGY which included Dr Boland’s family history at New Norfolk, Sandy Bay and finally Sydney. The owner of the case is planning to print out the eulogy and keep it with the old trunk. Mystery solved!

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Australian Research Council Linkage Projects Funding Proposal – Willow Court

 

mms_img889941132_20141126T201311-031“The project proposed by Ms Burke will investigate the archaeology of Willow Court, using material research, historical research and looking at the sociological perspective of the site . There will be a public archaeology program that will use the material evidence to explore the community’s relationship with the site. This project (proposal attached for Councillors information) will provide valuable archaeological and social historical information on Willow Court, including interpretive and educational information. It is anticipated that the project, which runs over 3 years, will look at the staff/patient experience within Willow Court over 170 years, charting the shifts in treatment and understanding of mental illness. It will also provide valuable information on the archaeology of the site, much of which is unknown. There has been a great deal of focus on the heritage architecture of the site, however relatively little is known about its archaeology. It is anticipated that this study will provide a new perspective on life in Willow Court/ Royal Derwent for both patients and staff.”

Read the full proposed agenda item to go before the Derwent Valley Council this month HERE

 

Left: Associate Professor Heather Burke and Associate exploring Burnett Street entry to tunnel.

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Books donated to Willow Court

Russell 001Friends Of Willow Court Chairwoman, Anne Salt yesterday received four books from Russell Penman the Ex CEO and Director of Nursing of the Willow Court Centre 1990-96. The books dated back to when the institutions was called “Mental Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk” and date from 1921. These (some extremely) rare publications with inscriptions from Lachlan Park and Mental Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk will now be place in the archive of documents and artifacts which are managed by the Derwent Valley Council and is currently under the supervision of Associate Professor Heather Burke at Flinders University in South Australia.

A volunteer at Red Cross who knew current CEO of Red Cross, Mr Penman and his work history and ongoing interest in the site brought the donated books to his attention. He then contacted us through the Willow Court History Group to have them placed into the archive collection.

The books are:

Elementary Hygiene for nurses 10th edition published in 1953 and with the name Helen Rainbird 1963 written in the front cover. It is stamped “Medical Library Lachlan Park Hospital”
Lectures for Nurses 4th edition 1944 with the name of a nurse in the front that I can’t make out – along with Lachlan Park Hospital
Medicine for Moderns published in 1953. It also appears to have been in the medical library
Lectures for Attendants and Nurses – Mental Diseases Hospital, New Norfolk printed by the government printer and dated 1921. On the plain red front cover is written “to be returned to the Chief Attendant”

temps

The Willow Court History Group are urging anyone who has artifacts, photos or documents that they wish to return, either on loan or as a permanent gift to please contact a member of the Friends of Willow Court so these precious items can be kept in public ownership for everyone’s benefit.

 

Please use the CONTACT PAGE if you need to contact someone.

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AGM of the Friends of Willow Court meeting

meeting

Last Wednesday I attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Friends of Willow Court (FoWC) held at the Derwent Valley Community House. The meeting went normally with elections of the Committee and reports given by office bearers. The Chairwoman read her report, please see below:

Friends of Willow Court
Chairpersons Report
AGM
7 October 2015

page 1It is with pleasure that I present this, the third report for the Friends of Willow Court special committee of the Derwent Valley Council. This past year started with much enthusiasm for the Friends of Willow Court, with the imminent completion of the Barracks & Bronte restoration, and the proposed open weekend to showcase the restoration to the community. Advice from the Conservation Committee was that the opening would consist of static displays of information, and as a result the FoWC committee started to collate information on WC for display. The potential date for the opening in December came and went, and disappointingly the Friends of Willow Court understand there is now no plan for an opening at this stage.

In anticipation of having the site open in the first half of this year, the committee continued to focus on developing an understanding of how to provide professional, respectful and informative tours and experiences based on thematic interpretation. The committee liaised with staff at Port Arthur and the Cascade Women’s Prison, and visited both sites to meet with staff who provided a wealth of information on how to develop thematic tours. The connection with both sites was invaluable, and provides an opportunity for sharing of resources when tours of Willow Court operate. 

Other activities undertaken by the committee over the last 12 months include the following:

• Hosting a BBQ for Associate Professor Heather Burke and her ten archaeology students, who were all impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of the FoWC, and the various historical records on Willow Court collected by members of the committee

• Lodgement of a submission to the Legislative Council Built Heritage Inquiry committee 

• Escorting the Built Heritage committee on a site tour of Willow Court

• Participation in the National Trust Heritage Festival in May with a display to depict Willow Court’s links to Australia’s world conflicts, and a play set in the grounds of Frascati House. The highlight of this event was the attendance by the Governor of Tasmania at the opening night, to launch the event.

• Responding to a request from the Derwent Valley Tidy Towns committee to help with removal of graffiti from the Willow Court perimeter wall. The outcome of this request is that both committees will work with the Centre for Heritage in Oatlands on restoration of the wall over the coming months, and the committee has suggested New Norfolk high school students also participate in the project.

• Participating in two strategic planning sessions facilitated by FoWC member Bec Tudor. The outcome of these sessions is a work in progress that will be completed over the coming months.

• Successful applications for DVC Community Grants

• Successful applications for DVC the Capital Works budget 

During the year the committee has made requests of Council to visit Willow Court to view the restoration, but these requests have been denied due to Willow Court being a construction site. However, limited access was permitted to escort the Built Heritage committee on a familiarisation tour of the site, and for two limited tours by one committee member for people with a potential interest in projects at Willow Court. We are also aware that various site visits have been undertaken by Councillors, and state and Federal Ministers and MP’s. 

It is very disappointing for this committee that has volunteered for years to provide input into projects such as the Malcolm McDonald report, host events, conduct working bees and tours of Willow Court, to be denied access for a site visit to see the restoration. We do hope however this situation can be rectified by the council in the very near future. 

In March the committee was advised that it was the intention of the council to seek international expressions of interest in Willow Court, a process that could take up to twelve months, and that we could lodge a submission for a 12 month calendar of events. What was not communicated to us at that time was that apparently all Friends of Willow Court access to Willow Court will only be through submitting a proposal. Again this is a very disappointing situation, which leaves the committee feeling disenfranchised and disillusioned.

While it is understood that it will take some time for new councillors to develop an understanding of the heritage value of Willow Court and the significant role this committee and others have played in the preservation and reuse of the site, to hear a councillor at a council meeting when voting on the proposal to move the Community House into Bronte state about Willow Court that ‘there is nothing to see there’ and ‘No-one wants it,’ leaves us and other stakeholders further disheartened. In fact the comment of one prominent Tasmanian historian with a significant interest in Willow Court was ‘I am broken hearted over what is happening at Willow Court’. A sentiment that is echoed amongst Friends of Willow Court members.

To those long term committee members who are stepping down this year for various reasons, I would like to thank you for your vision for Willow Court, your dedication and determination to give your time and skills to the work of Friends of Willow Court for the benefit of preserving this important historic site that has been so neglected and vandalised, your efforts are much appreciated. 

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to thank all committee members for their enthusiasm, contribution, hard work and good company over the past year. Thank you also to Councilor Pearce for supporting the committee and providing a conduit for communication with the council, and to the DVC for the opportunity to apply for Community Grants to support our projects. While we are a small committee we can again be proud of what we have achieved for Willow Court.

Thank you
Anne Salt
Chairperson
2014/15

UntitledThe guest speaker was the Mayor, Martyn Evan who stated the he liked to attend all the AGM’s for all DVC Committee’s. He gave an update of the progress of the conservation work, partnerships with Flinders University and explained where the “Expression of Interest” process was up to for the lease/sale of Willow Court Heritage Precinct. He was also generous in staying on to answer questions from members of the Friends of Willow Court Committee and members of the public who had an interest is seeing the site open and respectfully portrayed.

Some of those questions were:

Is there a time for an opening or handing over of the keys to the DVC? Answer “as soon as humanly possible” he also explained that there would not be an “opening” as the Council didn’t want to have an opening, only to close the site the next day. The concept would be more an events venue. He wished to stay away from the idea of an opening, as this would draw criticism when it closed the next day.

One question was raised about the relationship between the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee and the DVC and why the DVC own Committee was not informed of decisions relating to Willow Court and that the Committee was required to submit plan to access the site that same an other businesses wanting to have access to the site. It was commented about this situation that the Committee was set up by the DVC for the purposes of supporting the DVC however this had been frustrated by the many negative attitudes and private agendas that Councillors had and “Special relationships some members of the DVC had with “interested parties.

The Mayor was challenged because of his personal support of the site becoming a paranormal hot spot by personally declaring the site the “second most haunted site in Tasmania”, this was done without any supporting evidence.

There was also a question about a sympathetic guide that would be used for the Lease or Sale Expressions of Interest process. We were told that there currently isn’t a guide.

 

Some committee members chose not to stand this year and have sited their frustration at not being able to progress any plans at the site and disheartened because the of the restricted access for the Council’s very own Committee.

There was also a commitment from the Mayor to hear the DVC’s own Committee at a future workshop.

 

 

Please be aware that this is not a Friends of Willow Court Website or Blog.

 

 

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Willow Court; Museums times three??

museum

The Mayor and or the Derwent Valley Council has approved or given approval for three museums in the last 4 years at Willow Court, two are in the Council’s owned areas, The Barracks and Frascati House and the latest endorsement is in print on the front page article of the Derwent Valley Gazette.

In this article Hadyn and Penny Pearce, Antique Dealers and Collectors originally from Sydney are purposing to install a museum of Willow Court artifacts in their privately owned area of Willow Court after the donation of two fire helmets recently sold at auction.

This will mean that there will be three museums within a 200 metre area all dealing with the same history and all trying to tell the same stories if all go ahead.

It is a concern that this can happen, but it’s has been a measure of the Council’s recent ability to plan or follow their own plans in this area. The Mayor appears to be approving of all ideas, even if they are the same, and yet the Derwent Valley Council still has plans to sell or lease the site before the next Council elections!

While Hadyn and Penny are calling for donations for their new private venture their policy around ownership of donated items is not clear yet, but there is a clear policy and procedure in place from the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee, who put into place a “complex collection and de-accessioning policy” back in 2013. The existing collections has been extensively researched and modified to note all assets within the currently expanding collection by the PhD students supported and directed by Associate Professor Heather Burke at the Flinders University while on field evaluation.

If you are considering any loan or donation of goods be assured that this system is working and recording these valuable items so they can stay in the collection for the Community’s benefit. Please contact any member of the Friends of Willow Court or private email me and I will put you in contact with a committee member.

 

 

“Derwent Valley Council Mayor Martyn Evans said he liked the idea of a museum.” Reported in the Derwent Valley Gazette September 2015

Restoration of Frascati House, with inclusion of a high quality conferencing facility, museum including nursing memorabilia…” June 2015 Derwent Valley Council.

“A complete makeover of the “Willow Court brand” be undertaken so that ALL dimensions are featured, including the treatment and history of mental illness Malcolm MacDonald & Associates 2011 a Report commissioned by the Derwent Valley Council.

 

Policy and documents

Updated artifacts catalogue

Donation of artifacts

 

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