Reflective Garden

Last week I had the opportunity to speak with some of the Friends of Frascati House (FoFH) as they inspected the new layout and progress of the Reflective Garden, sited between the rear of the Frascati House (1834) and The Avenue.

Over the past 2-3 years the “Flourish Mental Health Action in Our Hands” self advocacy group have been in discussions with the Derwent Valley Council and the Friends of Frascati House to see if it is possible to also contribute a plaque for the Gardens.

I have been involved in this committee for over twelve months and while there has been some progression, little physical evidence has happened. Last week I was able to have a discussion with Councillor Bester and Mr Greg Winton, General Manager along with three members of the Frascati House Committee who agreed to further discussions with Flourish. 

It would appear that the wording of the proposed plaque that the FoFH have submitted to Council and the wording on the plaque that Flourish self advocacy group have proposed are almost identical.

I am currently waiting for Jess Dallas who is the Council’s Project Manager to contact me back with the wording*. If both groups can agree, there is an opportunity for a plaque to be installed to remember past residents, staff and community members that were involved in the Hospital’s 174 years of operation.

Frascati House Committee and the Derwent Valley Council have also considered some proposed insensitive activities in the old home but it is nice to see that there is an opportunity to have some respectful and sensitive activity on the site. 

*p.s. Jess Dallas had sent the wording but due to a communication issue I only received it yesterday. Thanks Jess.

APIU, DVC may approve tour of “Satan’s House”!

Friends of Frascati House looking at the Reflective Garden
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Council move to clean up oval wards.

The Derwent Valley Council have placed an Abatement Notice on the Willow Court Oval Wards currently owned by Glenora ll Pty Ltd and managed by Tony Ellis. The Wards have been an eye sore now for many years and although owned privately have failed to reach any planned potential. The oval and Wards were originally sold to Robert Rockerfellow, who after dividing profitable land from least profitable on sold the buildings to Ellis for unit development.

Mr Ellis, who has also planned an apartment complex for Willow Court in New Norfolk, offered an apology to those affected.

“A painful time it’s been for me and my family, being off on unpaid sick leave for nine months,” he said.

“However, after this really challenging period of my life, it’s wonderful to be back at work again for part two of my life.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise to anyone who has been impacted — especially financially — by these delays, and I gratefully appreciate their patience as I’m now at work quickly resolving these issues.” Mercury Article Sept 2017

 

Abatement Notice
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Unlock Willow Court

Dr Helen Norrie listens and facilitates discussions

Last night I attended a gathering at Willow Court with Dr Helen Norrie and Dr Tamas Oszvald, both from the University of Tasmania. They are working with the Derwent Valley Council and the New Norfolk community to scope potential collaborative projects that could facilitate the activation of Willow Court, engaging with past, present and future narratives and histories.

This initiative was funded by a grant from UTAS Creativity, Culture and Society research stream, and the project aims to develop a list of potential future projects, and collaborative partners.

The key focus of the meeting and the whole project involved piecing together information that exists, identifying gaps in knowledge/information as documented, identifying key ‘knowledge custodians’ and understanding the complexities of recent and past histories.

There was representation from:

Linking and Networking Supper

New Norfolk High School,

Derwent Valley Council,

Friends of Frascati House,

Friends of Willow Court,

New Norfolk Business Alliance,

Local Tourist operators,

Derwent Valley Players,

Owners of the Agrarian Kitchen and other interested parties.

Can Seng Ooi, Professor in Cultural and Heritage Tourism, Hamish Maxwell- Stewart, Professor of History and the co-author of a previous report into the reuse of Willow Court, Professor Lucy Frost were in attendance.  

We were presented with a scope of the project by Dr Helen Norrie and Dr Tamas Oszvald and then we were asked to introduce ourselves and our connection with the site. A moderated discussion of possible future projects on the site and the interconnection they could have with the community, locally, Statewide and nationally were then discussed. A short time of questions.

Previous Reports and General Information Table.

An update on the DVC’s “expression of interest” process was given by the General Manager Mr Greg Winton.

Personal thoughts: For me this is the last ditch effort to get some common ground and for all parties to work towards one agenda. Failure to work together will simply add another report to the already high pile of the 16 previous reports and this would be a serious concern for the site. 

I have a good feeling about this. We can only contribute and work towards Willow Court becoming a place to visit in Tasmania and hope that other agendas will be left behind. I know that both Helen and Tamas are working hard to see that happen.

On a not so related matter, meetings at Willow Court Barracks without toilet facilities are a sure test of endurance for invited guests!

 

 

 

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