Early this week the Friends of Willow Court, members of the Derwent Valley Players and a representative of the Willow Court History Group conducted an educational tour for students from Sacred Heart College at Willow Court. This was a Thematic interpreted tour with dramatized, evidence based stories, all presented and linked to the school curriculum.
The students first met with Matron Coates (Sharon Hutchison) who explained, within her busy schedule, the rules for visitors the Hospital. A short history of the development of Social Services within Van Diemen’s Land was presented, this put the New Norfolk Invalid Barracks into a context and explained why a Hospital needed to be built on the site.
Sharon Hutchison (Matron Coates)
A number of historical characters presented themselves throughout the Barracks building and along the tour path including Ruth Montgomery who played the part of a Nurse circa 1960’s. The nurse advocated on behalf of a patient at the time and read the patient’s account of being incarcerated in the Hospital.
Ruth also played the part of Mary Dingle a Convict who found herself transported to Tasmania and ending up in the Hospital. Mary’s story was referenced 36 times to ensure a high degree of accuracy, likewise all the stories, were either first hand accounts or came about because of research.
Ruth Montgomery (Nurse circa 1960’s & Mary Dingle Convict)
Jeff Windsor (Patient C Ward Criminal Division) waited in the Carlton yard ready to tell his story of being in the secure ward during the 1968 mass escape. A number of security staff were brutality beaten during the escape. He describes the scene before and during the escape and the energy levels before the attack on two security staff. The aftermath and consequences were still in his mind as the free patients were returned to the hospital and the ring leader sent back to Risdon Prison.
Jeff Windsor (Reflective Patient C Ward Criminal Division)
All the tour guides have been trained in thematic interpretation by Phil Fitzpatrick who was instrumental in thematic guide training in other Tasmanian Heritage sites like Port Arthur and Sarah Island. Tour guides continued their training in 2015 at both Port Arthur and the Cascades Female Factory in a behind the scenes applied learning experience.
A great email was sent to the Friends of Willow Court, Derwent Valley player and the Willow Court History group.
“I wanted to send you an email to let you know how fantastic the experience was at Willow Court earlier this week. The feedback I got from students was that they had never experienced the “thematic” approach that you and the actors delivered and they found this to be really interesting to hear these primary accounts within the confines of the rooms that these people worked in, students came away with some incredible insights, shocked by the tragic circumstances of some of the people incarcerated at this facility, as well as a deeper appreciation of the history of the site”
Teacher; Sacred Heart College
Missing from the pictures was Derwent Valley Player, Linley Hopkins who played the role of Mrs Smyth-Jones.
The latest events at Willow Court will be held in February. The 11-12th should be great days with tours “supervised walks” plays from the Derwent Players and tours of the Archaeology Sites. Don’t miss this one!
Students and Associate Professor Heather Burke from the Archaeology dig will tell visitors about their work while local historian and ex-employee, Tony Nicholson will instruct guides and lead the guided walks around the buildings. Both Carlton and Alonnah Wards will remain locked as per the Derwent Valley Council’s decision at the last meeting due to no risk assessment being done for these wards. Tony is a local published and respected historian who started working at the site in the 1970’s. Archaeology and history walks are only on the Sunday.
The Derwent Valley Players will present two of their plays and serve high tea to booked guests aĺl for $25 with the choice of two performance times on Saturday and two on Sunday.
The current agenda for the Derwent Valley Council has some interesting and exciting proposals that are up for discussion and consideration for the Councilors. The first is on page 40 of the 113 page agenda for a meeting held on the 15th September 2016.
In this proposal Associate Professor Heather Burke from Flinders University is looking for joint support for the archaeological works that are planned in 2017 through til 2022. There are plans for respectful engagement with community. The research aims are:
Staff uniform, Peace collection
better understanding of the day to day life of patients and staff in the 19th and 20th centuries, the development of long and short term interpretive materials, community engagement, developing links between the site and other convict institutions and those portions of the site that are privately owned and training in techniques and processes for students.
The project has been designed along research lines to answer a number of research questions; focusing across a number of broad areas including:-
• The use of space and how this changed over time; • Changes to the physical structures; • Changes to medical treatments; • Conditions for staff; • The relationship between staff and patients and their experiences, and; • The interactions and lives of individual patients in relation to their daily lives at Willow Court and Frascati.
A brief indicative timetable has been provided for the works to be undertaken each February between 2017 – 2022. The project outline for 2017 includes underfloor excavation and surface collection of materials in sections the Barracks, verandah and Ladies Cottage.
As there is a possibility of contamination due to some of the activities previously undertaken in part of the site, a soil analysis has been requested prior to any underfloor activities being undertaken, this will help to ensure the safety of those people involved in underfloor excavations. An estimate of costs involved has been provided.
Due to the means of construction, it will be necessary to lift the floor in certain sections of the Barracks building to allow access, and estimate for this work has been provided by a suitably qualified person. The lifting and reinstatement of the floor could form part of forward works for any restorations to be undertaken in that part of the building. The requests contained in the above recommendation are for works to be carried out in the 2017 year only, future works will be the subject of further recommendations.
The proposal includes public engagement activities and open days (with dates to be finalised), included in this request is assistance from Council regarding public engagement in these days and funding for advertising the open days etc. Council may wish to have further discussions with Associate Professor Burke regarding the detail of the proposed open days.
Although work is not proposed to start until February 2017, this recommendation has been submitted to allow time for the preparation of all required heritage and other approvals. Council may wish to request that copies of these documents and a more detailed project plan be submitted prior to the commencement of archaeological works.
10.6 Archaeological Work at Willow Court and Frascati – Request for support
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council:-
1. Provide in principal support for future archaeological works under the supervision of
Associate Professor Burke to be undertaken at Willow Court and Frascati until 2022;
2. Provide the following assistance as requested by Associate Professor Burke for the
proposed works to be undertaken in February 2017:-
a. Marquees (or similar), tables and chairs to be used as shelter areas on the site,
for the display of materials and for students to undertake public engagement
activities;
b. Possible assistance with community engagement, including but not limited to
funding advertising regarding open days etc.;
c. Funding for interpretation materials , this may be a longer term project and
will be dependent upon what is discovered during the excavation period;
d. A secure storage area for any artifacts;
e. Possible assistance with the removal of dirt and debris after items of
archaeological significance have been removed;
f. A space for dirt that has bee removed to be sifted and examined, possibly the
small cement yard between the Barracks and C Ward;
g. A portion of costs associated with the removal of and reinstatement or
replacement of floorboards in the Barracks;
h. The cost of soil testing in the underfloor area to be excavated at the Barracks;
i. Accommodation for up to fifteen people for up to two weeks;
j. Barricading and coverings for trenches etc. to ensure public safety during this
period, and;
k. Back filling of excavations between field seasons.
3. Request a more detailed plan providing additional information regarding the nature
of the public engagement to be undertaken;
4. Be provided with a document detailing the finding following the completion of the
2017 field school.
The second proposal is for a paranormal tour investigation.
The proponents, it is believed have no formal qualifications in the areas of, ethics, science, tourism, workplace health and safety including risk assessment or business.
Previous statements from representatives of the Derwent Valley Council have talked about a “professional approach” to the future activities on the site and the plans for the Agrarian Kitchen to take up a lease (signed lease 2-9-16) in the old Bronte Ward early in 2017 and the installation of Mike Parr’s work during Dark Mofo are proof that this is the line that is succeeding.
The proposal also calls for the rate payers to subsides the insurance on this event. This event is also to coincide with the release of a documentary which depicts previous residents and staff as “other than human”. This film was approved, funded and insured by the Derwent Valley Council in 2012.
Please read our position statement to these events HERE
The third proposal is from John Davidson and is part of the worldwide Photowalk program for people wishing to take photos with other like-minded professionals and amateurs alike.
Date: 1 October 2016
Purpose: 50 persons participating in 2016 Worldwide Photowalk event.
The last proposal is from the Friends of Willow Court and members of the Derwent Valley Players. The Friends of Willow Court had submitted a list of activities and has been waiting for some time for a reply from Council. Two plays are planned for November this year.
Three of these events will showcase the site and its history respectfully and I’m looking forward to hearing if the DVC can get the approval process in place within the time lines. It’s a bit strange that this hasn’t happened already?
The Friends of Willow Court were at this years Christmas Parade in New Norfolk with a display of the work that the group has been involved in. Joint projects with the New Norfolk Tidy Towns Committee and the Derwent Valley Players along with working bees and training days were all on display. The Matron also made a visit.
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2015 Christmas Parade and static display of the Friends of Willow Court, the Derwent Valley Players and the Tidy Towns.
It has been a big weekend at Willow Court and the place was buzzing today and yesterday with anyone who has a passion for the place. Friday started early for some and was the accumulation of months of research and sourcing of information, personal stories, interviews, meetings, rehearsals and the extensive hunting for authentic items for display and for costumes for the drama. The Governor of Tasmania Professor Kate Warner opened the Friends of Willow Court Display and Play which were advertised during the Tasmanian Heritage Month. Along with invited guests she looked through the professional display which was an intersection between the lives of people who served in conflicts or behind in the local community effort and the Lachlan Park Hospital’s history and the lives that these people had before, after and during such conflict. Limited themes were chosen which told this story and also the story of the consequences of such conflict and the care and compassion of others. The generous support of many people and businesses has to be acknowledged because without this community effort this wouldn’t have happened. A special thank you to those families that allowed us to respectfully tell the stories of their loved ones, patient and worker alike. Of particular interest to me was the story of returned serviceman Bruce McLean, who’s story of life within Millbrook Rise post WWII was told and while Bruce wasn’t the only person to return after conflict and time incarcerated as a prisoner of war, his is one of the limited stories we have permission to share.
The Derwent Valley Players
The good Doctor Myers
The Derwent Valley Players
The Derwent Valley Players
Doctor & Mrs Myers
The Derwent Valley Players
Friends of Frascati afternoon tea
Mrs Myers after loosing her children to scarlet fever
Derwent Valley Players, in conjunction with the Friends of Willow Court, presented two original plays, written by Sharon Hutchison and directed by Vivienne de Bressac. Sharon played Matron Coates, Lin Hopkins was Mrs. Smythe-Jones, the Vicar’s wife, and Denise Rushworth was Sarah, the Matron’s maid.
The South Wing of the Barracks was transformed into a small theatre and a beautiful Tea Room, complete with white linen table cloths, flowers on every table and beautiful crockery. High tea was served between the two plays, with patrons being offered cucumber sandwiches, asparagus rolls, both chocolate and lemon cake, and little chocolate nibbles, not to mention scones, presented in lovely flowered boxes, raspberry jam and cream, and a choice of tea or coffee!
There were two performances each day, with great audience attendance for all four shows. The patrons left the Barracks with many a “thank you”, “it was wonderful” “we didn’t expect the tea room to be so lovely”, “the scones were delicious” “you’ve done a lot of work” and generally an air of great appreciation for the overall experience. A wonderful time was had by all.
We would like to thank Ilene, at Pennyworth, for the loan of much of the crockery, platters etc, her friend Kaye, for the generous loan of the beautiful table linen and Aurora Disability for baking the scrumptious scones. And, of course, those few members of FOWC who were able to help (you know who you are)
