Past to Present. Memory to Action
The Friends of Willow Court are again conduction an open day at Willow Court the Avenue New Norfolk on the 3rd March 2019. There are displays and a number of guided tours (3) throughout the day. Currently open days are held on the first Sunday of each month by the Friends of Willow Court who are a volunteer committee of the Derwent Valley Council. There is no need to book, just come along ready (closed shoes) at one of the times stated below. There are no facilities for eftpos, cash only.
The second official Friends of Willow Court day of tours and display has past with great success. The group are running tours on the first Sunday of each month at 10 am, 12 mid-day and 2 pm. For those wondering where the takings of the tours go, “the entry fee goes to the Derwent Valley Council, GST and development of resources for future activities on site” according to ex Chair person of the friends of Willow Court.
Head over to our “events page” to see what is happening next and also see our “Open days and Events” under the “Gallery” tab to see what activities have been happening at the site.
This month there is an extra event as the Derwent Valley Players are again putting on two short plays “MEET THE MATRON” and “TEA AND CHARITY”, two historical plays written by Sharon Hutchison. They will be performed at The Barracks, circa 1830 WILLOW COURT on Sunday 14th. October, at 11 am and 1.30 pm, with a cream tea served between the two plays at each performance. $30.00 per head.
Bookings 0411 744 248.
The Friends of Willow Court have started regular tours on the first Sunday of each month starting in September. This long overdue activity will now open the site up for respectful activity and education. The Friends have been testing their skills out at open day events for a couple of years and their historical scripts have been verified as a true record of events on the site by Historians and Academics.
We support this wonderful opportunity and encourage people to visit New Norfolk’s many cafes or restaurants as part of a great day out.
The New Norfolk News has reported the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee, which is a committee of the Derwent Valley Council, have had all their requests approved. There will be regular respectful tours of the site each month, some opportunity for ad-hoc events/tours and participation in formal events like Heritage Month.
There also has been approval for a Facebook page and a website to handle bookings and interactions with interested parties. We will share this as soon at it starts.
Well done to this small but dedicated group.
Today I conducted a tour for a group of people through the Willow Court area. We started at the edge of the supermarket which once was the oval, the large supporting wall behind the building is still intact and stands to the memory of the one man (patient) who almost completed the wall himself. We went on and listen to Anne McKinstray’s audio tour of the oval wards G, E and D while looking at each of the remaining buildings. We then went past the different buildings along the Avenue and heard about one or two characters and some of their lives journey, working conditions and connections with wars and the community, this included Matron Morey and her story of the gold sovereign. Then over to Frascati House to hear how Dr Brothers wife worked to make camouflage nets for the second world war. We weren’t able to access the COMPLETED Barracks (stage one) area and felt disappointed not to be able to access this area and tell the wonderful stories that area had to say. Is that what you call a lost business and educational opportunity?