The Willow Court Project Manager is still working through the EOI processes for organising contractors to work on the site, gathering specifications, etc.  Work will be starting on the Bronte Windows in the very near future.   

 

I had an interesting discussion with one of Cassie O’Connor’s advisers today. I was informed that the  sub group had been in to meet with a ministerial adviser and raised their concerns over the documentary.   The sub group produced a copy for the advisers to view which the sub group had no permission to neither have in their possession nor distribute.

The Adviser said the sub group had put them in an awkward situation.

The minster advisers listened to their concerns however advised that there was nothing that could be done from the ministers position.

The Ministers Office is not aware of any reason to stop the distribution of the DVD, and told the sub group to explore other options.

On another spiteful note the sub group tried to personally breach me Under the State Services Act. The Adviser said that is something that would be would need to be raised with my management.

Where to next for this sub group, I think they are starting to run out of people to complain too.

Give it a rest guys, it’s been seen and passed through so many people  now I think it’s time to accept the fact and work together rather ran resort to getting personal.

 

I a positive note two of the advisers I spoke with liked the docco!

 

 

 

ABC NEWS 12/5/13 Reports “Hundreds of colonial relics have been uncovered in Tasmania, more than a century after they were hidden by an asylum patient.”

This is an amazing find and well done to Haydn Pearce keep up the good work!

I was actually talking to Haydn about this a few weeks back and totally forgot about it cause the conservation happened during the tunnel discovery. I remember mentioning to Haydn I had always wanted to get a metal detector and just explore the grounds of WC.  My mind boggles as to what you might find beneath the soil of WC and I’m sure this find is only scratching the surface.

Link to ABC VIDEO: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-12/hundreds-of-colonial-relics-uncovered-at-willow-court/4684348

 

Oval Building Update

 

The majority of the Oval Ward Car Park is now behind fences and work is underway removing all the trees and bushes that were hard up against the wards. I also noticed that most of the boarded up door ways are now open.

This is part of initial work in turning the Oval Wards into a gated apartment facility.

 

Last night 6/5/13 was a momentous day for not only APIU and Willow Court but New Norfolk and Tasmania with the final and absolute approval of the Documentary by the Derwent Valley Council.

Nick Jarvis and Aiden Sullivan Co-Founders of APIU attended last night’s meeting where together with Council reviewed and signed a MOU for the Docco.

Council stated that it has been reviewed and approved by their solicitor and that they have a statement from the Anti Discrimination officer stating “there is nothing of Concern” in the Docco.

All Council was quite excited about the approval and subsequent release via Screening nights in Willow Court and DVD. Council suggested that we make available an initial 1000 copies of the DVD for sale and stated that we would work in collaboration for screening nights with 100% profits going back into Willow Court.

I would like to thank Council for their assistance and support throughout the process, even though it has taken a number of years to reach the approval stage it has made the Docco more solid product by it being scrutinized  and ratified by ourselves and Council.

Thanks must also been given to Ross Latham from Archives Tasmania for his support of the docco. If it wasn’t for his support a lot of the precious archive footage would not be allowed to be released.

Finally thanks to all our supporters and fans for sticking by us and having the patience throughout this long process we appreciate it.

I think the timing is right to now release the title of the Docco which is: If These Walls Could Talk- A Paranormal Documentary into Willow Court

Next step now is to submit the Docco to classifications before it can be officially released.

Stay tuned for our Official Trailer coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

According to the Council and  Newsnn the State’s anti-discrimination commissioner Robin Banks said there is nothing of Concern in the Willow Court Docco.

According to an article in Newsnn titled “Nothing of Concern in Video” its states “THE state’s anti-discrimination commissioner had viewed the Willow Court paranormal documentary and found nothing of concern, this month’s Derwent Valley Council meeting was told. Approved for release two months ago, the film was forwarded to the Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner following an expression of concern by her federal counterpart.

Produced by the Australian Paranormal Investigation Unit (APIU) the film documents a paranormal investigation at the Willow Court historic site. Mr Mackey said he had been advised by the council’s solicitor that there was nothing in the documentary of concern to the anti-discrimination commissioner.

Mr Mackey told the council meeting that a memorandum of understanding would be developed with APIU to document the terms of the release.”

LINK: http://www.newsnn.net/2013/04/nothing-of-concern-in-video.html

Just another example that APIU have done all that has been asked and have gone thru all due processes. Credit should be given for producing a video that by all accounts is respectful, sensitive and of no real concern to the DVC, DVC Solicitor, State Archives, and DHHS. 

Its such as shame that the 2 main opponents still cling to desperate measures to bring the docco down. However thanks must be given to them because they have inadvertently raised the profile of the docco tremendously and given it much more credibility and community and professional support.

We look forward to signing the MOU in the next few weeks with just Council!

 

http://www.newsnn.net/2013/04/matron-will-see-you-shortly.html

Quite possibly the last event in Willow Court for a number of months whilst the restoration work begins is happening on the  11th & 12th of May 2013 1pm & 3pm. The Event is presented by Derwent Valley Players - Meet the Matron - tea and charity with high tea.

Where: Willow Court Barracks, New Norfolk

Tickets are $15 per person
Book with the Derwent Valley Council

 

 

ABC Video- Shame Tim Morris thinks it can no longer be a site of world significance.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-0r4-28/royal-derwent-hospital-heritage-blunder/4655808?section=tas

ABC Blog Titled- Willow Court Paranormal doco – the ethics of archives

 

At Approximately 5:35am I was interviewed on ABC 936 Radio regarding the Willow Court Docco.

I’m not exactly used to getting up at that hour so I was a bit worried how productive my brain would be. However my brain was all right but my voice was a bit raspy I thought.

It was a real positive interview with Ryk one which I thoroughly enjoyed.

 

This is what Ryk blogged about the the ABC website-

 

“Does making a film about a place work as a kind of exorcism? New Norfolk film-maker Nick Jarvis grew up with the shadow of the local asylum making his suburb the butt of jokes and mystery.

Now he’s waiting on tenterhooks for the local council to approve a doco/paranormal investigation he’s made into Willow Court before the old asylum is transformed into a hub of arts, craft and commerce….

 

Here is the link to listen to the interview: http://blogs.abc.net.au/tasmania/2013/04/willow-court-footage-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-archivist.html

 

 

Given that the website belongs to Mark Krause one would presume he wrote this post. I’m happy to be corrected.

 

The desperate smear campaign and attack on the film makers is getting very tiring and starting to become vindictive and to be honest a little immature, when you put it into context.

 

I was alerted on Monday by a few fans on facebook that my name was mentioned in one of  their posts. www.willowcourttasmania.org   (Thanks for the support guys)

 

 

In response to what he wrote, Mark has not either listened to what Ross Latham said in the audio piece or he is hoping you won’t, as what Mark documented on his post is not what Ross said or what is overall fact. We were given the Archive piece from State Archives as a whole that included children and people in strait jackets. We along with Ross agreed to take out children and people in strait jackets in the hope we won’t offend some people.

 

Mark also mentions that’s the DVC were lured into the project by giving back 100% of the profits, when in actual fact they approved the docco filming way back in 2009 based on the MOU, and the MOU made no mention of profits either way so how were they lured by $$ ????

 

This is what was written by Mark Krause on his website.

 

Perhaps Mark should have done the adult thing and actually contacted the film makers, the DVC or me personally for clarification before making what can only be seen a smear attack, why else drag this up perhaps its jealousy?

The post that Mark is referring too was written over 2 months ago , and before APIU decided on what portion we were going to put back into Willow Court as we wanted assurances  from the DVC whatever funds we gave them would only be spent on Willow Court and not other DVC projects.

If Mark actually contacted us we would have gladly informed Mark that 100% of the profits were going back to Willow Court, if he had asked!

 

For everyone’s information Mark knows very well we are giving 100% back to Willow Court. He was at the Council meeting on the 21/2/13 where it was stated by Cr Bromfield that we were giving back 100% of the profits and this motion was carried. This has also been minuted and available for viewing on the DVC website here is the link. http://www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/21%20February%202013-2.pdf

Why would Mark drag this up when he already knows the facts?

Is Mark really working for Willow Court or out to attack those you have a different opinion?

If Mark really upholds the values and principles of Site Of Conscious then surely an act like this does not fit into their philosophy.  

The upsetting thing is my Wife who has a joint account with myself on facebook has been unfairly dragged into this by publically naming names & posting a thumbnail photo. She is currently getting legal advice from our solicitor as to how she wants to pursue the matter.

With the amount of evidential correspondence myself, Aiden and Glenn from APIU  have had from this group of people we have more than enough for legal action.

I think it’s time to grow up and move on. Everyone is equal and everyone is entitled to their opinion free from this type of vile attack and defamation.

Isn’t this part of the reason why Willow Court closed down because people should be treated with dignity and fairness, free from abuse and not discriminated against for the age, sex, gender, ability/disability, religion or beliefs.

Please Mark I request that you end this attack and type of correspondence about APIU we don’t not appreciate it, and if you need to post about APIU make sure you have all the facts or contact us directly; after all I thought your website was supposed to be factual?

 

By the way don’t for get to tune into ABC 936 tomorrow morning to listen to me being interview by Ryk Goddard regarding the Docco.

 

 

 

 

Breakfast with Ryk Goddard ABC 936

 

If you were up bright and early and listening to ABC 936 you would have heard the words Willow Court and Docco. These words were uttered around 5:30am this morning.

There was an interview with State Archive Manager Ross Latham and Ryk Goddard from ABC Radio.

Here is the link if you would like to listen, Willow Court part starts at approx 3:35 min

http://blogs.abc.net.au/files/wat—ross-latham-willow-court-footage.mp3

 

Ryk summarised the interview as this,

“ In short though it was about how the State Archivist Ross Latham dealt with the request for footage from the doco film makers, how the State archive came to have the footage in the first p lace and how they manage sensitivities of individuals vs. making records public, especially in the digital age.  He didn’t talk much about the actual footage apart from saying they’ve released no footage of children and that some of the practises that he is sure were well meaning then are pretty shocking to watch now. “

An update on the Docco, we are waiting on the letter from the Council’s Lawyer to reach the Council Chambers before its given the final approval which has already taken close to a month. Conversation with the General Manager have given the impression that its going to be approved.

 

This will be a new section on my website so that I can keep the community up to date with all the restoration and works happening over in Willow Court, Exciting times!!

The Committee and Council have approved a project plan for the Barracks precinct, which involves works at the Barracks and Bronte (mainly dealing with the external envelope of each building, one wing of each building, and landscaping and fencing works to create a defined precinct).  This work should start ‘on the ground’ fairly soon.

•  Specific details of the project plan are still being developed and discussed with stakeholders

• Some elements of the proposed works will be subject to a development application through the DVC, which will provide an opportunity for public comment

 

Sadly during this time the site will be potentially even more inaccessible than it is now, as it will be a construction site with regulatory controls over access and the like.

 

Unfortunately we can’t have it both ways; hopefully we will still be able to have a few events on site during this period.

http://www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Minutes%20-%2014%20Feb%202013.pdf

 

For anyone who is interested in getting up to speed with the latest information, update and progress on Willow Court these minutes are essential to read.

 

To view the Minutes please follow the link: http://www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/21%20February%202013-2.pdf

For anyone interested in February meeting minutes that are now available on the DVC website.

 

For me there are 2 points of interest in the minutes these are Anne Salts Question During Question, and 10.5 Willow Court Paranormal Documentary.

I will cut and past these 2 points for people to read.

 

Question Time

Anne Salt

Paranormal Documentary

“In August 2010 the Council approved a request for members of the WCWG to undertake a paranormal investigation in either Allonah or Carlton ward to make a documentary. Approval was granted subject to 4 conditions. The second condition was ‘that Council together with the WCWG committee are to have input and provide their approval of the script and video content before its release.

Approval for the documentary is listed on tonight’s Agenda. The FOWC have not been advised that the documentary was completed and therefore have not provided input or comment before its release.

What has stopped Council from fulfilling condition two set out in the motion in August 2010?

The General Manager advised that this matter is on the Agenda for tonight’s meeting.

 

The Personal Information Protection Principles and Antidiscrimination legislation need to apply to any decisions made about the content of the paranormal documentary.

What steps have Council taken to seek expert advice on these matters?

The General Manager advised that this matter is on the Agenda for tonight’s meeting

 

 

10.5 WILLOW COURT PARANORMAL DOCUMNETARY

Report To: Council

Author: General Manager

Qualified Officer: General Manager

 

Introduction and Purpose

The purpose of this report is to obtain approval from Council for some members of the Willow Court and Barracks Working Group Special Committee to undertake a paranormal investigation of either the Alonnah or Carlton Ward.

 

Strategic Plan

S3 To encourage the development of local sporting, cultural and artistic activities.

 

Discussion

The Willow Court and Barracks Working Group Special Committee have advised that three members of their committee have discussed at the committee level their request to undertake a paranormal investigation of either Alonnah or Carlton Ward and to make a documentary video recording of the investigation for future display and possible sale.

 

The Working Group has given in principle approval of the project subject to the following conditions:

1. Council giving its approval for them to remain in the building overnight for up

to three nights to undertake the investigation; and

2. The Willow Court and Barracks Working Group Special Committee having final approval of the script and video before it is released. The Working Group also advised that the building to be used for the paranormal investigation is Alonnah and they need approval to stay overnight for up to three nights. There are things that Council would need more information on and these issues are as follows:

1. The qualifications of the persons undertaking the investigation.

2. The persons undertaking the investigations would also require appropriate insurances.

3. Council may also wish to be involved in the final approval of the script and video content before its release.

4. Assurances that the footage not used for the documentary is either destroyed, or approval must be sought from the Working Group and or Council for it use at a later time.

5. It may also be prudent for all the above conditions to be included in a contract signed by all parties.

 

Since this time the Paranormal Documentary Team have shown the video to some members of the Willow Court and Barracks Working Group Special Committee and Councillors.

 

The Documentary has been scrutinised by the State Archivist in regard to the contents of the documentary. There has also been some discussion in regard to the MOU for the Willow Court and Barracks Working Group Special Committee, and the view that they do not wish to be liable for the release of the documentary.

This committee was only an advisory committee when it was formed and recommendation from them was to be the subject of a report to Council. On that basic it would be Council that made the decision in regard to the release of the documentary.

 

Some members of the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee were concerned in regard to the content in the video this as stated above was the subject of a review by the State Archivist and his approval for its release has been given.

 

Consultations That Have Taken Place

(a) The Community

Not Applicable

(b) Experts

Not Applicable

(c) Stakeholders

 

Willow Court and Barracks Working Group Special Committee and Derwent Valley Councillors and Staff Proposed Community Consultation, Public Relations and Media Issues

That if approved by Council the Mayor and the Paranormal Documentary Team undertake a joint media release in regard to the availability of the video. Derwent Valley Council Council

 

Budget/Financial Issues

Not Applicable

Policy Implications

Not applicable

Recommendation

Decision: 32/13

Date: 21/2/13

 

File: Willow Court

Moved: Cr Lester

Seconded: Cr Shoobridge

That Council Authorise the release of the Willow Court Paranormal Documentary as provided to all Councillors in February 2013.

 

Amended Motion

Decision: 33/13

Date: 21/2/13

File: Willow Court

Moved: Cr Bromfield

Seconded: Cr Bester

1. That Council authorises the release of the Willow Court Paranormal

Documentary as provided to all Councillors in February 2013, subject to the

viewing of the documentary by Councils Solicitor.

2. That the Council recognises APIU as the creator and owner of the Willow Court Documentary “If these walls could talk” and gratefully acknowledges APIU’s offer to contribute 100% of the net proceeds of the sale of the DVD copies of the film to the Willow Court fund for the period of 18 months followed by a review.

 

THE AMENDED MOTION WAS PUT AND CARRIED

Record of Voting

• Cr Evans For

• Cr Lester For

• Cr Lathey Against • Cr Shoobridge For

• Cr Bromfield For

• Cr Nicholson Against

• Cr Shaw For

• Cr Bester For

• Cr Graham For Derwent Valley Council

Council Meeting Minutes

21 February 2013

 

THE AMENDED MOTION BECAME THE

MOTION WHICH WAS PUT AND CARRIED

Record of Voting

• Cr Evans For

• Cr Lester For

• Cr Lathey Against • Cr Shoobridge For

• Cr Bromfield For

• Cr Nicholson Against

• Cr Shaw For

• Cr Bester For

• Cr Graham For

 

 

Last night I was given the honour of having an exclusive look at the tunnel.

It was truly an amazing experience to see it in the flesh after all these years.

I cannot give details on where the tunnel shaft is at but can tell you more will be revealed on its location and its future in the coming weeks.

This section of the Tunnel has a lot of silt at the bottom; however some minor work has taken place already to remove part of it.

Given they have not fully removed all the silt it’s had to get an accurate measurement of the tunnel. It was estimated that the Tunnel would be about 5ft tall and only as wide for a single person. But these measurements will change.

The Tunnel shaft itself would be at least 5-6 metres from ground level to tunnel bottom. You can see in the pics the bricks change from top to bottom as the location at one stage was covered over with landfill by at least 4ft.

Keep watching this page for more info, as I will reveal the location and the tunnel shafts future in the coming weeks!!!

To view larger versions of the pictures please click on the below links or click on the photos:

 

Please note these photos are taken looking down the shaft, the arches to the tunnel can be seen at the top and bottom of photo.

Tunnel Facing Barracks- http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn295/jarvo_325/TunnelBarracks_zps6354462f.jpg

Tunnel Facing Derwent-  http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn295/jarvo_325/Tunnel-Derwent_zps876f4ab8.jpg