Author Archive

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/161043191624?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Want to purchase a piece of New Norfolk’s history containing rare image of the Clock Tower at (Hospital for the Insane) Willow Court, if so here your chance bit it ends TODAY 8:48pm.

I haven’t seen one of these before!

1908 5 VIEWS OF NEW NORFOLK TASMANIA POSTCARD

HOSPITAL OF THE INSANE,

BRIDGE NEW NORFOLK

RIVER DERWENT NEW NORFOLK

CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEW NORFOLK

NEW NORFOLK TOWNSHIP

UNUSED

CARD IS FADED, CORNER WEAR, GRUBBY BACK

 

 

 

 

 

David Llewellyn- Expressions of interest for work on Bronte, The Barracks and Landscaping around the Barracks are progressing.

Once project participants are selected work will commence, some work on the restoration of windows in the Bronte building has already begun and new underground power and water has been installed with the new lighting down the avenue now operating.

A monthly account of the work of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee can be found on the Derwent Valley Council website where the WCCSC minutes once approved are posted.

 

The Willow Court Steps….

 

 

Restoration work has finally begun in Bronte, great news!!!!!!!!!

For more info visit: http://www.newsnn.net/2013/06/heritage-partners-start-on-bronte.html

 

 

Some people have raised the question recently what are the planned storage containers for?

The DVC Planning approval to install storage containers between Frescati and the Lachlan River is for part of the community garden project. If approved they will go down on the flats below the house, to be used mainly for storage.

The application has been advertised in the Mercury and it is a requirement that a notice be posted near the site also. The purpose of the notice is to let people know they can look at the plans at the council chambers and then make representations if they wish.

 

Today I found a short clip called “Asylum Teaser…” on youtube.

WARNING the theme of this clip is like something out of a horror movie, so if you don’t like it please don’t watch. 

Willow Court is infamous for its long and detailed Paranormal History and is often referred to as one of Australia’s most haunted sites and this video seems to draw upon this.

Take a look for yourself

 

 

 

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