Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
AUTUMN FESTIVAL OPEN DAY CANCELED
March 29th, 2012 | 
Author:
Yes its true, the committee met today and it was decided to cancel the open day due to lack of assistance and public safety. I didn’t attend the meeting so I do not know specifics. Very disapointing.
Next one is planned for the 6th May during Heritage Tas Week.
Posted in 
Ward F Demolotion Update
This info was taken from News NN
http://www.newsnn.net/2012/03/demolition-updates.html
The F Ward demolition at Willow Court is entering its fourth week despite contamination concerns. General manager Stephen Mackey told this month’s council meeting nothing would be salvageable.
“Very sad sight/site, but a really powerful picture. I bet there will be some pretty upset and frustrated ppl that will attend the Open Day for the Autumn Festival and see whats left of Ward F and now Banjos, Chew Chews & Sintoinic.”
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK- David Condon
This weeks photos of the week comes from David Condon. These photos and many more have been taken on numeours occasions over the past month or so. David is a volunteer for the Willow Court & Barracks Working Group and helped out at the last working bee.
Thanks for the Photos David.
ABC RADIO- Willow Court – should it be saved, or let to fall into ruin ?
ABC RADIO 936
Well worth a listen, some perspectives on weather WCC is worth saving??
The answer is YES YES YES!!!!!!!
“Another fire at the historic Willow Court and Barracks in New Norfolk has again raised the issue of whether the complex once the site of the Royal Derwent Hospital – should be saved or left to fall down.”
“Simon Rolfe, Vice President of the Willow Court and Barracks Working Group says there appears to be little real interest from key parties in putting money and action into retaining the complex as an historic site.”
* simon-rolfe
“Historian Peter McFie, who worked previously at Port Arthur, told Leon the site has national and international significance. “
* peter-mcfie
AUTUMN FESTIVAL- WILLOW COURT OPEN DAY
Willow Court & Barracks Working Group will be holding another Open Day this year during the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival 1 April 2012.
Members form the working group will be in attendance to assist with any enquires and to provide some breif gudided tours where ever possible.
This is from the Derwent Valley Council Website
Forestry Tasmania
Derwent Valley Autumn Festival
Sunday 1 April 2012
9.00am – 4.00pm
The Esplanade, New Norfolk
Now the largest event in the Derwent Valley, the Festival includes free non-stop entertainment for the whole family. Around 600 entertainers across five stages including bands, dancers, singers and choirs.
Over 100 stalls including local fine food and wine, arts, crafts and produce, plus a variety of special displays provide something for the whole family.
Ride on our FREE shuttle bus from Tynwald Park to the Esplanade.
FREE ENTRY - FREE ENTERTAINMENT - FREE PARKING - FREE SHUTTLE BUS
ABC RADIO- More on Willow Court as Council seeks talks on funding.
ABC 936 HOBART
http://blogs.abc.net.au/tasmania/2012/03/more-on-willow-court-as-council-seeks-talks-on-funding.html
06/03/2012 , 10:52 AM by Sarah Gillman
Following yesterday’s discussion, Leon caught up with Willow Court’s only resident Mario Cortes, and Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans.
Mario Cortes bought part of the Willow Court complex with plans to turn it into an international college. He told Leon the economic climate has prevented him progressing the plan, but says something needs to be done to ensure the complex doesn’t fall down or isn’t destroyed.
Listen here- mario-cortes
Meanwhile, the Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans rejects claims the Council has let the complex fall into disrepair.
Listen here- martyn-evans
MOLOTOV COCKTAILS!!
Hmmm it seem our suspicions have been right.
In today’s Mercury 5/3/12 there is an article about the fire in Ward F. The article stated that TAS FIRE has found several Molotov Cocktails, and one un-ignited one in Ward G. They stated it seem the arsonist intended to burn the surrounding Wards. Pretty suss!
The Mayor stated that the DVC will be erecting a fence and increasing security.
As you can see in one of the pic they have fenced off the Oval Wards around Ward F, G and also the red staircase into Ward E.
Unfortunatly Ward D is still accessible.
These pics taken today.
Willow Court Ward F Fire & Demolition Video
Arson suspected at Willow Court- ABC
This makes me so angry! 12 fires in 12 months!!! come on
Twelve years its been closed and abounded with no fencing however Hours after the fire there was a fence put around Ward F (probably by the contractors) but this is a kick in the guts. Yes the Ward was dangerous after the fire but it was dangerous before the fire too. That was a kick in the guts in my opinion.
Something needs to be done now, the authorities and owners can no longer keep their heads in the sand, they are responsible!
Willow Court has so much tourism potential and would easily rival Port Arthur, however if buildings keep being destroyed one by one all we will be left with is a few Wards surrounded by maccas, supermarkets and housing. Taking that into account even if tourist took an interest in what’s left of the site it would take 20mins to walk around and then they will be on their way to spend their cash elsewhere.
Willow Court is not invincible its slowly vanishing and once its gone its gone forever.
Fire in F Ward
News Reports of the devestating fire in Ward F (Franklin House 1937)
Bloody shame the authorities should be ashamed of themselves, Its time for action!!!
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/03/04/306311_tasmania-news.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-04/20120304-fire-destroys-part-of-historic-hospital/3867594?section=tas
http://www.newsnn.net/2012/03/willow-court-fire-update.html
http://www.newsnn.net/2012/03/heritage-lost-to-fire.html
Remember the Children Booklet
I heard about this project back in 2010 when I was working as a Service Coordinator at Disability Services. There was a flyer in our lunch room where they were calling on people to share their stories aboutWillow Court.
Recently I heard that Nation Disability Services Tasmania (NDS) were close to finishing the booklet. I therefore contacted NDS and introduced who I was and what I have been doing for Willow Courtthru my past & current involvement with the Willow Court Committee, Disability Services and www.royalderwent.com
I was given Stage 1 of the booklet to share with the rest of the world. It’s a really a great and powerful read and depicts some pretty horrible stories but also some good.
This is only stage 1 of an ongoing project thru NDS
If you would like to contact the publisher NDS here is some contact details.
Margaret Reynolds – Mobile: 0418 181 843 or email: MR01@utas.edu.au
Below is the link to the booket. Please keep clicking the link untill it appears
John Woodcock Graves “D’ye ken John Peel” (Former Patient of Lachlan Park)
Graves, John Woodcock (1795–1886)
John Woodcock Graves (1795-1886), by unknown photographer
I came across this the other day, I did not know of this person so I did a google search. It seems like this guy was a pretty “famous” patient for Lachlan Park in the day.John Woodcock Graves (9 February 1795 – 17 August 1886) was a composer and author of “D’ye ken John Peel”.
Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, State Library of Tasmania, AUTAS001125645390
John Woodcock Graves (1795-1886), composer, was born on 9 February 1795 at Wigton, Cumberland, England, son of Joseph Graves, plumber, glazier and ironmonger, and his wife Ann, née Matthews. His father died in 1803 leaving nothing but debts, and John had little schooling. At 14 in Cockermouth he was apprenticed to his uncle George, painter of coach signs. John learned to use brush and pen but attributed his best education to an old bachelor, Joseph Falder: ‘He fixed in me a love of truth and bent my purpose to pursue it’. Fond of drawing and painting, Graves at one time hoped to study art; later he painted several portraits in oils. About 1815 he completed his apprenticeship, left Cockermouth and acquired interests in a carding mill at Caldbeck. Later he became interested in coal-mining in West Scotland and neglected the woollen mill. His connexion with it ended in blows and a lawsuit which he lost. At Caldbeck he had met the farmer, horse-dealer and huntsman, John Peel (1776-1854), with whom he spent much time. One evening in 1824 Graves wrote impromptu the five verses ‘D’ye ken John Peel?’ and sang them to the old Cumberland rant of ‘Bonnie Annie’. The song quickly became famous and as its author Graves is best remembered. After Peel’s death he wrote ‘Monody on John Peel’ and ‘At the Grave of John Peel’.
In 1834 Graves left for Van Diemen’s Land in the Strathfieldsay with his wife and six children as assisted immigrants and some £10 in cash. He tried various occupations, was granted 640 acres (259 ha) on Bruny Island and in September 1835 applied for the post of keeper of the proposed lighthouse on South Bruny. In May 1836 he advertised himself as willing to repair, paint and varnish carriages, paint portraits and heraldic devices and undertake japanning, plumbing and glazing. In 1837 he sought an official appointment to report on coal-mines at Port Arthur; in May he asked the lieutenant-governor for help in opening a slate quarry at Davey River and in June for employment as a lithographer. In 1842, after detention at the government asylum in New Norfolk for apparent insanity, he went to New Zealand where he studied flax-growing, invented a machine to improve the preparation of flax and attempted to evolve a better weaving loom. He returned to Hobart Town about 1845. Erratic and eccentric, he lived on Satellite Island with his son Joseph, with whom he carried on ‘a very fierce war’. In 1856 he was described as ‘a most violent and dangerous person and certainly unfitted to be at large’.
Graves married twice. His first wife, Jane Atkinson of Rosley, Cumberland, died within a year of marriage. Four years later he married Abigail Porthouse. Of their eight children, the eldest, John Woodcock, became a successful lawyer in Tasmania, and Joseph owned large timber mills at Southport. For some years Graves lived with John at Caldew in Cavell Street, West Hobart, but Joseph was his mainstay in later life. Graves died at Hobart on 17 August 1886 and was buried in the Queenborough cemetery. In 1958 a memorial was erected in St David’s Park.
To listen to the song here is 2 links:
Uk Millitary March (John Peel) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Y6TlZ7uLk&feature=related
Song version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfMgy00_UgI&feature=related
Small Excerpt from- Forgotten Australians: A report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/report/c04.htm
4.89 A number of submissions reported people being placed in mental homes for what was apparently a form of punishment for misbehaviour such as running away, refusing to work or perform chores or arguing with Sisters or staff. The use of drugs to pacify children for what may now be considered high spirited or adolescent behaviour was also common and is referred to in the previous section. The use of such institutions for adolescent children is unjustifiable and the impact that it had upon them incalculable.
At the age of 12, I was taken to theLachlan Park Asylum…
I used to look after the little kids in this place. I’ll never forget the ones with encephalitis – there were about 6 or 7 of them – with their swollen heads just lying in their cots waiting to die. There were also 5 girls in there who were just vegetables, 3 were sisters…Once I remember the nurses putting hot water bottles on them without covers on them and they got bad burns. There were also 25 little Downs Syndrome children who would be taken out of their beds each morning and strapped onto potty chairs where they stayed all day until they were bathed in the afternoon and put back to bed. They weren’t allowed to walk or run around…
As the children’s ward was not locked, I decided to escape one day, but I didn’t know how to get out. I remember it being freezing cold and the nurses found me before I could get out. They took me back to the children’s ward and gave me a tablet, which I spat out. Later they came back and told me to get dressed, and they then took me to another ward where I could hear lots of screaming. This was where they kept the ‘real crazies’. They put me in a cell with a small peephole in the door. I was so scared I couldn’t sleep. (Sub 182)
New Norfolk News- Reader’s letter – Willow Court
This letter from LEN W. LANGAN was in last weeks Derwent Valley Gazette.
This article is taken from New Norfolk News
I perosnally agree with most of the articles comments but not about the demolition. Royal Derwent has been demolished but what good did that do for the site????
Willow Court – A jewel within a jewel
“ONE expresses a northern dweller’s view of New Norfolk as a many faceted sparkling gemstone set in our island state. It is redolent with the charm of our history. Sadly the institutional bodies responsible for the preservation of our historic built heritage have never taken it seriously enough to preserve or promote it as a major tourist attraction. Still less have they fought for the funding necessary to save its iconic jewels for our nation.
The National Trust of Tasmania once visited New Norfolk, nodded appreciatively and as usual did nothing to assist the local community whatsoever. The Heritage Council made a point of stirring up clouds of artificial dust objecting to red awnings in Hobart but has virtually ignored one of our most “significant” architectural treasures. Yes, one points to “Willow Court” – a glorious Georgian building that actually pre-dates Port Arthur – now sadly enclosed in a wired-up inaccessible compound, its sad neglected state bringing a lump to one’s throat.
One observes that it is easier to stir up clouds of pointless dust about the restoration of a city building from the comfort of an office a few yards down the road, giving the impression that something is being done, rather than actually doing something important to preserve our heritage. When you collect piles of dust on outdated policy manuals a puff of wind will cloud every issue, extend publicity, and satisfy the community at large than someone is looking after the important issues. “
To read the full article please click on the following link: http://www.newsnn.net/2012/02/readers-letter-willow-court.html#comment-form
Royal Derwent.com, APIU and anyone interested in Paranormal at Willow Court will be under the spotlight!
Royal Derwent.com, APIU and anyone interested in Paranormal at Willow Court will be under the spotlight at the next meeting.
I received this in my inbox this morning from the secretary of the Willow Court & Barracks Working Group WC&BWG.
“All councillors are invited to attend the WC&BWG meeting on 9 February at 7pm. Attending the meeting will be two teachers in Disability at Polytechnic who will talk about their interest in Willow Courtand the importance of it to Disability students, their concerns with the information on the WC paranormal website on Disability students”
I have a lot of thoughts about this which I won’t get into cause I will be here all day. I just hope that they have done their research about who we are, how we operate in regard to Willow Court in general and the paranormal.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK- Scott Marshall
Received this comment on my website by Scott Marshall
“Hi Nick,
At last April’s open day I just happened to be driving past and went and had a look at C Block. What an amazing place and history… I organised through the Working Group to be able to visit privately and took a heap of photos.
Finally I’ve processed just some of them and uploaded to Flickr. Feel free to link to the photos / Flickr.
Am also keen to visit any of the other buildings, anyone else keen?”
Thanks Scott
Here is Scott’s links to his Flickr Album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52423468@N04/
