Willow Court Advocacy Group Web Site Launch

Today we launched the Willow Court Advocacy Groups Website. We believe that this will complement our Internet presence with Facebook and allow people to understand why we would like Willow Court Tasmania to become a Site of Conscience. We are still constructing some sections and will be adding to this on a regular basis. We hope that the ONLY authorised website www.willowcourt.org.au will be up and running soon and we fully support that site, which we hope will educate people about Willow Court and it’s history. If you wish to contribute anything to this site please contact me through the “contact us” tab or visit us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/willowcourttasmania/

Cheers

Mark Krause

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SAC needs you!

‎15 secs in front of the camera – SAC needs you! – 14-16 August
This looks very cool and we reckon should check it out – to either get in front of the camera or watch these guys create their impressive film work with community.
Back to Back Theatre’s The Democratic Set has toured cities and festivals around the world, giving people just like you, the opportunity to explore the idea of democracy; the belief that all people are in principle equal, and should enjoy equal social, political and economic rights and opportunities.
PUBLIC NEEDED FOR FILMING – BE A PART OF THE PROJECT
You can get involved and spend 15 seconds in front of the camera expressing your ideas of democracy.
You don’t need to prepare a performance, just consider ‘democracy’ and bring any props you might like to use. You will have 20 minutes working with Back to Back Theatre company to explore your ideas before stepping into their purpose built set to perform for 15 seconds to camera.
FILMING IN HOBART (SECRET LOCATION)
Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 August 2012

To register your interest to be a part of this free film project, please email your name, address and contact number to Jaspa at info@salarts.org.au

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Tasmania Disability Lobby

Quote: Tasmania Disability Lobby July 22 at 6:19pm · ..   we never use the term “people with A disability”. We use the term, people living with disability. Disability in this sense supports what academics call, ‘the social model of disability’. This is a ‘rights-based’ agenda. Therefore, to make it simple – disability is not something individuals have. What individuals have are body function limitations (or extraordinariness!). “Disability” is a process. The process of legislation, law-making, policy formulation, which forgets to include those of us with illness or body function limitations. ‘Disability’ is the racism in policy – whereby one group who design the world we live in, forget to include those with illness or body differences.

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Castlebeck View

As a lot of people on here would already know about the abuse at Castlebeck View in the UK, It’s a story that I have been following and it makes me wonder if we have come far in supporting People with Disabilities. How can a Profit making organisation be allow to become so disconnected from their very purpose, is it because they have grown so big or is it because training is a cost best saved for the shareholder? Paul Brosnan, the 35-year-old chairman of Castlebeck and son of Denis Brosnan, resigned earlier this month in the wake of the closure of Winterbourne View.” “It employs 2,100 people, providing care for 580 service users at 56 facilities nationwide.” Why so big? http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/28/castlebeck-treatment-residents-serious-concerns-watchdog

“Professor Jim Mansell, the author of the government’s policy on disability care, said: “The staff don’t think that these are human beings just like them otherwise they wouldn’t be able to do what they’re doing. This is the worst kind of institutional care, it’s the kind of thing that was prevalent in the 60s.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8549228/BBC-Panorama-care-home-investigation-four-arrested.html

It is good to see justice taking its course, but what are the long term implications for such large organisations, is profit making the way of the future? The full documentary will be in the Clarence TasTAFE Library after the court has finished with the footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb4neckH9Gk

Cheers
Mark

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Trove

Direct site for more history of Willow Court and surounding areas for those who are reseaching.

Willow Court, New Norfolk  Tasmania – Lists – Trove

trove.nla.gov.au

Trove: Find and get Australian resources. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more.
Cheers
Mark
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The Gristle in the Stew

Around the world we have to come to grips with what we have done in our history, by what we did or what we didn’t do as a community. This call to admit past wrongs is such a common call and all the more reason to have our own Willow Court declared a Site of Conscience. How can we move forward without due reconciliation with the past? How can we “do no more harm” unless there are lessons learnt from past errors? This documentary is from the ABC’s 360 program.

The Gristle in the Stew

www.abc.net.au

Parents of developmentally disabled children in the Province of Ontario, Canada, placed their children in state run institutions thinking they were getting the best
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THE new Willow Court Conservation Committee

Llewellyn committee meets
THE new Willow Court Conservation Committee had held its first meeting and would soon call for community representation, general manager Stephen Mackey told a Derwent Valley Council workshop on Thursday night. Mr Mackey said the main business of the informal gathering had been to consider terms of reference for the new committee. The committee is expected to be formally established at the council’s June meeting. Those at the initial committee meeting were Mr Llewellyn, mayor Martyn Evans, state government representative Michelle Moseley and architect Paul Lan. Also in attendance was the chairman of the Tasmanian Heritage Council, Dianne Snowden. … Mr Mackey said Mr Llewellyn would soon be asking the Friends of Frescati Committee and the Willow Court and Barracks Working Group to each put forward three nominations for potential community representatives on his committee. http://www.newsnn.net/See More

New Norfolk NEWS

www.newsnn.net

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Great news for Willow Court

Great news for Willow Court…. the Derwent Valley Council has today been advised that they have been successful in receiving a $300000 grant that they will match dollar for dollar.  The grant is for installation of power, security, toilets and some other work.

Anne Salt

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