Tasmanian Premier the Honourable Lara Giddings MHA opened artist Christina Henri’s Roses from the Heart(R) display today at the Oatlands Supreme Court Museum as part of the town’s eleventh Spring Festival.

Rowena McDougall the Manager of the Museum and Christina Henri greeted the Premier and Rowena welcomed all the guests on behalf of the Southern Midlands Council. Those attending included , the Honourable Lara Giddings, the Honourable Michael Polley, the Honourable Rebecca White, the Mayor of Southern Midlands Tony Bisdee and Mrs. Bisdee, the Deputy Mayor John Jones and Mrs. Jones, Councillors Alex Green, Don Fish and Mark Jones the Principal of Oatlands District High School Mr. Geoff Williamson and student representatives, distinguished guests, members of the Southern Midlands community and members of the broader community including David and Anne Kernke, custodians of the heritage colonial property, Shene.

The following is a small part of the welcome presented by Rowena McDougall.

‘The vision for the Oatlands Supreme Court House is about Sense of Place: that it be a place for interpretation and of experience. A place that people can contribute to, and be a part of; a living place in the cultural fabric of Oatlands; a place that contributes to a greater understanding of the role of heritage in the fabric of contemporary life and its role in forming community & individual identity.

The Oatlands contribution to the Roses from the Heart® commemorates some of the female convicts who lived and worked and served their time in Oatlands, as well as female convict ancestors of people who have a connection to Oatlands or surrounding districts today.

In her speech the Premier paid tribute to all Indigenous Australians, then gave specific mention to the tribes that once traversed the land Oatlands now occupies.  Mention was made of a recent visit the Premier had to the National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) owned property, Clarendon House, in Evandale where she saw the quarters  designed specifically for assigned convict servants. The Premier complimented Christina Henri on her convict related art, Roses from the Heart® and agreed how important it is to remember the contribution convict women made to the colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. Reference was made to the manner in which Roses from the Heart® personalises the women’s stories and values their identity by individually naming the 25,566. To date Christina has received over 20,066 bonnets.

Christina Henri thanked the Premier for the bonnet tribute that she contributed towards making for convict lass Selina Turner who spent time at Oatlands. A special thank you to Rowena McDougall for her excellent organising of the event. Also thank you to Brad Williams Manager of the Heritage Programs Section of the Southern Midlands Council, Alan Townsend, Researcher, and Karen Bramich Project Officer.

Christina extends her thanks to all the participants who have made bonnets for Roses from the Heart® and to the following people whose bonnets are on display over the next month at the Oatlands Supreme Court Museum:

Amelia Kenny, Angie Howard, Brad Williams, David Huntley, Erica Norgrove, Evalyn Curtis, Jennie Hansen, Jo Bain, Karen Bramich, Kay Harman, Lynn Bennett, Pat Birchall, Rowena Jo Butler, Sharyn Rawnsley, Suzanne Palmer and the Premier  the Hon Lara Giddings MHA and  Jess Radford, Deputy Chief of Staff, who created Selena Turner’s bonnet tribute.

Oatlands convict heritage is definitely worth visiting and the Roses from the Heart® display at the Supreme Court Museum is a bonus. Stories of the convict women accompany the bonnets they commemorate.