The story spread across the internet today and was picked up by news services around the country. In the late afternoon, Statewide Evenings radio host Annie Warburton announced she would be discussing the council's plan with sceptical investigator Peter Barrett who had heard the news in Canberra. But by the time the segment went to air, the ABC had been tipped off that its story was flawed.
Ms Warburton introduced Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans who said no ratepayer funds were being spent on a hunt for ghosts. He said the council had approved the request of three men wanting to "go in and have a look to see what was there." Councillor Evans said the council had imposed strict restrictions on what would be included in a documentary the three researchers proposed to produce.
Sceptical investigator Peter Barrett then came on the line from Canberra, where he had picked up the story today. Having heard the mayor's comments, Mr Barrett said the council seemed to have adopted a responsible attitude. Ms Warburton then made a "slight mea culpa on behalf of the ABC" and noted that the item aired on Saturday's 7pm television news had been titled "Council hires real-life ghostbusters" and that this was incorrect.
The news item can be viewed here.
 |
| An image from the ABC TV report |
LOL bit of a muck up!!
ReplyDeleteAny publicity around Willow Court is good publicity IMO. We had over 1000 hits yesturday and has sparked a lot of healthy interest in the site world wide.
Not sure about the any publicity comment @Jarvo but it is a bit rude that council let this whole thing blow up from Saturday until Tuesday! What are the councillors/management doing for goodness sake?????
ReplyDeleteRose
Hey Rose, would your care to elaborate on why you’re not sure about increasing publicity for Willow Court???
ReplyDelete@ROSE ... i say that it is rude, ignorant and disgusting that people want to let this amazing piece of Australian history become reduced to a pile of rubble!
ReplyDeleteOk so there are families who do not want people knowing that family members were there - just like people are embarassed to admit and dont want people to know that they have convict family history at Port Arthur, but look what is happening there - yet willow court pre-dates that site.
I commend APIU on what they are doing and wish them all the success that they deserve and more.
Hopefully this will lead to the restoration and preservation of willow court/rdh and stop all the demolition that is currently occuring.
@jarvo and you are right - any publicity is great publicity wether it is good or bad - there are always going to be people out there with small minds who will want to drag you down .. stay ontop of them and let their words help your group grow and make your group stronger. I think it is wonderful, interesting and amazing what you guys are doing .. wish more people had the balls to get out there and do it instead of being so scared as to what they might find!
great work!
Thanks Anonymous !!!!!
ReplyDelete