Anindita Chatterjee
Updated on: October 16, 2024 12:31 pm GMT
In a surprising find, a Dunedin woman uncovered a hidden piece of history while cleaning her basement. Kirsty Sangster came across two ornate portraits believed to date back to post-World War I, stashed among debris beneath her home.
A Family’s Hidden Legacy
Kirsty Sangster had long intended to renovate her Art Deco home in Every Street, Dunedin. While clearing out the basement, she stumbled upon these portraits, which she describes as “big and ornamental” pieces, suggesting they once held significant importance for the family that owned them.
“I was looking for any identifying features,” Ms. Sangster explained. However, all she found was a barely readable photographer’s signature. This lack of identification prompted her to turn to social media in hopes that someone could recognize the faces within the frames.
- Location: Every Street, Andersons Bay
- Era of Portraits: Post-World War I
- Findings: Two ornate family portraits
“They were shoved right up into the footings of the house sitting on the gravel,” she recounted. The discovery excited her, especially since her other finds during the renovation included only a broken scooter and leftover rubbish.
Now residing in St. Clair, Ms. Sangster expressed her desire to connect the portraits with the family they once belonged to. “If nobody turns up, I might just think of them as long-lost great-aunts and uncles,” she mused.
Seeking Connections
As she continues her quest, Ms. Sangster hopes that someone will identify the people in the portraits. “I really hope someone goes, ‘Oh, I know those people, that’s uncle so and so,’” she said.
While the portraits currently remain unclaimed, their rediscovery adds depth to Dunedin’s history. Ms. Sangster’s chance find raises questions about the stories hidden within the city’s older homes.
Vital Healthcare’s Offer for Dunedin Hospital
Meanwhile, a different kind of drama is unfolding in Dunedin regarding the future of the city’s hospital. After facing significant cost overruns, the government is considering a revised plan for the Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment Project.
A private firm, Vital Healthcare Property Trust, has expressed willingness to assist with this struggling project. Already housing several small health facilities leased to the government, Vital possesses extensive resources, estimating their assets to be valued in the billions.
Aaron Hockly, the fund manager from Vital, indicated the possibility of breaking the project into smaller stages. “We could certainly look at breaking up part of this project, acquiring part of it and leasing that back to the government for a very long term,” Hockly noted.
- Company: Vital Healthcare Property Trust
- Estimate of Assets: Several billion dollars
- Proposal: Break project into stages to manage costs
The government, reevaluating its approach, could significantly benefit from Vital’s experience with effective construction practices. Hockly elaborated, “There’d be a whole range of contractual projections for the state, and essentially they would pay us rent.”
Although Vital cannot take on a billion-dollar project, it could manage increments up to $100 million. Hockly hinted that other players might collaborate with them to tackle the redevelopment more efficiently.
Implications for Dunedin’s Healthcare
Dunedin Hospital has been a vital part of community health for years. The ongoing issues with the project have sparked conversations about future healthcare delivery in the region.
With rising costs and the need for a solution to manage these difficulties, the government’s strategy will have lasting implications for residents. As discussions progress, the community waits to see how these developments might affect healthcare services in the future.
Conclusion
Both the hidden family portraits found in Dunedin’s floorboards and the ongoing saga of the hospital redevelopment reflect how history intertwines with present-day concerns. Kirsty Sangster’s discovery cherishes forgotten family stories waiting to be told, while Vital Healthcare’s involvement could reshape local healthcare for generations to come.
These stories help us remember the history around us and show how important it is to connect with our community. Whether it’s through family members we haven’t seen in a long time or the public services we rely on, these connections matter a lot.
