The photo album
The team at Ultimate Care Cambridge Oakdale in Leamington want to close the book on a Trans-Tasman mystery.
Cambridge Oakdale facility manager Lezani Meyer, standing, and administrator Jaye Hopper are anxious to find the album’s owner. Photo: Viv Posselt
They are looking for anyone who might be connected to an old red photograph album found during a clear-out of their administration offices.
The album is in good repair and is filled with black and white family-oriented images – many taken in Australia – taken around the 1950s.
Facility manager Lezani Meyer said judging by where it was found at the aged-care home, it must have belonged to a former resident rather than a staff member.
“If it had been discovered during a clean-out in a room, we would have had some idea of where to start looking, but it was found during a clean-out in our admin area,” she said. “We have absolutely no clues as to whose album it was.”
Just some of the many family photographs – most of them from the 1950s – that are included in the album. Photo: Viv Posselt
The clear-out was done a couple of years ago. Early last year, Lezani started posting messages and photographs of the images in the album on social media, but nobody has come forward.
“I’m hoping that we will reach more people by getting something in the paper. Maybe someone will recognise some of the names or places in it.”
On the inside cover is the name ‘A. Hirst – 1951’. Neatly-written names, places and dates accompany some of the pictures. Among them is a Ruth Helmsby, and Bill Gilchrist, Mike Landseer and first names including Les, Ariel, Val and Bob. Photographs are mostly of places in Australia and Tasmania. Melbourne, Hazelwood Park, Waterfall Gully, Beaumont, Hobart, Launceston, Barmere East, Milang and Tanunda Camp are just some of the names.
Lezani is keen for the album to find its family. “We really don’t know what to do with it if we can’t … but we don’t want to throw it out.”
• Do you have a clue? Email editor@goodlocal.nz
The well-preserved photograph album discovered during a clear-out at Cambridge Oakdale. Photo: Viv Posselt
