The Archaeology Students from Flinders University have been busy updating and expanding the artifact list from the remaining artifacts. Some cross referencing is occurring with older catalogues and hopefully we will have a definitive list. The students are going through the recorded data and will present the work back as a finished catalogue as part of their assessment requirements in approximately a months time. Here are some of the pictures of the students laboriously sorting through and recording each item last week. One of the earlier lists was called the 1996 Inventory of Historical Items and there are some remaining items on that list that are recorded in the 2014 list. It is hoped that the artifacts can be used to tell the story and the history and serve as a tactile reminder of our past. Item are still being donated back to the hospital which will be included and recorded. Many items are still out in the community and each time this is discussed we are seeing more memorabilia appearing. Some of this was purchased at the large garage sales when Willow Court closed and there are many stories of items being taken in the last days and months of the institution’s life. I was believed that there were two oil painting of some considerable size and value that once were the property of the hospital. It is hoped that some of that held in private hands will somehow make its way back to Willow Court and will be managed by the Derwent Valley Council.
