St John receives share of $750,000 bequest

Seven Oamaru groups will benefit by more than $750,000 from the estate of former Oamaru auctioneer and real estate agent Percival Mulligan, who died in 1985.

The first distribution of $500,000 has been made, three North Otago Organisations - the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, Waitaki Heritage Fund and Waitaki District Council - each receiving $125,000.

The fourth recipient was the Order of St John national headquarters, which also received $125,000.

About $400,000 is expected to be distributed in the future in equal shares to four other North Otago organisations.

Mr Mulligan's daughter, Eleanor Sweeney, who lives in Christchurch and has already contributed to North Otago, including in the form of the 12 Colin Wheeler Oamaru panels hanging in the opera house foyer, surrendered her life interest in the estate to enable an early distribution.

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