John Richard Short was born in Waipori to John Short (2) and Anne (Manson). They lived in dwelling #30 for two years before moving to the West Coast where they settled in Waiuta. Here John Short (2) worked as a coal miner.

John joined the RNZAF and went to Canada for training. He then served 2 tours of duty in the bomber command over Europe as a navigator in Lancasters.

On 15 Feb 1944 John married Miss Florence Scudder at St John's Church, Kilburn, Middlesex, London, England and returned to make his home in Dunedin. He trained as a wool classer, and spent all his working life in this occupation. Florence Scudder was born 23 Apr 1918 in London, She died 2 Feb 1966 in Dunedin.

Around 1985, Mr John Short (3), a widower, now retired from wool classing and his children grown up, returned from Dunedin to dwelling #28 to care for his Aunts (the Short sisters)

An upgrade to the cottage was first done in the 80s when a shower was put in, along with a concrete floor. Further renovations were done in 1985/86 while Fan and Rachel were in Ranui home in Alexandra. Originally dwelling #28 had a long drop toilet which was situated a considerable distance from the house. At some point this was replaced with a new long drop alongside the wash house. Dick Short was keen to upgrade the house for his elderly Aunts. He installed a large modern coal range, which also supported a system of hot water radiators throughout the house to improve the heating during winter. Another modernisation came in the form of an in-house flush toilet installed in the porch along with a septic tank. The domestic water supply was upgraded from water race water (not piped) to a pressure piped system from a bore via a tank on Bald Hill. The Miss Shorts were generally pleased with these improvements, however the inside toilet was not used at all. The elderly ladies preferred to continue to use the facilities next to the wash house. Finally after much persuasion, Dick gave up and solved the problem by demolishing the long drop. In 1988 it underwent another makeover. By this time Fan and Rachel had died and Dick was on his own. In 1955/6 it went through another major makeover, when the house passed to Derek and Judith Short.

John Short (3) (Dick), like his father, was good with animals. he too had a pet dog and cat who followed him around. The dog, a Jack Russell bitch was named "Patch". The cat, a black and white male was named "Good Day". The dog brought home a wild black female cat, and Dick, with a good sense of humour named it "Hello" Dick, like his Aunts unfortunately suffered from poor eyesight in later years which got progressively worse.

Around 1989, Mr Sidonia Miller, lost his wife Coral to cancer. Mr Miller came to live with Dick Short in dwelling #28.