Museum director David Clarke and exhibition sponsor Graeme Todd, of Mactodd barristers and solicitors, congratulated researcher Angela Verry on her enthusiastic effort in interviewing crib owners from the 1950s and 1960s about life on holiday in the Wakatipu.
Several crib owners who shared their crib stories during interviews for the exhibition were at the event, which features written material, old and new photos and a recreation of a crib kitchen, complete with kitsch plastic fruit and knitted tea cosy.
One of the highlights of Friday's opening was the roll call of the cribbies, who were introduced to the audience and later shared their stories in person with others who had not had the pleasure of owning or staying in a crib.
Many lamented the heydays of the crib were passing with the advent of the new holiday home. Ray Clarkson said cribs offered an unpretentious, simple holiday. Graeme Todd said it was an era passing, as few people could now afford a crib in the Wakatipu. .
Cribbies in the Wakatipu, Our Piece of Paradise, runs from November 8 until March 1, 2009, at the Lakes District Museum, in Arrowtown.
