A special tribute to Lloyd and Joan Whittaker (pictured above), founders of the “Waiheke Musical Museum” was held last month at the museum on Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand, as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival.

The museum reported “In the world of colours it is often said that there is something magical about purple and it is a colour associated with romance. A packed audience at the Museum certainly had a magical experience when they were treated to a multi-media Auckland Heritage Festival event that paid tribute to Lloyd and Joan Whittaker and the story of their romantic life together and how they founded the musical museum.

Performers Reg Towers, Anne Willmann, Janneke Vesser, Roger Jeffrey, Richard Bull and Kim Whitaker, all sporting purple rosettes in acknowledgement of Joan Whittaker’s favourite colour, told the couple’s story through a combination of narration, music, photographs and video.

To make sure that none of their senses were left untouched, as they left, everyone was treated to a Ginger Gem, the iconic Kiwi bakery item that Joan was famous for. Audience member Rosemary Adler, who knew the couple well, commented “It was wonderful to see Joan and Lloyd’s life celebrated in such a professional and heartfelt way.”