Samantha Lusty, 16 months, has a nap at the Auckland Domain during the annual Teddy Bears Picnic. Photo / NZ Herald
Even so, the excitement of picnic-time for teddy bears tuckers out their best friends When the going gets tough, the tough get napping. That seemed the best idea for 16-month-old Samantha Lusty at the Teddy Bears picnic in 1992.
It's picnic season again now, with events in most cities and big provincial towns. The big daddy of picnics for many years was the Auckland
Domain event, where Samantha snoozed with her cuddly buddy.
Historically, picnics have achieved everything from raising funds for disabled children to showing off freakishly big barbecues. Over three decades, they've been the place for teddy bears of every size and shape. Best-dressed competitions were also popular at many events. In 1985, the Auckland Domain picnic raised money for the Crippled Children Society. Lady Beattie, wife of Governor-General Sir David Beattie, released balloons and judged the best-dressed teddy bear contest.
"It was a happy time," Lady Beattie recalled this week.