St. Michaels, Maryland

“I’m in my element,” says Commodore David Gibbs of the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand’s current Defence Attache to the U.S., and his wife, Paula Gibbs, spent the morning taking a tour of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. “I could put on overalls and start working,” says Commodore Gibbs with a grin on his face.” The Commodore is referring to the Maryland Dove, the biggest project the CBMM is working on for Historic St. Mary’s City.

The Maryland Dove was one of two ships that established the Maryland Colony. Gibbs is learning about the vessel from CBMM’s President, Kristen Greenaway, who is originally from Tauranga, New Zealand. “I always like meeting kiwis,” says Greenaway, who still has her native New Zealand accent. The two New Zealander’s share a love and passion for maritime. The Commodore’s visit with his wife, Paula, to the campus, comes as new measures regarding covid19 are in place at the museum. “We really made a great effort. There is hand sanitization, and what used to be a button display is now a hand wave display,” says Greenaway.

On the museum’s website, there are detailed instructions on what visitors need to know before visiting and what’s expected of guests on campus. Commodore Gibbs wearing his mask walks alongside Kristen, who is wearing a mask designed with the Four Square man, a famous New Zealand icon, proudly talks about the museum’s history and how the Chesapeake Bay plays a vital role on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. After a few stops for photos, the three continue to walk the campus, learning about permanent exhibitions inside the museum-like “At Play on the Bay” and the “Maryland Crab Meat Company.” The knowledge of Maryland’s Crab industry came in handy at lunch when Commodore Gibbs and his wife Paula, cracked Maryland blue crabs for the first time at St. Michaels Crab and Steakhouse. Chef and Owner, Eric Rosen, served his famous seafood platter and hot steamed crabs. “Dave, help me crack this,” says Paula. The former teacher gets her fingers and hands dirty but, in the end, gets the hang of eating them. “They taste sweet. I like them,” says Paula. Paula also thought the work Kristen and her staff are doing with kids at the museum is impressive. “What she is doing for the kids to keep them busy and provide opportunities is great.” She refers to the Rising Tide Program; it teaches students basic boat building and woodworking skills in a safe and educational environment. Kristen tells them some students go onto jobs and apprenticeship programs. Commodore Gibbs has a passion for youth. He was touched by the Rising Tide Program and ended his visit to CBMM promising to tell everyone back home in New Zealand and Washington, DC, about the wonderful work his fellow kiwi, Kristen Greenaway, is doing in St. Michaels. To learn more about the museum, visit the website. http://cbmm.org/