I want to talk about Sir Edmund Hillary. Why you ask? That’s a good point, so I’ll try and answer that question, as I muddle through my thought processes. During my childhood and later as an adult/man-child, “Sir Ed” as he was sometimes referred to, was a larger than life icon that generated a massive amount of mana (respect) from the country.

I mean, I could name some of the most famous and important people in the country growing up. There was the Prime Minister, the All Blacks coach, the All Blacks captain and Sir Ed.

Say the name Sir Edmund Hillary and someone might say that’s the first person to reach the summit of Mt Everest, which is the highest mountain above sea level, which stands at a colossal 8,848m or 29,029ft.

Mt Everest is located in the Himalayan mountain range, which sits along the border of Nepal and Tibet. Hillary and fellow mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, accomplished this insane feat on 29^th May 1953, where they stood on the highest point on the planet for 15 minutes, before descending down to base camp.

Now, I could try and focus on this now famous expedition; that quite frankly, changed the world. However, that is not what I want to talk about, even though it was truly amazing. What I want to discuss, are Hillary’s astounding achievements after climbing Mt Everest. This of course is not to take away Hillary’s achievements before climbing Mt Everest.

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Image by TimofKingsland via Wikipedia

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Now, I’m going to break them down into three sections, so the first section is what I call Professional Achievements. In 1953, Hillary was made a Knight Commandeer of the Order of the British Empire. Basically this meant he was knighted; hence the “Sir” in his name. Hillary also received many other awards and medals from United Kingdom, New Zealand, Nepal, Poland, United States of America and India, over the years.

From 1955 to 1958, Hillary was took part in Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, which he was in charge of the New Zealand section. By doing this, the expedition was the first to cross Antarctica via the South Pole, by using vehicles. Hillary actually arrived at the South Pole, driving a modified Massey Ferguson tractor. Seriously…a tractor.

Hillary also ventured back to the Himalayas, throughout the 1960’s; though he never attempted a second climb of Mt Everest. I mean, why would he go back, after he knocked the bastard off. ¹

On another expedition to Antarctica in 1967, Hillary and his party first climbed Mt Herschel, which stands 3,335m or 10,941ft. Hillary also led the first jet boat expedition up the Ganges River in 1977 and then pushed on to climb to its source, located in the Himalayas. As you do.

Hillary was also the first person to complete, what is now known as the Three Pole Challenge. This is a challenge to reach the North Pole, the South Pole and the top of Mt Everest. Hillary reached the summit of Mt Everest in 1953, the South Pole in 1958 and lastly, reached the North Pole in 1985, flying with; of all people, Neil Armstrong. You just can’t make this stuff up!

The next section of achievements is about family. Hillary was a suitor of Louise Rose, whom was 12 years younger than him. She left Auckland, New Zealand to continue her music studies in Sydney, Australia. On his way to the Himalayas, Hillary stops and visits her, where they kiss for the first time, while walking along the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Hillary married Louise in September 1953, which he later confessed to being terrified of proposing to her! They went on to have three children; Peter, Sarah and Belinda.

It would be remiss of me to mention that in 1975, Louise and Belinda were killed in a plane, near Kathmandu, Nepal. Hillary remarried 14 years later to June Mulgrew.

At last, we come to the third and final section, Hillary’s Humanities achievements. In 1960, Hillary established the Himalayan Trust, which is a charity organisation that supports the Sherpa people of Nepal.

Through his amazing work, many schools, hospitals, airfields and conservation projects were built, which greatly aided the community. Hillary was also made Honorary President of several ecological non-profit groups. Hillary also served as the New Zealand High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh, as well as the Ambassador to Nepal from 1985-1988. Hillary’s devotion to the Sherpa people lasted his adult life and on the 50^th anniversary of his famous Everest climb, he was made an honorary citizen of Nepal.

To end this celebration of Hillary’s post-Everest achievements, it’s one of the most obvious. Beginning in 1992, Sir Edmund Hillary’s portrait has appeared on the New Zealand $5 note; which at the time, made him the only living person to appear on a banknote that was not a current head of state.

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Image by Reserve Bank of New Zealand

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It’s only interesting to point out that the mountain in the background of the $5 note, is not Mt Everest; but actually Aoraki/Mt Cook, which is the highest mountain in New Zealand. This was done at Hillary’s insistence.

Hillary passed away in 2008 at 88 years old and the world is still less because of it.

Thanks for reading and see you in a fortnight!

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¹ This is a quote from Hillary after descending Mt Everest with Norgay. The first person they met was George Lowe, where he uttered the famous words “Well, George, we knocked the bastard off.”

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