Cathedral Square celebrations mark Hillary’s historic climb
22 May 2003
Sir Edmund Hillary’s triumphant climb of Mt Everest, 50 years ago,
will be marked with a day of celebration in Cathedral Square on 29
May.
Summit Day, as it will be called throughout New Zealand, is being held
to commemorate Sir Edmund and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay’s historic climb
of the world s highest mountain on 29 May, 1953.
It will also raise
funds for the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust, which was set up last year,
with help from the Government, to acknowledge Sir Edmund;
celebrate this year’s 50th anniversary milestone and; raise funds
for the continuation of his life ’s
work.
Everyone in Christchurch is being invited to Cathedral Square between
11am and 1pm for entertainment, a celebratory Everest walk and to
offer a donation
to the Trust.
The walk will be a round trip from the Square to Hagley
Park to the Square, starting at midday.
Schools have been invited
to bring pupils into the Square, with those close by encouraged
to walk into town.
Prizes will be handed out by 91.3ZM (Jono and
Crystal), who will also relay messages of goodwill to Sir Edmund.
The Christchurch Cathedral will be used
to display climbing gear.
A celebratory walk up the Port Hills
to watch the sunrise will also be held on 29 May. Breakfast will
be available afterwards at the Sign of the
Kiwi at a cost of $10 per person.
Walkers can meet at the Sign
of the Takahe at 6am to walk up to the Sign of the Kiwi or meet
at the Sign of the Kiwi at 6.30am for a shorter walk
up Mt Cavendish and back. A prize will be given for the best
1953 style walking gear.
Women Climbing, Canterbury Mountaineering
Club and NZ Alpine Club have organised three guest speakers to
talk on 28 May about their experiences
in the Himalayas. The lectures will be given in the C1 lecture
theatre, Canterbury University, starting at 7.45pm.
Speakers will
include Mike Perry who has climbed to Everest’s summit;
Pasang Sherpa who grew up in the Khumbu region (home to Mt Everest)
and went to the Hillary School and; Jim Strang who will tell of the work
of
the Himalayan Trust in building schools and hospitals in the Khumbu
region. Entry will be by donation.
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