Sir Edmund Hillary 1919-2008
Legend
The passing of Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the very few real heroes left in the world has left me feeling sad but also inspired. A fantastic life lived to the fullest. Ed Hillary’s feats of adventure render him a historic figure. To be the first to ascend Everest render him unique. His humanitarian endeavours & successes simply add to the legend. But resonating with all hsi achievement was his immense humility, integrity & dignity that him apart as an icon of 20th century history. When I attended primary school in the 70's we were taught about Sir Edmund's achievements, we adopted him as our national hero. His achievements have always inspired me in life. Thanks Sir Ed.
Some Ed Quotes:
To an Indian reporter who asked him if he knew he was seen by many as a god:
"Well I know I’m not, so it doesn’t bother me."
"Nepalese," he said, did not ask for poverty while New Zealanders lived in affluence: "The fact that we do is a blessing, and with it comes responsibilities."
"When climbers die on a mountain, the understandable reaction of family and friends is to say that they died doing what they enjoyed most and their bodies rest on the mountains they loved," he wrote. "However, I've never had any desire to end my days at the bottom of a deep crevasse - I've been down too many of them for that to have much appeal. "I'm a somewhat fearful person and would prefer to go peacefully if that were possible." I should even like my ashes to be spread on the beautiful waters of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf to be washed gently ashore, maybe on the many pleasant beaches near the place where I was born. "Then the full circle of my life will be complete."
