News and media
Spiritual bullion
New Zealand's greatest son died on January 11, and the Sunday Star Times set up a national competition on January 20 to seek ideas for carrying on Sir Edmund Hillary's spirit. The idea had to be outlined in 100 words or less. We put in our 100 words-worth, as follows -
Much of the New Zealand-long walk, Te Araroa, is now in place, and I'd like to see a regular tradition begun where an organised group of young people tramps for a day along one of Te Araroa's tracks then listens, around a campfire at night, to a professional actor give a reading from one of Sir Ed's books. This would be a hard-earned dramatic climax after a day's tramp, would make a strong impression on the youngsters, and would accord with Sir Ed's love of a yarn out under the stars. Sir Edmund was a patron of Te Araroa Trust.
Geoff Chapple.
Sir Edmund loved camping under the stars, where you could yarn around the fire of deeds done, and adventures to come, so this idea struck us as one he'd enjoy. Also, if you've read his account of discovering, in company with the British climber Eric Shipton, a new route up Everest in 1951, or his account of the 1953 ascent itself, you'd know that Ed's books have many laconic and thrilling passages.
Our idea didn't win first prize, but was amongst the second-equal winners, and so, by the Sunday Star Times offer, we were awarded a silver coin issued by the Nepal Rastra Bank and produced by the New Zealand Mint. We've scanned it in, and being pure silver and highly reflective, there's a few strange lighting effects, but you may be able to make out Sir Ed and Sherpa Tenzing on the summit of Everest and a Nepalese mandala on the reverse side.
The day before the silver medal was delivered, we'd been camped on the coast west of Auckland, at Piha Point. That narrow spur extends out into the Tasman Sea with wild rollers sweeping the cliffs, but that night we'd also looked back onto the steep bush-clad hills where Sir Edmund had a bach, high above Whites Beach and looking out on that same turbulent ocean. We'd thought of him, then came home to find the silver medal couriered to our letterbox. Thanks Ed. Being practical people, we'll try to get a New Zealand company interested in following through on the campfire stories idea. 
