January 15, 2008

Hillary Remembered

A book of remembrance in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary is available for the public to sign at Waitakere City Council’s civic centre (6 Henderson Valley Rd).

The book is under a portrait of Sir Edmund, signed by the adventurer himself.

The portrait is owned by Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey who knew Sir Edmund for over 40 years.

They worked together on a number of projects over the years, including television documentaries.

“Ed’s adventures made him a huge figure in world history, but I was privileged to know him on a more personal level," says Mayor Harvey.

”He was humble, generous and the epitome of that old fashion term ‘gentleman’."

"We have lost a truly great New Zealander."

Sir Edmund also owned a holiday home for many years at Anawhata on Waitakere’s west coast – a beach he described as “the most beautiful place on the planet”.

That connection with Waitakere saw him feature in Mayor Harvey’s 2004 book “Westies”. In the book Mayor Harvey wrote:

“If I remember anything it was Ed’s huge sense of fun, tempered by wisdom and care for others…to all New Zealanders Sir Edmund Hillary is more than just the face on the five dollar note, he is someone special: a father figure of the nation, a colossus in our lifetime.”

ENDS

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