Hot topic: Sir Edmund Hillary Remembered

We dedicate this hot topic to New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary who died in Auckland on Friday 11 January 2008 aged 88. He is famous not only for his international climbing and exploring feats but for his generosity, humility, and his lifetime dedication to humanitarian work.

On 29 May 1953, Edmund Hillary, along with Tenzing Norgay, became the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest – the highest mountain in the world. In 1958 he went on to lead the first team to make an Antarctic crossing to the South Pole on three Massey Ferguson tractors. In 1961, Hillary launched The Himalayan Trust in Nepal, a charity to bring health, education, and transport to the Sherpa people of the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal. In 1977, he lead the ‘earth to sky’ jet boat trip from the mouth of the Ganges to the Himalayas. In 1984, he was appointed New Zealand High Commissioner to India.

The legendary Kiwi mountaineer and adventurer, whose familiar face is immortalised on the $5 note, is one of the best-known New Zealanders ever to have lived. ‘He took Everest by foot; the world by storm; the South Pole by Massey Ferguson.’ (banner advertising the 2002–3 Otago Museum exhibition)

Here is a collection of resources capturing his extraordinary life and achievements.

• Radio New Zealand National: Sir Edmund Hillary – A Tribute
• TVNZ: Sir Edmund Hillary
• Christchurch City Libraries: Sir Edmund Hillary dies aged 88
• New Zealand History online: On Top of the World – Ed Hillary
• NZ Edge: Sir Edmund Hillary – Blogspot
• Auckland Museum: Sir Edmund Hillary images collection
• Hillary Challenge unit plan

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Profiles of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

Dr Livingstone, I Presume?

In this integrated English/social studies level 4 unit, intended for years 7–8, students identify the experiences and challenges that people face as they explore and find out about new places. They are encouraged to explain why and how explorers have undertaken journeys, looking in particular at Dr David Livingstone and Sir Edmund Hillary.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/SSOL/explorers/index_e.php

Hillary and Norgay

This article from Time Magazine celebrates Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay as two of the 20 most influential heroes/icons of the twentieth century. It discusses how their personal traits of integrity, modesty, and their efforts to use their achievement for the improvement of social and environmental conditions have elevated them as enduring heroes.
http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/hillary_norgay01.html

Sir Edmund Hillary – Conqueror of Mt Everest

From the Hall of Science and Exploration on the Academy of Achievement website, this page links to an interview, profile, and biography of Sir Edmund Hillary – conqueror of Mt Everest, expedition leader to the South Pole, environmentalist, and humanitarian.
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/hil0pro-1

Sir Edmund Hillary – King of the World

A profile of Edmund Hillary, who explored places where no human being had gone before, conquered Mt Everest and captured a world's imagination. Yet where others would have been content to admire the view, look down and bask in the sheer individuality of achievement, for Sir Edmund Hillary it was only the beginning of a lifetime of service to others.
http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/hillary.html

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Mt Everest

Everest

This multimedia website explores the history, culture, and conquerors of Mt Everest. Students can investigate what happens to humans at altitude, or discover the geological history of the mountains of Nepal. The website features Quick Time Video Recorder (QTVR) images of the climbing route, interactive tests, audio and video files, and activity ideas for teachers.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest