Hillary notches up yet another first

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Sir Edmund Hillary last night became the first person honoured as a Distinguished Citizen of Auckland.

Mayor John Banks recently established the award to mark the service given by successful Aucklanders.

Sir Edmund was born in Auckland in 1919. His family moved to Tuakau for a decade but he attended Auckland Grammar School and made his home in Remuera.

"I have a great affection for Auckland," said Sir Edmund after he received a framed certificate from Mr Banks. "It has been my long-time home and I expect to spend the final years of my life here."

But a trip down-country as a 16-year-old changed his life.

"I went to Mt Ruapehu for the first time and saw snow. It was exciting." A love of skiing and mountaineering was the result and a "rather subdued" youth developed a new life, which led to Himalayan mountains and his historic climb of Mt Everest on May 29, 50 years ago.

Sir Edmund said that as "an unsophisticated Aucklander" he had travelled the world and had many adventures. "But I always came home to Auckland."

Mr Banks paid tribute to Sir Edmund's "continuing greatness" after his mountaineering feat.

He was his country's No 1 ambassador and most distinguished citizen. "He is one of us, we are proud of him and we salute him," said Mr Banks.

Sir Edmund and Lady June Hillary were guests of honour at dinner with councillors last night.

The distinguished citizen award is to be made to no more than four citizens a year.

Sir Edmund is heading to Nepal for anniversary celebrations of his climb with Tenzing Norgay.

With Nepal's King Gyanendra, he will present Everest medals to nearly 500 summiteers at a ceremony in Kathmandu.