Summit Day – Celebrating the Ascent of Mt Everest
On Thursday, May 29, 1953 at 11.30am, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mt Everest. It was a
remarkable achievement, ably supported by a team of equally remarkable men including New Zealander George Lowe.
Fifty years on, it seems appropriate to offer all New Zealanders a chance to celebrate Sir Edmund Hillary’s feat and to
acknowledge the many other accomplishments and good works he has achieved over the past five decades.
Thursday, 29 May, 2003 will be known as Summit Day – a day when all New Zealanders will have the opportunity to strive
for the summit of their own personal challenge. That challenge may be for an individual, a team, or a class of school
children. It could be a physical, artistic, work or a personal challenge.
The Sir Edmund Hillary Trust, (which was set up last year to acknowledge Sir Edmund, celebrate this year’s 50th
anniversary milestone, and raise funds for the continuation of his life’s work) has asked New Zealanders to use this
special day as a focus for their challenge and include a fundraising aspect into the day.
Local councils, schools and organisations are working to promote the project to their own communities. In this way, each
community will feel ownership of their own challenges and they will be more likely to get involved.
At 11.30am, Thursday 29 May 2003, the Newstalk ZB and Classic Hits networks will simultaneously broadcast throughout New
Zealand, Sir Keith Holyoake’s 1953 announcement of Edmund Hillary’s great achievement conquering Mt Everest.
The Trust emphasises Summit Day is a once-in-a-life time event and an opportunity for kiwis to be the best they can be.
In supporting Summit Day, New Zealanders can help the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust in its work to keep Sir Edmund’s
philosophy alive and foster a new generation of achievers.
“Summit Day is a chance for everyone to tell Sir Edmund how much he means to New Zealand,” says Trust chairperson, Dame
Cath Tizard.