Precious Sir Ed memories in trash rescue
25 Mar 2009
Rare Sir Edmund Hillary memorabilia unwittingly headed for the trash has been recognised as a priceless national treasure, and is now safely in the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at Aoraki Mount Cook.
Film footage and a radio interview recording of Sir Edmund Hillary, both more than 50 years old, were recently unearthed - the first in a routine clean up at a company that provided equipment for Hillary’s famous Antarctic expedition, the second in an Australian deceased estate.
Antarctic bound
The film footage, shot in 1957-8, shows Sir Edmund boarding the ship Endeavour, and leaving Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island, bound for the Antarctic.
The original 16mm black and white film was brought to light by C B Norwood, an iconic Kiwi farm machinery company that has been operating for 60 years. C B Norwood provided the five Ferguson TEA tractors used on Hillary’s Antarctic expedition.
Loft junk
The old Hillary film was squirreled away in the loft of the Norwood offices in Palmerston North - in the Manawatu region of the North Island - C B Norwood media manager Rob Edwards said.
"We were clearing out some junk in the loft and nearly threw it all out. Thankfully someone thought to check and when we watched the footage I realised we were looking at an amazing piece of history, not just for us but for the world," said Edwards.
The company realised that it was important to share the footage so has donated the film to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at Aoraki Mount Cook.
Live radio recording
The radio recording is believed to be the only copy of a live ABC Australia radio broadcast with Sir Edmund Hillary. It was made in early August 1953, not long after he completed his historic Everest climb.
The recording was found in a collection of books and papers purchased from a deceased estate in Sydney, Australia. It is also now secured at the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.
The Centre is also on track to receive an exact copy of one of the Ferguson TEA tractors that went to Antarctica. The replica is being built in Palmerston North by vintage car restorer and ex-All Black, John Callesen.
Fascinating insight
Denis Callesen, general manager of the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, said the centre was delighted to add the memorabilia to its museum collection because the items provided a fascinating insight into Sir Ed’s life.
"In the radio recording you can hear a young Sir Ed, who’s obviously shy and unused to media attention, talking about his epic climb of Everest.
"The film is in perfect condition so we’re really looking forward to showing our DVD copy next to the Antarctic tractor display in the Hillary Gallery so that we can give it a bit of context," said Callesen.
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre opened in 2008, and is located next to The Hermitage Hotel in Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Village, within the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and World Heritage area.
Designed to educate and entertain, the centre features a spectacular state-of-the-art 3D movie, New Zealand’s first full dome digital planetarium, and the museum documenting the pioneering heart of the region and featuring the Hillary Gallery.
The gallery depicts Sir Edmund’s longstanding connection with the region and touches upon his achievements, expeditions and life’s work.
It was in the Aoraki Mount Cook area that Hillary climbed his first major mountain, achieved a number of impressive first ascents including the difficult south face of Mount Cook, and trained for his Everest and Antarctic expeditions.
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