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Sir Edmund touched local lives
Sir Edmund Hillary, a name that is synonymous with everything to do with success. The 88 year old may have thought of himself as just an ordinary New Zealander, but he touched so many lives and left an indelible mark on millions of people throughout the world, such was his manner and achievements.
On the local scene Sir Edmund and Lady June Hillary had connections with Waihi Beach and Katikati.
The couple owned a bach at Waihi Beach where they spent many a holiday. The mountaineer drew and signed a primitive sketch of Mount Everest which along with a signed $5 note, was auctioned off at the Waihi Beach Primary School Gala in April 2004. Sir Edmund, whose picture appears on the $5 note, is the only living New Zealander to be feted in such a way. He also signed notes for Katikati College where step daughter Susan Hayman’s children attended.
 April 1994 stands out in the mind of teacher Gaylia Bundle, as it was then Sir Edmund was a VIP guest to present prizes at the On-Show weekend; a murals competition for children who were having a history lesson at the same time. “There was a presence about him, he was a living historian, he was in our history books,” she recalls. “And the kids were in awe of him because he was the first to conquer Mount Everest and he was still alive to tell the tale. For me, it’s all about the good deeds he’s done in Nepal. He was such a humble person, but look at all the things he’s done for other people.”
Spending three months in the mountains working for the Himalayan Trust in the Solu Khumbu area near Mt Everest was an experience Roy and Dot Spice of Ongare Point enjoyed. Mr Spice had been working for Dave and Sue Hayman and mentioned he would like to do Volunteer Service Abroad. Mr Hayman suggested he write to Sir Edmund which he did in 1988 and they were off in 1990. But before they went Mr Spice who is an avid and successful fisherman took Mr Hayman and Sir Edmund out fishing. Sir Edmund sent them an itinerary and after flying in to Kathmandu, the couple drove by bus to the end of the road to Jiri. After that it was all on foot and with an entourage of porters, kitchen boys and a cook, they and another two New Zealanders set off walking about eight hours a day starting at 6.30am. “Sir Edmund said we had to acclimatise, so we were doing this as we climbed in our walk.” The mountaineer had suggested the pair wear woollen socks with cotton liners, so they had no trouble with their feet. “The porters were quite small and muscly,” Mr Spice says, and described them as looking like weight lifters who were very strong; some could carry up to 79kg although it was usual for them to carry only 30kgs, which they did for just 30 rupees a day, the equivalent of about one American dollar at the time. “The porters wouldn’t let us carry any gear or equipment,” he said. It was a rugged but beautiful area, “The trails are dug out of the hillsides, there are rhododendrons everywhere,” Mrs Spice recalls.
above left: Sir Ed’s line drawing and a five dollar note both signed by him for the Waihi Beach Primary School Gala fundraiser.
below right: Dot and Roy Spice reminisce with the map and mementos of their Himalayan experience.
(both photos Betty Jeeves private collection)
 On their way to Gamila one of the beast of burden, a yak X buffalo carrying their bags fell off the side eventually landing down the steep ravine where it died. “We had a bottle of rum, a bottle of whiskey and a can of coke, and the only thing that burst was the coke can,” says Mr Spice in disbelief. “They lost that animal which was a shame really.” Mrs Spice could only dry their sticky clothes as there was no way of washing them.
Stopping at schools doing repairs and maintenance; painting, fixing rot and even putting in a concrete floor, they were often asked where Sir Edmund was, “He’s coming,” they would reply, and he finally joined them at Gumila School where local children brought Sir Edmund flowers.
A few scarey, rickety swing bridges on the way were “interesting.” Walking up a very steep area to Monzo School, Mr Spice says, “There were only a few sheets of iron, so because of the nail holes in them we had to rearrange them to seal it properly on the roof.” While here Sir Edmund invited them to join him while he negotiated work for projects that he was to fund for the next year. They were given bread and chips, “June held up the bread which is coloured and shaped like a fish and said “Look here’s fish and chips,” Mrs Spice laughs.
One of the Sherpas commented to the trekkers when we left Monza to head for Namche Bazar that this was going to be their Everest, “Boy was it steep,” exclaims Mr Spice.
The face of a glacier had broken off and blocked off melting snow, then it burst, blew out and went straight down the valley lowering the river by just over seven and a half metres. It took out a swing bridge and scoured the valley. “If you had fallen off the temporary bridge into the water you wouldn’t have survived because it was so cold and swift,” Mr Spice describes with feeling.
 Arriving at Thamo to build a new school and furniture, the group found huge stones needed to be blasted and shifted before rockmen prepared them by hand for building. Previously children had walked to a school a good two hour walk each way.
Meanwhile the Thame Monastery or “Gompa” had to be re-roofed, “It was hellishen high, we got up to about 12 to 13,000 feet (where the monastery was standing), it was bloody hard work anyway, the original monastery was very dangerous because of the way it was built. You didn’t know whether what was under your feet was firm,” Mr Spice explains.
During this time Sir Edmund had been working elsewhere, but the group were invited to a farewell for him and Lady June.
It was onwards and upwards and they moved on to other work. At one stage they came across a tiny hotel and became involved in a wedding. “The people are pretty neat, always friendly and accommodating, totally reliant on the tourist dollar because it’s subsistence living,” Mr Spice says.
above left: Roy and Dot Spice, Sir Edmund, Lady June and a Canadian representative of Sears Roebuck who raise a lot of money for the Himalayan Trust
below left: Dot Spice (bottom left), Roy Spice (bottom right) taking a photo of Sir Edmund and Lady June Hillary
(photos courtesy Roy & Dot Spice)
 Generators and solar panels had been gifted to the hospital by previous expeditions; 230v Hondas, “I got just about all of them going and got one to do the x-ray machine,” says a pleased Mr Spice. He also used his talents to set up a solar panel on the roof to charge batteries, and wired lights to the rooms. Plus he assembled a New Zealand made aluminium frame in front of the hospital for a solar panel to heat hot water, “We had a lot of fun doing that,” he grins.
Mrs Spice wasn’t idle either spending a lot of time painting once repairs were made, “And acting as “Girl Friday,” she laughs.
Three months of volunteer service for the couple, “It was a once in a lifetime experience,” Mrs Spice enthuses. “It was incredible because you worked with them, you’re not a tourist,” added Mr Spice. When the Spices arrived home they met up with Sir Edmund at the Hayman’s where they were debriefed. “I found him to be a really neat guy, down to earth and a real straight shooter. He worked out the itineraries and you go there to try and achieve as much as you can do,” Mr Spice explains. “When the opportunity came we grabbed it in both hands. You don’t get those chances often.”
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