Sir Edmund Hillary, the man who first conquered Mount
Everest, was accompanied on his last journey by hundreds of mourners who
gathered on Tuesday on the streets of Auckland
to pay their last respects.
His funeral was broadcasted live in Antarctica and Nepal.
Sir Edmund’s casket was draped in New Zealand’s flag, with Nepali
prayer scarves and with his axe and carved walking stick.
New
Zealand’ Prime Minister, Helen Clark, read his
eulogy in front of Buddhist monks, Nepali sherpas and mountaineers present in
St. Mary’s Church.
“He went to a height and a place no man had gone before. Sir
Ed's achievement on that day cannot be underestimated. He went there with
1950s, not 21st century, technology,” she said.
“We mourn as a nation because we know we're saying goodbye
to a friend. Sir Ed described himself as a person of modest abilities. In
reality he was a colossus. He was our hero. He brought fame to our country,” Clark added.
The mourning was led by Sir Edmund’s widow, Lady Hillary.
Almost 500 mourners came to the church to honor the first
man who conquered Everest.
The service began with the ringing of the ship’s bell from
HMNZS Endeavour, with which Hillary sailed in 1956 to Antarctica where he
helped to raise the establishment of Scott Base research station of New Zealand.
The service was conducted by the Very Rev Ross Bay,
Dean of the neighboring Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral who called Hillary an
adventurer and great humanitarian, telegraph.co.uk reports.
Opera singer, Dame Malvina Major, Hillary’s favorite hymns,
“How Great thou Art.”
Tenzing Norgay's son, Norbu, paid his respects too. He said:
“He epitomized the true meaning of giving and never asked for anything in
return. His love and dedication to the Sherpas was like that of a parent to a
child, absolutely unconditional. While we mourn his loss, his spirit will
forever live and protect the great mountain and the people he loved so much.”
Jan Morris, the journalist who accompanied Sir Edmund and
Tenzing Norgay, the Nepali Sherpa on Mount Everest,
in 1953 was also present.
Lord Falconer, the former Lord Chancellor represented Britain, and Anand Satyanand, New
Zealand's Governor-General was present in
the name of Queen Elizabeth II.
When the coffin left the church it was accompanied by 40 members
of the New Zealand Alpine Club in a guard of honor carrying ice axes. Also the
Maori schoolchildren sang a haka in tribute.
Many New Zealanders watched the cortege pass by and paid
their last respects.
Hillary didn’t want memorials after “he kicked the bucket”
only for the work he started as his foundation to be continued, Reuters
informs.
The cortege took his body to a private cremation where only
family and friends were to attend. Hillary’s request was to be cremated and for
his ashes to be scattered in Auckland’s
harbor.
