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I've had a very busy week and haven't managed to visit Esato much to update on my last comment.
I took the Tuesday off work and went into town to see the State Funeral.
The arrangements were that the funeral would take place at the Auckland Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Parnell -
- and afterwards the hearse would drive thru the Auckland Domain for the public to pay their respects, through Newmarket, Remuera and on to the Purewa Cemetery in St Johns for a private cremation service. Sir Edmund Hillary's ashes are expected to be scattered over Auckland's Waitemata Harbour as was his stated wish.
I had intended to go up to the Domain and watch the service on the big screen there, get some pictures of the crowd, some pictures of the procession travelling through the Domain and that's it. Didn't quite happen that way...
I travelled by bike as Auckland traffic and parking is bad at the best of times and with road closures and crowds of people there'd be no point taking the car.
I caught the Devonport ferry across to Britomart and biked up to Parnell on the off-chance I might be able to see something going on.
TV camera positioned on a crane, providing crucial shots for TV coverage.
While waiting, a Security Guard came over and explained that there were some empty seats in the cathedral (in a separate part to the main hall) and would we like to come in and watch on the big screen inside?
They didn't need to ask me twice! We were handed an official invitation and filed inside.
Inside the Cathedral during the service.
The service was outstanding. Tributes flowed from Prime Minister Helen Clark; son Peter Hillary, daughter Sarah, grandson Sam Mulgrew; Sherpas Ang Rita Tshering and Norbu Tensing Norgay (the latter being the son of the Sherpa who climbed Everest with Hillary); and friends Jim Wilson and the Reverend Peter Beck. Musical tributes included 'Sarabande' from Suite in C by Bach played on Viola and Handel's "Where 'ere you walk" was sung.
The service was quite moving and one felt the gravity of the loss of this one man to New Zealand, Tibet, India and the world at large. The speeches gave me a sense of understanding who Sir Ed was and how he had changed so many people’s lives. I was born 18 years after Everest and too late to know of his expeditions to the North and South Poles, this experiments into Low Oxygen environments or his fundraising for and building of schools and hospitals and even an airstrip all in Tibet. When in my teens Sir Ed was posted to India as High Commissioner - personally chosen by Prime Minister David Lange no less - and was out of the news for quite some time.
But this is what Sir Ed was about; a lot of his work was out of the sight of the TV cameras and journalists, helping the sherpas secure a living out of the Everest industry that followed his ascent, helping them gain an education and wiping out poverty for a whole generation. Everyone he met became his friend and was affected by him, challenged to do something extraordinary and that is the lesson that remains with us: that ordinary people CAN accomplish extraordinary things.
It was inappropriate for me to take photos as the pall bearers passed by outside the cathedral and so I didn't but it was amazing to see this part at least live instead of on the big screen. Children from Sir Edmund Hillary School performed a specially-composed haka as the casket was loaded into the hearse which drove slowly through the streets of Auckland.
And then it was over. I took a better picture of the Cathedral where I sat but was unable to get near the main hall.
Interior of the Cathedral after the service.
I kept a copy of the official Order of Service which I will treasure always. I count myself fortunate to have been able to attend such a significant occasion. But then taking opportunities was what Sir Ed was all about.
Official Invitation - Sort of like a 'Willy Wonka Golden Ticket' in my view
Official Order of Service - different to that handed out outside the cathedral
Sir Ed - A life in Pictures
NZ Herald Article:
Sir Edmunds widow 'blown away' by response to funeral with pictures, video, audio.
Rest In Peace Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter; Member of the Order of New Zealand; Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, upon whom has been conferred the Polar Medal; Member of the first class of the Most Puissant Order of the Gurkha Right Arm of the Kingdom of Nepal; recipient of the Everest Medal in Gold of the Republic of India; Commander of the Order of Sports Merit of the Republic of France; Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa, of the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and of Victoria University of Wellington; Honorary Doctor of the University of Waikato; mountaineer, explorer, benefactor, New Zealander.
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[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2008-08-17 00:27 ]
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Posted: 2008-01-26 05:13:17
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Muhammad-Oli Posts: > 500
Good stuff, carkitter
I live in Christchurch and had jury duty that day and so I missed out, but I did walk through the central city and the square and surrounding roads were closed off due to the huge number of people who were expected to turn up to watch the ceremony on a big screen.
It sounds like you were very lucky! In the right place at the right time definitely!
Thanks mate.
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Posted: 2008-01-26 05:39:56
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Such people, actually good people dont deservr to die.
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Posted: 2008-01-26 11:34:19
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India honours Sir Edmund
8:00AM Monday January 28, 2008
Sir Edmund Hillary has posthumously been awarded one of India's highest awards as part of the country's Republic Day celebrations.
The Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, is awarded to recognise exceptional service to the nation in any field.
It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
source
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Posted: 2008-01-28 09:03:24
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off topic(ish)
Sir.....
Didn't know members of the Commonwealth could get titles.. or did he renounce his NZ citizenship and become a Brit?
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Posted: 2008-01-28 23:23:25
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He certainly did not renounce his NZ citizenship; as regards the titles, some date back to 1953 before the rules changed and these new NZ-specific titles emerged.
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Posted: 2008-01-29 00:17:29
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ah ok!
guess that clears that up then...
Some people renounce their citizenship...
Sir Terry Wogan had to renounce his Irish citizenship before he could be made Sir but yeah...
before the laws!
Cheers!
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Posted: 2008-01-29 00:23:58
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@car - Nice shots ! Neva knew that the K618i can REALLY capture images like what you've posted here . . . specially those INDOOR-shots
!
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Posted: 2008-01-29 00:44:58
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Service at sea farewells Sir Ed
7:19AM Saturday March 01, 2008
By Craig Borley
The ashes of the man who took New Zealand to the top of the world in 1953 were scattered on the inner Hauraki Gulf yesterday afternoon, to mingle with the waters from which he took so much joy.
The nation mourned Sir Edmund Hillary's January 11 passing in unison, and television pictures of his state funeral in St Mary's Church in Parnell went around the world.
But yesterday's ceremony, aboard the youth development vessel Spirit of New Zealand, was quiet and private, in accordance with his wishes, a family statement said.
source
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Posted: 2008-03-01 15:08:11
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