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Nepalese Community in Victoria grieved by Sir Edmund Hillary's death

The Nepalese Association of Victoria (NAV) would like to express its deepest sorrow in the passing of Sir Edmund Hillary. Sir Edmund not only conquered Everest but lived a humble life dedicating himself to the development of Nepal.

Along with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, Sir Edmund climbed the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest in 1953, making history. He then went on to become the first man to reach both the North Pole and South Pole.

On behalf of NAV, the Nepalese community in Victoria, Australia would like to send a personal message of sympathy to Lady June, son Peter and daughter Sarah. Sir Edmund is a true Nepali which was reflected in his love and commitment to Nepal and its people.

Sir Edmund describes in his own words how it began :

"I first visited the Khumbu area on the south side of Everest in 1951 and developed a warm respect and affection for the Sherpa people who lived there. Their life was a tough and hardy one but they had a most vigorous sense of humour. It was impossible not to like their cheerfullnes and generosity.

Over the next ten years, I developed many Sherpa friends and became of the things they lacked in their rugged existence - no schooling for their children and no medical treatment for the ill. I often felt there was much we could do to help them but never got beyond the stage of talking and dreaming."

Over 40 years, Sir Edmund raised funds to build 30 schools, two hospitals, many medical clinics and a number of bridges in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The Himalayan Trust, still runs Kunde Hospital and now has Sherpa doctors, educated right from the primary school level through to MBBS.

Nepalese Community in Victoria, Australia remember him as the man, who literally, stood on top of the world and won our hearts.