Himalaya Day 2023 highlights

On 29 May, 1953, Edmund Hillary (not yet Sir) along with Tenzing Norgay were the first people to summit Mount Everest. This year marked the 70th anniversary and we celebrated with five Himalaya Day events across four states.

In addition to AHF events, this year was a joint celebration as our global Himalayan family celebrated the milestone anniversary in Nepal, India, UK, US and New Zealand. Among them were Peter Hillary, AHF founding director and son of Sir Ed.  Peter addressed scores of mountaineering folk and trekkers from the original expedition site in Namche Bazaar.

Some of the events leading up to the Everest summit anniversary

• 26 May – Statue of Tenzing Norgay revealed in Lukla

• 29 May – Opening of Sir Ed Visitor Centre in Khumjung (the village where Tenzing grew up and Sir Ed helped to fund the first school)

• 29 May – Opening of Tenzing Norgay Heritage Centre in Sagarmatha National Park

• 31 May – Himalaya Day, Sydney/Brisbane and Canberra dinners

• 1 June – An evening on Everest, Kathmandu

All the way from Base Camp

In Australia, guests at our Himalaya Day events were transported to Mount Everest via video (above). The footage features Mike Dillon (who took the original video of Sir Ed and Tenzing on Everest), Jamling Tenzing Norgay (Tenzing Norgay’s son) and Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, Felicity Volk. 

Attendees were entertained by a series of special guests, and were treated to unique videos and presentations by people close to the heart of AHF.

The festivities began with a sophisticated dinner in Sydney and an enlivened presentation by Joe Bonington, son of Sir Chris Bonington, the British mountaineer with four expeditions to Everest under his belt.

A room full of AHF supporters at the Grand Palace Indian Restaurant, Sydney. Photo: Julia Meinicke

Our Sydney Himalaya Day dinner was a huge success. Photo: Julia Meinicke

Creating positive change

“The ascent of Mount Everest [was made] by two humble human beings who conquered this mountain, came back as heroes but continued to live as humble human beings and spend the rest of their lives giving back to the society and to the people that live on the shoulders of the Himalayas.”

Jamling Tenzing Norgay

(Left to right) Jane Kanizay, AHF Ambassador Gabby Kanizay, and His Excellency Mr Kailash Pokharel. Photo: Pam Sherpa

Canberra

Guests at 7 by the Lake in Canberra, like all our Himalaya Day friends, were welcomed with a khata – a traditional Nepalese ceremonial scarf. Overlooking the Kingston Foreshore, we were honoured to have His Excellency Mr Kailash Raj Pokharel speak to us about life in Nepal. In addition Gabby and Jane Kanizay shared tales of their incredible summit in 2022. Gabby was just 19 when she became the youngest Australian to summit Everest.

Mount Everest Memorabilia

Generous businesses and individuals donated fantastic prizes that were sold in a raffle and a separate auction, with all money raised going to AHF.

One of the most prized items was a 1953 London Times supplement covering the Everest summit, signed by Sir Ed.

We are pleased to say it was sold at auction for $1050; funds which will help provide vital healthcare and education for the people of the Himalaya.

Special events continued into early June with members of the Tenzing Norgay, Sir Hillary, Lord Hunt families and mountaineers gathered in Namche Bazaar, Nepal.

Brisbane

Meanwhile at our own event at Punjab Palace restaurant, Brisbane, AHF founding director Simon Balderstone took us on a trip down memory lane, back to the early days of AHF and some of his incredible experiences in the Himalaya. 

A close friend of the Hillary family said, Simon’s knowledge of the Himalaya is astounding, and he kept the dinner guests highly entertained.

Himalaya Day guests at Punjab Palace, Brisbane.

Melbourne

Garry Weare thrilled the Melbourne AHF family at our final Himalaya Day Dinner on June 8, with precious footage of snow leopards mating in Ladakh, India. Garry’s connection with the Himalaya goes back a long way.

As a former director of World Expeditions, he’s been organising and leading treks in the Region for nearly 50 years, putting him in a truly unique position to offer advice on the impact of change and development in the region.

Garry Weare gave an exclusive viewing of snow leopards mating in the wild.

Sydney

Our first event AHF Himalaya Day lunch was held on June 2 in Sydney. It was an intimate affair with special guest, Aileen Davis (OAM). AHF supporters were enthralled by 91-year-old Aileen’s accounts of her friendship with Sir Ed and George Lowe. 

She shared personal photographs and letters that the intrepid climbers had sent to her over the years. One letter was written just days before Sir Ed and Tenzing reached the peak all those years ago.

Donate today

Each year money raised from our Himalaya Day event goes towards funding healthcare, education and environmental conservation for people in India, Bhutan and Nepal.

We couldn’t help them without your generous donations. If you feel inspired to support AHF’s mission of giving to the people most in need, you can donate today.

As Sir Ed said back in 1953,

“Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain.”

Published June 2023. Words by Hannah Hempenstall.