Saving Sir Ed’s legacy
It was an exciting morning in Tuakau on Thursday as three tractors rolled up to Sir Edmund Hillary’s former primary school.
The tractors are part of the Expedition South fundraising drive, raising money to restore and maintain Hillary’s Antarctic hut and the memorabilia within. They are being driven from the Hillary Trail at Piha to Aoraki (Mt Cook).
Along the way the team is stopping at schools and events to give talks on Hillary’s Antarctic expedition and legacy. One of the first schools to meet the
Three tractors on the expedition: two Ferguson TE-20s (the same model of tractor used by Hillary’s 1953 expedition to the South Pole) and one modern Massey Ferguson MF5600 tractor
Total distance to travel: 2012km (the distance Hillary travelled to the Pole)
Top speed: 20km/h expedition team was Tuakau Pirmary School, where Hillary spent his formative years.
Antarctic Heritage Trust’s executive director Nigel Watson emphasised the special nature of the visit, noting that Hillary had once sat in those very classrooms and dreamed of adventure.
‘‘[Hillary] was famous for saying he didn’t feel extraordinary - he was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things,’’ Watson said.
The convoy was welcomed with a powhiri by the children, who then enjoyed a talk from Fastier. He has been involved with the Antarctic Heritage Trust for over 10 years and has spent his career in Antarctica and other extreme environments. Other team members on the expedition are mechanic Brian Blyth, responsible for keeping the tractors running, and expedition coordinator Lydia McLean.
‘‘We’d like to thank people for their time and patience on the road,’’ Fastier said. ‘‘Everyone’s hooting and waving - other than raising the funds it’s great to get to meet and get to know people along the way.’’
The tractors also stopped in at the Tractor Centre in Pukekohe to meet some of the locals.
The journey will take about four weeks. The expedition is aiming to raise $1 million. Donations can be made to the tractor drivers, or at www.expeditionsouth.nz