Remembering Sir Edmund Hillary

In 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to climb to the summit of Mt Everest.

In 1953 New Zealander Edmund Hillary, with Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, became the first to climb to the summit of Mt Everest.

Scaling the world's tallest mountain was just one of many accomplishments for the mountaineer, explorer and humanitarian, who used his influence as the conqueror of Everest to help the people of Nepal.

After Everest Sir Edmund devoted most of his life to helping the Sherpa people through the Himalayan Trust, which he founded. Through his efforts, many schools and hospitals were built in Nepal.

His legacy lives on in his son Peter, who has also scaled Everest, and granddaughter Amelia, both of whom are dedicated to continuing Sir Ed's philanthropic work in Nepal.

Peter Hillary with wife Yvonne Ooeman. Everest is behind them. (The Dominion Post)

A historic photo of Sir Ed's Khumjung School, which has sustained damage in the recent Nepal earthquake.

Amelia Hillary with father Peter Hillary

Mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay near the summit of Mount Everest, May 28, 1953 (Vanity Fair)