Mt Everest: First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® Are On Top of the World - Celebrating 70th Anniversary 

PHOTO: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

A truly incredible event was recently celebrated. 
 
Seventy years ago a 33-year-old beekeeper from New Zealand, Edmund Hillary, and his esteemed companion, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, achieved what back then seemed impossible. 

On May 29th 1953, these courageous men defied all odds to ascend, Mt Everest and were the first people to stand on the summit of the world’s highest peak and return safely.

The event made history and their celebrated triumph stands testament to the unlimited potential within each and every one us. This feat has inspired people for decades and will inspire generations to come – reminding us of the boundless heights we can achieve when we work and stand together.
 
Reaching the world’s highest peak was not the only reason for celebration. Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust in collaboration with the local community have also achieved great things in supporting and empowering the Nepalese people. 
 
These included the Himalayan Trust establishing two hospitals and many schools to help local people not only get access to vital services but also to enact positive changes in their own lives and to nurture leaders in their communities. Tenzing set up the Indian Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling.

PHOTO: Mt Everest

On Top of the World 

First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® on top of the world 

We are delighted to share that this year First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® had the honour of participating in the 70th Anniversary celebrations on top of the world close to Mt Everest! 

Hilary Carlile, Sir Edmund Hillary’s niece and a cherished member of our registered practitioner community took First Light Natural Health® products made with First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® with her when she journeyed to the Mt Everest region to celebrate and honour her uncle and Tenzing’s extraordinary achievement at the 70th Anniversary Celebration of the first Ascent of Mt Everest.
 
The celebration, was a gathering of almost 400 people, including people from the local  community and those who travelled from New Zealand.  

As part of this momentous occasion, a group of 36 Hillary family members and friends embarked on a 15-day trek to significant sites including  Khunde Hospital which opened in 1966 and and Khumjung School which opened in 1961. 

PHOTO: Hilary Carlile holding a bottle of First Light Natural Health® De-Stress Support©

Hilary Carlile was the organiser, on behalf of her cousins, of the trekking experience and she took First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® with her to support her and the people on the trek.

"My intention with the First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® was to help bring a person back into balance so they could continue with the trip and enjoy it. And it worked."

Hilary Carlile

Hilary Carlile has been a First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® practitioner for over 12 years and recently shared how she came to discover the essences and why she uses them with her clients: 

“I have worked for 20 years in the funding and planning of mental health and addiction services. I am also a project manager and have worked on many projects that have made a  difference to those experiencing challenges in life. A time came when I felt I needed a change and looked to energy medicine and holistic health solutions. 
 

When I undertook my very first First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® course, my personal experience of coming back into balance was extremely powerful.

 I felt as if I had been wading through mud, suddenly I felt free and could move forward again. It was so easy.  

When I started working with First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand®, they quickly became the central part of my holistic health practice, for myself as well as with my clients. 

My clients say that First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® is their ‘secret weapon’. They use the essences before going into challenging meetings or before a challenging conversation. Many of my clients have had rapid and positive results.  
 
I work with clients in person or online and I specialise in working with people who want to move forward in their lives. I help them remove blocks and create positive shifts in life with personalised blends of First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® and as a Hypnotique Protocol® Esoteric Hypnotherapist. I also bring in some Astrology to help understand the energies and dynamics of the times."

Hilary Carlile

PHOTO: Hilary Carlile in her clinic in New Zealand

Hilary shared more with us about her journey to Mt Everest and also about some of the special moments that took place over the past 70 years, highlighting the collaborative work of people and communities. 

In Hilary’s words:

70th Anniversary

Celebrating the first Ascent of Mt Everest that was achieved by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

"It is important to recognise that the first ascent of Everest would not have been possible without the leadership of Lord Hunt and the team of climbers, sherpas and porters – each member played an important part in the accomplishment. This 70th celebration was the coming together of  the Lord Hunt, the Hillary and the Tenzing families in Nepal.

The 29 May was the day they climbed Everest. The Sir Edmund Hillary Visitor Centre was opened by Helen Clark (previous Prime Minister of New Zealand) and Peter Hillary on this day in 2023. The Centre is amazing and tells the story of the heroes of Everest and the Himalayan Trust and the accomplishment of the ongoing support over the last 60 years in health, education, cultural heritage and infrastructure. I am proud to have been part of this journey.

PHOTO: Visitors Centre Individual Sherpas

After this Centre was opened, we walked down the hill (1 ½ hrs) to Namche and the opening of the Tenzing Norgay Heritage Sherpa Centre. Another key part of the Everest story. As this was happening the Everest marathon was finishing. The marathon starts at Everest Base camp 5,364 m. The winner completed it in 3 hours, 48 minutes, and 54 seconds. Wow!

We actually started the celebrations on 28 May with a 4.30am  start to visit the Hillary chortens, memorials, on the Khunde ridge followed by breakfast for 100 at Khunde Hospital and the opening of the Dental clinic which was in action with an urgent extraction. We then paused before lunch, which was put on by the women of Khunde for many people, and the inter-district celebrations at Khumjung school in the afternoon.

Later in the afternoon we planted 70 trees at the Sir Edmund Hillary Chorten , memorial – this is always my favourite part of the celebrations. I feel the connection with mother earth as we plant the juniper and azaleas with our hands. That evening, dressed in sherpa dress, we celebrated at the Khumjung Gompa (monastery) with ceremony and then a meal  for 300-400 people - it seemed like the whole village was there plus all the visitors.

The celebrations were one part of the trip but for me there were two other parts of equal important.

The trek we did before the celebrations and spending time with our sherpa friends. It always feels like a coming home when we arrive. I was first there in 1975. 

I took on the role of organising the trip with our trekking company. On the trek I became the leader sorting out rooms each night, meals for the next day and start times etc. We had to have our bags packed for the yaks and porters before breakfast. Even working with our main Guide on route and accommodation changes.

We flew into Lukla, 2,846m, the gateway to Everest – the busiest extreme airport in the world – built by Sir Edmund with the help of his Sherpa friends in 1964. A story in its own right, but it opened the Everest region up economically and made it easier for mountaineering expeditions and trekkers to visit and for the infrastructure to develop to support the influx.

Trekking across the old narrow path with children, bags and yaks

The first couple of days you are getting used to trekking and then suddenly you reach the Namche Hill – a climb of 485m which can take 2-3hrs to walk up. By then you have got into the swing of the trek. We had ten children under 15 which made for a very different trip to the usual trek. They all coped with the really different conditions and seemed to recover faster each day than the adults. We were staying in lodges and where possible we had rooms with their own toilets (not always though!). Our most challenging day was when the main track maintenance started the day before we were due to go over it. We had to go on the old detour. Narrow with a steep drop below us. The porters had to unload our 6 yaks, who were carrying our bags, and carry them across. Then the yaks carefully went across. Then our turn, guided and led by our Guides and porters making sure we did not fall or falter by gripping us tightly. Sadly just after we passed a yak did fall off the path to its death – this re-enforced how challenging our passage had been and how lucky we were. 

PHOTO: Hilary Carlile

Spending time with sherpa friends

For me, the trekking experience was special on several counts. Firstly, that I was there and physically able to manage the trek. Secondly, spending time with our sherpa friends who we have known and supported financially for over 30 years. Seeing how the next generation have embraced education and are getting on in life. And finally being with this group of family and friends and having many other family and friends on the trail all with a common purpose to celebrate the Ascent of Everest, the friendship between the Hillary and Tenzing families and the contribution back to the Sherpa communities.

A little Bit of History

Providing Community Support in Nepal

The Himalayan Trust, improvements in education and healthcare sector

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over half the population lives on $3 a day or less. Many families often need to walk for hours to reach basic services like safe water, health care, and schools.

The Himalayan Trust has supported the people of Solu Khumbu for over 60 years. The Himalayan Trust Nepal is now the successful in-country delivery organisation. Initially the Himalayan Trust  built Khumjung School in 1961 and supported the teachers and students. A major initiative was the teacher training programme and the early learning and literacy programme. Sherpas who have been to the school have become leaders in their communities, successful in business and have spread across the world. A common theme with them is they give back to their home community. 

1966 Khunde hospital was opened. Initially staffed by New Zealand doctors and then Canadian doctors.  A key goal was always to have it staffed by local doctors. In 2002 this dream became a reality as Dr Kami became doctor in charge. Health gains were dramatic for the community who had had little or no previous access to healthcare - the near eradication of TB and small pox, the elimination of goitre and cretinism through iodine injections, as well as major improvements in maternal care. Now things have taken the next step with safer water supplies. 

PHOTO: Khunde

Mr Electricity, and the power of families supporting families

I, with a group of trekking friends, have supported students through their further education since 1990 – 33 years. Danuru, has become “Mr Electricity” involved in establishing electricity in the area for over 25  years.

His family have become part of our family and we part of his. His son Lhakpa is now Dr Lhakpa. He just happened to be at home in Khumjung studying for his surgery exams when Covid broke out. He was the doctor on the spot to set up the isolation hospital, getting all the gear and writing procedures – all with and in support of Khunde Hospital (20 mins walk away).  They had 54 patients and only had to fly 3 out to Kathmandu for further treatment. 

Some of our support focussed on young women who wanted to be teachers or nurses. I was at the celebration at the British Embassy and one of the nurses we had sponsored came up to me and we had a happy reunion. She was head Nurse at CIWEC Hospital for travellers in Kathmandu – in fact she had looked after my husband when he was flown out with altitude sickness in 2019.

Our good friends Danuru and his wife Ang Futi, after the 2015 Earthquake, in the spirit of giving back as we had given to him all those years ago, took in a young Rai girl orphaned – she was 7 and her future was not bright. She has become their daughter. She is studying to become a Health Assistant (able to run a Health Clinic and write prescriptions). When we met up in Kathmandu her whole being lit up at her good fortune and  the opportunity she had been given in life. There was no “poor me” there.

Each one of us has the power to make a difference and together we can be a powerful force for positive change in the world."

PHOTO: Kathmandu

May we continue to celebrate the triumphs of the past and be inspired to courageously embrace the opportunities that lie before us.

With many blessings,
Franchelle Ofsoské-Wyber and the Team
First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand®