A two-part recording of Sir Edmund Hillary's somewhat light hearted speech at a reception in his honour in the Auckland Town Hall, after returning to New Zealand following his successful climb of Mount Everest.
Part 1. Hillary says that George Lowe and he had attended a number of receptions. He considered this particular one was the toughest and he was far more nervous coming up the stairs than he ever was on Everest itself. He comments that he possibly wasn't used to respect from his own people. In his speech he praises Sir John Hunt for his leadership and organisational abilities. Hillary talks about some of the amusing incidents that happened on the mountain and explains why people climb mountains. He says that part of the reason he was keen to climb Everest was to get a good look at Mount Makalu, to see if they could climb that next. Hillary talks about Tensing in London, and the pleasure he got on the Switchback ride at Lunar Park. He also recounts how friends, in particular Bill Williamson, kept members of the party from getting big heads while in England. Williamson, a well-known contractor from Christchurch, was at a party with Hillary and came up to Hillary and said "Have a drink Husky. Sorry,...Sir." Hillary talks about team spirit and camaraderie.
Part 2. Hillary continues his theme of teamwork and 'backing each other up' with a story about George Lowe. After seeing Hillary and Tenzing descend over the South summit, George set out on a rescue mission with food and two oxygen bottles strapped to a frame to meet them. After 400 feet he turned around and headed back to the tent, later he made another attempt with one oxygen bottle and got 200 feet. Hillary shares some more amusing incidents that happened on the mountain and comments on how at these high altitudes "you rather delude yourself at how fit you are." He concludes his address with, "... but when we did reach the top... and we heard of the reactions of people throughout the world to our success, we really felt more than at any other time... that perhaps climbing mountains was justified and that there was some benefit from doing this rather unusual sport."