John Harrison Appeal Opens

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 1

John Harrison Appeal Opens

A national appeal for money to be used for the education of the two infant daughters of Mr John Harrison, who was killed by an avalanche in the Mt. Rolleston rescue attempt, was launched yesterday.

Mr A. H. McCormack, one of the four trustees of the fund, said yesterday that the fund was already approaching £5OO. Gifts of money for the fund will be accepted by “The Press” and forwarded to the trustees, who will issue receipts. The trustees are Sir Edmund Hillary, who is president of the New Zealand Alpine Club; Mr N. D. Hardie, a friend of Mr Harrison, and a member of the same rescue party: Mr Robin Harrison, the dead man’s brother: Mr McCormack, a Christchurch public accountant: and Mr G. T. Wiggs, chairman of directors of the advertising firm of Tnglis Wright Ltd., by which Mr Harrison was employed as a commercial artist before he started his own business. Sir Edmund Hillary will be one of the pallbearers at Mr Harrison’s funeral today. Others will be Peter Mui-1 grew, whom Mr Harrison helped to rescue when he was; injured on Mount Makalu in the Himalayas in June, 1961,1

and Mr Wally Romanes, who was on the same expedition. “John Harrison was an exceptional man,” said Sir Edmund Hillary yesterday. “That he should have been killed in this rescue operation is a tragedy, but John was never one to stand back when there was a dangerous or difficult job to be done. The least we owe him is to ensure that his familv is well cared for. I therefore commend this appeal.” Mr Harrison was 34, and left a wife and two young children—Wendy, aged four, and Susan, aged three. Mr Harrison’s familv was left with only a small income. The educational fund will be known as the John Harrison Memorial Fund. Several community service organisations have offered to help with the appeal and the New Zealand Alpine Club has commended it to all its members. A cheque for £5O was received bv “The Press” last evening from Mr J. C. Montgomery as a contribution to the appeal. The Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society has given £lO, and other contributions accompanied by tributes to Mr Harrison have also been received.