Nepal trip thrills

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 442, 30 June 1992, Page 16

Nepal trip thrills

College Column

BY

RHONDA

HEMARA

Che Wilson has recently returned from a "Youth to Everest" trip to Nepal. His group flew

up into the Highlands where they stayed for three weeks. The airstrip where they landed was at a 45 degree angle and had cliffs on either side which Che said made it a

very thrilling experience. This was to the disgust of the rest of the group! The main aspect of the trip was to pick up rubbish on the mountain left by tourists, expeditions and, unfortunately, the local people who are uneducated and none-the-wiser by doing so. The locals just followed what the tourists did. Up in the highlands the native people are known as Sherpa and practise the Buddist religion. The trust and warmth these people have towards others left a very safe and lasting impression on Che and the rest of his group. They also spent a week down in the lowlands. The trip was exhilarating and exhausting having walked uphill 17,000 feet higher than Mount Ruapehu. The group never mentioned "How much further?" It was always what altitude are we at now, knowing in their minds what the

destination was. Che also had a chance to show them some of his own culture by providing a hangi and doing action songs with the rest of the group. This delighted their hosts. The hosts were able to draw parallels between Nepalese and Maori culture. Che would like to return to Nepal someday due to his admiration for the people and their ways. Exams All Senior examinations were completed last week. This was the main reason for the absence of a column over the last two weeks. Rockhampton College from Australia will be playing our first XV today at Ilam. Everyone is welcome to watch the game. Speech competition Korimako speech preliminairies have been held and the finals were held last Friday in the Senior Common Room. The following are winners in their various sections and will be going to compete in Regional Finals which will be held at New Plymouth Girls High School in mid July. 1 Awhina Edwards Huia, 2 Raylene King Weka, 3 Shannon Taua Weka. Senior Maori - 1 Che Wilson Tui, 2 Mario Mareikura Tui, 3= Wikeepa Rewharewha Tui and Awhina Edwards Huia. Junior English - 1 Paul Callaghan Tui, 2 Georgina Bowley Huia, 3 Rachel Taipari Kiwi. Junior Maori - 1 Pikimai Mareikura Tui, 2= Raana Mareikura Tui and Decaadia Pakinga Tui, 4 Lynnette Haitana Tui. Rugby Ruapehu College 1st XV versus Wanganui Boys College 1 st XV. In an exciting match, with evenly balanced teams, Ruapehu came out the victors with a 12-8 win over Boys College.

Ruapehu's points came from a try by Emerson Rewi and an excellent run-away try by Mario Mareikura which was converted by Anthony Bowsher. Dean Apaapa played an excellent game for Ruapehu. There was a lot of nail biting in the last 10 minutes. Boys College were in a situation where they could have won the game. It was a case

where we were 'saved by the bell1. Ruapehu College 2nd XV versus Wanganui Boys College 2nd XV. Another exciting match where stars for Ruapehu were Leonard Pirere, Adam Hinana, Lewis Jones, James Cleary and Michael Hammond. Ruapehu led at half-time, but Boys College fought back to take the game 15-10.