NZ 2009 Photos

Mountaineer celebrated

Freda Du Faur — first woman to climb Aoraki-Mount Cook

The Timaru Herald | Saturday, 09 December 2006

PIONEER REMEMBERED: Australian mountaineer
Freda Du Faur finally has a memorial at Manly
cemetery thanks to two expat Kiwis,
Ash Gualter and Sally Irwin.

A meeting of Kiwis in Sydney last week celebrated the achievements of an unusual Australian mountaineer.

Freda Du Faur, the first woman to climb Aoraki-Mount Cook in 1910, had been lying in an unmarked grave at the Manly cemetery until former Timaru man Ash Gualter found out what had happened to her.

Inspired by expat Kiwi author Sally Irwin's book Between Heaven and Earth Mr Gualter searched for the gravesite and when he found it unmarked decided something should be done.

Two years later and on the 96th anniversary of Miss Du Faur ascent of the summit of Aoraki-Mount Cook a memorial was unveiled by Manly mayor Peter Macdonald and Ms Irwin in front of 50 people.

Mr Gualter said he was inspired by Freda's achievements in the Southern Alps and her grave needed to acknowledge those deeds.

"I guess she has been forgotten for 70-odd years but you have to remember her extraordinary achievements, she climbed New Zealand's highest peak in hobnail boots and a skirt."

Ms Irwin said Freda's story was a remarkable one and she was rapt there was now a memorial plaque telling her story.

Mr Gualter was pleased with the number of people who turned out for the unveiling of the memorial.

They included several mountaineers, a number of people with connections to South Canterbury, representatives of the Manly Historical Society and the headmistress of Freda's Sydney school.

It wouldn't have happened without the support of some people in South Canterbury and it's great the memorial stone comes from Aoraki-Mount Cook where she climbed."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/timaruherald/0,2106,3893811a6571,00.html