Hillary Outdoors Welcomes Founder as Patron

Friday 6 July 2018

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The founder of Hillary Outdoors close to 50 years ago has returned to be its Patron.

Reknowned mountaineer, adventurer, philosopher, youth supporter and author Sir Graeme Dingle established the Outdoor Pursuits Centre at Tongariro National Park in 1972 when he was 26 years old. Now known as Hillary Outdoors, the organisation is the leading outdoor education provider in New Zealand.

“Sir Edmund Hillary said Graeme Dingle had ‘astonishing imagination and courage’ when he started OPC, ‘a simple idea that [is] a substantial and successful operation’,” said Hillary Outdoors Chief Executive Graham Seatter. “There aren’t many 26 year olds who would be prepared to put a stop to their own adventurous activities to do something for the benefit of others, in this case young people.”

The original patron was right: Around 5000 students complete Hillary Outdoors five day and five week programmes each year, while another 2000 students compete in annual multisport competitions nationwide.

“Graeme’s original idea has blossomed over the years to include a second education centre at Great Barrier Island.” he said. ”Demand for our courses is so high we’re looking to build a third centre at Kinloch near Lake Taupō.”

Graham Seatter says the return of Sir Graeme Dingle to the Hillary Outdoors family is testament to a commitment to his original philosophy: To teach basic skills and encourage kids to work together to take up challenges in a fun and supportive environment whereby they grow in confidence and gain insights into themselves and others.

“There’s immense satisfaction in knowing that the challenges you face are only as limited as your imagination,” said Sir Graeme Dingle. “I’m immensely proud of the organisation that Hillary Outdoors has developed into. Anything that contributes to the well-being of our young people is a good thing.”

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