The Remarkables Primary School was converted into a winter
wonderland for the Glittering Peaks Fundraiser on Friday
night. Photos by Naeem Alvi.
More than $40,000 was raised at the Remarkables Primary
School "Glittering Peaks" fundraising event on Friday evening.
The RPS hall was transformed into a snowy alpine banquet
chamber for an evening of auctioning, wining and dining,
presented by guest speaker Peter Hillary.
RPS principal Debbie Dickson said the evening was a
"fantastic show of community spirit", and enough funds had
been raised to start work on installing new sunshades in the
school playground.
More than 150 guests attended, and Mrs Dickson said having Mr
Hillary as a guest speaker was extremely helpful in raising
the event's profile.
In an opening speech, Mr Hillary said he was extremely
impressed by the enthusiasm of RPS staff and pupils and he
thanked them for a "wonderful day" in Queenstown.
Mr Hillary, who has climbed Mt Everest twice, spoke about his
own work developing schools across the world, and regaled the
audience with tales of adventure and fame.
Mr Hillary's father, Sir Edmund Hillary, was one of the first
two people to reach the summit of Mt Everest, and is admired
in mountaineering circles for also being the first person to
ascend a near vertical 12m rock face near the Mt Everest
summit.
Ending his speech, Mr Hillary said: "It's the Hillary step
that stands out as a step to greatness, and I wish the
teachers at this school all the best in guiding their own
pupils to greatness, which I am sure they are capable of."
Mrs Dickson said exact totals for the evening were still
being calculated, but the highest-selling live auction item
was an invitation to hold a "party in the woolshed" on
Queenstown Hill, which sold for $2000.
She said the Remarkables Parents Association was delighted
with the success of the evening, and was considering holding
fundraising events on an annual basis.
"We would like to do something of the same standard next
year, and who knows what we might end up with after some more
planning," she said.
The evening included a live and a silent auction, a
performance by comedian Mike Legge and Queenstown band
Groova.
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