Reporter’s diary

Press, 28 May 1983, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Everest ascent TOMORROW is the thirtieth anniversary of the first successful ascent of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, by Edmund Hillary and the Nepalese Sherpa, Tensing Norkay. On that day, May 29, 1953, while many were celebrating the Coronation of the Queen, the two climbers reached the summit and stood for half an hour with the world at their feet. The expedition was led by Colonel Henry Cecil Hunt, a British mountaineer. Since then, more than 100 climbers have successfully climbed the 8848 m mountain, including several women and climbers not using oxygen. Writers’ awards SHORT-story writers will have an extra incentive to

put pen to paper this winter. The New Zealand Women Writers’ Society and the Bank of New Zealand are holding the biennial B.N.Z. Writers’ Awards, for which a top prize of $lOOO is being offered. There are three categories: the Katherine Mansfield Award is open to everyone (stories must not bu longer than 7000 words) and offers a first prize of $lOOO and a second prize of $500; the Novice Writers’ Award is for those who have not had work published (maximum 5000 words) and is worth $500; and the Young Writers’ Award is for secondary school pupils up to 19 years (maximum 3000 words) and offers $3OO for the writer and $3OO for the school. Entries will close on July 29, and the awards will be presented at a function on October 13. Entry forms are available at all branches of the B.N.Z. Thems the shakes A NEW Zealand couple who were broadening their minds with some overseas travel decided to try the

delights of a vibrating bed in a Los Angeles motel, but they found that the coinoperated mechanism was out of order. In true Kiwi home handyman style, the husband tinkered about until he had fixed it. What they did not realise, however, was that the gadget was full Of unusued coins fed in by Sirevious occupants while he mechanism was broken. Several hours later the couple were still lying sleepless in the gently vibrating bed, wishing desperately they had left well alone. Fully booked THE Greymouth municipal librarian, Miss Frances Buckley had headed for Wellington for a six-week course, but the Town Clerk, Mr B. P. Moreton, had heard that she was stranded in Christchurch waiting for normal transport to resume again after the storms, he told the Greymouth Borough Council earlier this week. “I hope she has a good book with her to read,” commented Cr D. H. Copeland.