Mountain guide George Bannister (1893- 1932) PHOTO ALBUM

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DescriptionI was deeply honoured to be invited to the unveiling ceremony for mountain guide George Bannister (1893- 1932) at the Whataroa cemetery this morning. George was the first Maori to climb Aoraki Mt Cook at the age of 18 in 1912, guiding Sam Turner with fellow South Westland guide, Darby Thomson. George Bannister lived in South Westland and part of Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio. His exceptional mountain guiding, hut building and track building feats in his life were never acknowledged on his original headstone. Apart from guiding between 1911 and 1931, he won the contract to build the first Douglas Rock hut in 1930-31 and helped build the track up to the Copland Pass. Below are photos of his new and supplementary headstone, his full grave and some relatives at the graveside.Map^[1]ContributorBob McKerrow

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EventMountain guide George Bannister (1893- 1932)

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CommentsLynda Mary Graham
Great He deserves some recognition

Trish Barry Andrews
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He died young and I assume it was not from climbing? Baz

Bob McKerrow
Trish Barry Andrews He died of a complication of kidney or liver I believe.

Arthur Dehn
I used to live just across the road from the Whataroa cemetery and my Dad was the grave digger , and remembered him telling a story of a Bannister at a hotel stood in a bucket and claimed he could lift himself off the floor .... ended up tearing the handle off ... just what stuck in my mind for over75 yrs?

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Mountain guide George Bannister (1893- 1932) *PHOTO ALBUM*

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Mountain guide George Bannister (1893- 1932) PHOTO ALBUM