New Zealand marks 60th anniversary of conquest of world's highest peak New Zealanders Wednesday marked the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of the world's highest peak. It was the 1st major anniversary of the scaling of Mount Everest (Qomolangma) since the death of Hillary. Hillary's 1953 climb is also to be depicted in a 3D film which is currently under production. WELLINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) -- New Zealanders Wednesday marked the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of the world's highest peak by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay with a sense of modesty in keeping with Hillary's character. It was the first major anniversary of the scaling of Mount Everest (Qomolangma) since the death of Hillary, who became arguably New Zealand's most revered national hero and a philanthropist of international standing. Staff from the Antarctica New Zealand research institute placed a New Zealand flag on top Crater Hill near Scott Base in temperatures of minus 42 degrees centigrade to mark the anniversary, Radio New Zealand reported. The two staff took with them an ice axe that the man popularly known as Sir Ed had signed and placed the flag at the summit to honor his achievement. Hillary's son, Peter Hillary, who was speaking at anniversary celebrations at the Royal Geographical Society in London Wednesday along with the son of Tenzing Norgay, said the climb was seen as one of the great hallmarks of humanity, by pushing the envelope of what people can achieve, according to the report. His daughter, Sarah Hillary, spoke at the Auckland Museum about her father and the family's enduring links to Nepal, where Hillary helped initiate a wide range of education, health and social programs for the local people through the Himalayan Trust, which he founded in 1960. Ed really liked people and nature. That's why he kept going back (to Nepal), it wasn't just about climbing mountains. He did like adventures but a big part of the enjoyment was the connections with other people, having a good time, pushing yourself and doing something useful on the way," Sarah Hillary said in a statement before the talk. The national Film Archive in Wellington was screening the acclaimed 1954 British-made documentary "The Conquest of Everest," which was filmed by members of the ascent team. Hillary's 1953 climb is also to be depicted in a 3D film, " Beyond the Edge," which is currently under production in New Zealand. Born in July 1919 and a beekeeper by trade, Hillary was famously modest about his achievements, and declined to have his photo taken on the summit in 1953 after taking a series of snaps of Tenzing Norgay. After the historic ascent, he went on to other adventures including an epic journey cross the Antarctic in 1957-1958. His life was marred by tragedy in 1975 when his wife, Louise, and youngest daughter, Belinda, were killed in a plane crash in Nepal. He later served as New Zealand High Commissioner to India from 1985 to 1989. Thousands of New Zealanders turned out for his state funeral in 2008 as they did for his return home after his historic climb. His name lives on in many natural features and monuments at home and abroad and he became the first living person to be featured on New Zealand currency. His face still adorns the New Zealand 5-dollar note. Former Everest record holder Sherchan rescued from Base Camp KATHMANDU, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Nepali Min Bahadur Sherchan, 81, who was attempting to retain his 2008 record of the oldest climber on Mt. Everest broken by a Japanese on May 23, has fallen ill and been rescued from the Base Camp, officials said on Wednesday. We received reports about his ill health, when we were in Lukla near the Everest Base Camp. We rescued him on Tuesday on humanitarian basis sending a helicopter to lift him up and bring back to Kathmandu," Ang Tshering Sherpa, former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association told Xinhua. Oldest person atop Qomolangma has best wishes for his Nepali competitor KATHMANDU, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Amid rivalry between a Japanese citizen and a Nepalese man to be the oldest climber on Mt. Qomolangma, Japanese mountaineer Yuichiro Miura, 80, on Sunday declared that he is now the oldest person to scale the highest peak on earth (8,848 m) and he has best wishes for his Nepali competitor. "I wish him all the best for his attempt," Miura conveyed his message to Nepalese mountaineer Min Bahadur Sherchan in a press conference organized in the Nepalese capital on Sunday. Nepal to adopt strict measures on Mt. Qomolangma climbing permit The function that followed the chariot procession of the family members of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hilary along with the record holders of Mt. Qomolangma from Nepal Tourism Board to Basantapur Durbar Square welcomed them all.