Inspirational Autobiography on Noted Mountaineer Graeme Dingle – and Helping Youth

“The Promise on One Tree Hill” by Sir Graeme Dingle, published by Bateman books, price $49.99. Reviewed by Ben Hope

This is Sir Graeme Dingle’s autobiography, a 400 page magnum opus, a candidly told story of his life, but more importantly of his achievements helped by others of course and particularly his wife Jo-Anne in helping young potentially troubled teenagers develop self esteem and self confidence as a spring-board and foundation for adult life.

Thirty-one years ago Graeme Dingle and his wife Jo Anne returned from a trip to the Arctic. Throughout the Arctic. they had seen common-place instances of alcoholism, suicide, sexual abuse and violence. 

The awful experiences made them aware of what can happen to a society, but they never dreamed that it could occur in New Zealand until the reality hit them soon after their return.

“To our surprise and horror, at home we found newspaper headlines pronouncing that New Zealand had some of the highest statistics in the world for negative outcomes for young people – among them suicide, incarceration, dropping out of school, violence against children and unplanned pregnancy.”

All was not well for young people in New Zealand.

Meanwhile the trustees of the earlier Dingle Adventure Trust were floundering trying to work out what could be done to make a difference for young New Zealanders.

Graeme Dingle understood the uncertainties of teenage years.

“I knew as a child and teenager, I had a whole lot of issues that could have sent me down bad paths. I was definitely a candidate for a youth development programme. A programme that would help me be confident and find a sense of purpose.”

A year after his return Graeme Dingle, midway through 1994 gave a talk in Hamilton about his wish to establish a youth development programme.

A name?

It came to Graeme Dingle in the middle of the night – Project K, the K standing for koru, the symbol of new life and sustainability.

He and Jo-Anne were determined that Project K would not just treat the symptoms but cut to the “cause and cure.”

Project K was launched on Auckland’s One Tree Hill. In the audience were prominent New Zealanders, respected journalist Pat Booth, ex-All Black John Graham, famed athletics coach Arthur Lydiard, Edmund Hillary and a few others.

Mountaineer Extraordinary

Graeme Dingle is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated mountaineers and undoubtedly the outdoors has been the setting for him to achieve over 200 mountaineering and adventure firsts world wide including first ascents of mountains and faces in the Himalayas, the Andes, Antarctica and New Zealand.

Appreciative of the value of the outdoors as an avenue for youngsters to channel their energies, he founded the Outdoors Pursuits centre of New Zealand – now Hillary Outdoors – and co-founded the Project K Charitable Trust – now the Graeme Dingle Foundation – with his wife Jo-Anne Wilkinson.

Fittingly he was knighted in 2017 for services to young people.

In reading the book, there’s an insight into Graeme Dingle’s tenacity, perseverance and determination.

Horrendous

He writes of the “dirty truth” about New Zealand’s youth and the “horrendous negative youth statistics.’

“In a beautiful well resourced country like New Zealand it is an abomination.”

This is what motivated Jo and I to establish the project K Trust.”

There is no simple answer except that every New Zealander must strive to make the world a better place for young people.

“Jo and I are dedicated to developing New Zealand by nurturing great Kiwi kids,” he writes and urges all from politicians to public servants and others “But we can only do it as part of that great village collaboration.”

It’s both an interesting and inspirational read and a spur to all to get involved and help troubled youth. Strongly recommended.