The New Zealand Ambassador to Nepal, Caroline McDonald, will present the Honorary Queen’s Service Medal for Public Services (QSM) to Miss Elizabeth Hawley, Honorary Consul for New Zealand, on 14 January 2004 in Kathmandu, a statement said Tuesday.

Miss Hawley was conferred an Honorary Queen’s Service Medal for Public Services (QSM) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of New Zealand’s celebration of Her Majesty’s birthday in 2003, the statement added.

The honour is in recognition of Miss Hawley’s important contribution to New Zealand interests in Nepal for many years, according to the statement.

She began working for the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi in the late 1970s helping its dealings in Nepal and assisting Nepalese students to study in New Zealand. Since 1990 she has been the Honorary Consul for New Zealand in Nepal. She is also Executive Officer of the Himalayan Trust.

“The help Miss Hawley has extended to New Zealanders in difficulty in Nepal, often under tragic and difficult circumstances, and other consular help she has provided New Zealand visitors, are greatly appreciated,” said Caroline McDonald.

Sir Edmund Hillary has described Elizabeth Hawley as “a most remarkable person” and “a woman of great courage and determination” and has paid tribute to the many years she has been the Himalayan Trust Executive Officer.

The Himalayan Trust, established by Sir Edmund Hillary, has been working on development projects in Nepal since 1965. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the ascent of Mount Everest, New Zealand increased its support for the Trust to NZ$290,000 per year.

New Zealand has also pledged NZ$1,100,000 for poverty reduction programmes in Nepal in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Children’s Fund, the statement said. nepalnews.com dr Jan 13