Our Nelson Branch October newsletter includes details of our next meeting on Friday 30 October.
Along the Silk Road with John McKinnon
John and Diane McKinnon have recently joined NZCFS Nelson and we welcome the chance to hear something of their many work and travel experiences.
When Ed Hillary built the hospital at Kunde, Nepal in 1966, John and Diane McKinnon were the first volunteers there. They lived at Kunde where John worked as a doctor and Diane taught in the school built earlier by Ed Hillary’s team. They returned many times and built up strong friendships and special appreciation of the Nepalese people.
After retraining in England as an ophthalmologist, John continued to work for better health outcomes in Nepal. Diane set up ‘Footprint Tours’ with guided tours and treks to Nepal, India, and Central Asia. These personally escorted treks and tours drew on their friendships and cultural understanding built up over many years. There has also been huge involvement with the Himalayan Trust, working for improved welfare, health and education in those countries.
This month, John brings some fascinating stories and photographs of his journey along the Chinese Silk Road.
Click here to view the full October 2020 Nelson Branch newsletter(pdf).
