Peter MCCORMACK Obituary

Peter & Elizabeth, much loved and way too soon. I was lucky enough to be taken up the Franz as a young kid by you and your guiding team. It formulated my life and my love of, & attachment to, the NZ Alps and glaciers.
In most recent years I've taken great delight in visiting when in Chch and been regaled by stories from the mountains, the Franz and Waiho, the earlier valley years, video tapes of your guiding reunions & climbs, the incredibly valuable photo albums, and present times.
You will be missed, but you're back with Elizabeth again. I will never forget our chats and your warm & generous companionship... much love...

Peter ole mate, you have gone to the great Glacier in the sky, please say gidday to my Dad Jack and Mother Mary when you catch up, up there and tell em I'm doing ok.
As a kid growing up in Franz you were my hero for so many reasons. As a slightly wayward youth, I remember you telling me once when i going through a tough time, to always have fun, have a laugh and follow rugby to get your mind off other stuff.
I can still remember the yarn you told me when I asked you what a shaggy dog story was, I still tell it.
Then the time you and others convinced me to knock on the door of Stopforths hut telling me some wild story about who was in there. Then throwing a stone on the roof just as I was about to. I was outta there like a rocket. I was about seven years old at the time.
And what about your trying to convince me to build a hut on your farm when i was about 15 so I would always have a base, so often I wished I had taken your encouragement on that. So many fond memories. There will be forever more be a part of my heart corralled off that says Great memories of Peter Mac.

Peter ole mate, you have gone to the great Glacier in the sky, please say gidday to my Dad Jack and Mother Mary when you catch up, up there and tell em I'm doing ok.
As a kid growing up in Franz you were my hero for so many reasons. As a slightly wayward youth, I remember you telling me once when i going through a tough time, to always have fun, have a laugh and follow rugby to get your mind off other stuff.
I can still remember the yarn you told me when I asked you what a shaggy dog story was, I still tell it.
Then the time you and others convinced me to knock on the door of Stopforths hut telling me some wild story about who was in there. Then throwing a stone on the roof just as I was about to. I was outta there like a rocket. I was about seven years old at the time.
And what about your trying to convince me to build a hut on your farm when i was about 15 so I would always have a base, so often I wished I had taken your encouragement on that. So many fond memories. There will be forever more be a part of my heart corralled off that says Great Memories of Peter Mac

Peter ole mate, you have gone to the great Glacier in the sky, please say gidday to my Dad Jack and Mother Mary when you catch up, up there and tell em I'm doing ok.
As a kid growing up in Franz you were my hero for so many reasons. As a slightly wayward youth, I remember you telling me once when i going through a tough time, to always have fun, have a laugh and follow rugby to get your mind off other stuff.
I can still remember the yarn you told me when I asked you what a shaggy dog story was, I still tell it.
Then the time you and others convinced me to knock on the door of Stopforths hut telling me some wild story about who was in there. Then throwing a stone on the roof just as I was about to. I was outta there like a rocket. I was about seven years old at the time.
And what about your trying to convince me to build a hut on your farm when i was about 15 so I would always have a base, so often I wished I had taken your encouragement on that. So many fond memories. There will be forever more be a part of my heart corralled off that says Great memories of Peter Mac.

Peter ole mate, you have gone to the great Glacier in the sky, please say gidday to my Dad Jack and Mother Mary when you catch up, up there and tell em I'm doing ok.
As a kid growing up in Franz you were my hero for so many reasons. As a slightly wayward youth, I remember you telling me once when i going through a tough time, to always have fun, have a laugh and follow rugby to get your mind off other stuff.
I can still remember the yarn you told me when I asked you what a shaggy dog story was, I still tell it.
Then the time you and others convinced me to knock on the door of Stopforths hut telling me some wild story about who was in there. Then throwing a stone on the roof just as I was about to. I was outta there like a rocket. I was about seven years old at the time.
And what about your trying to convince me to build a hut on your farm when i was about 15 so I would always have a base, so often I wished I had taken your encouragement on that. So many fond memories. There will be forever more be a part of my heart corralled off that says Great memories of Peter Mac.

RIP Peter. A wonderful Mountain Guide, person and friend to all who knew him. Added so much to the Franz Josef experience.

Peter was an extraordinary man. Glacier and mountain guide, national parks board pioneer, promoter of tourism, farmer, raconteur, companion/husband, father, grandfather and mentor to many.
I first met Peter in 1976 after a climbing trip at the head of the Fox and Franz Josef Glacier with Mike Browne. We walked down the Franz from Almer Hut and met Peter guiding a large party of tourists on the glacier. Since then, we kept up a good friendship. Peter will be remembered for many things, but in his own words he will be remembered for being "a people's person." We used to talk often about climbers who 'crossed the divide', an expression used in early NZ Alpine Journals when someone passed on. Peter you crossed the divide physically many times, now you are crossing the divide spiritually. Travel safely and I know you will meet Elizabeth.