NEILL JOHANSON interviewed by Duncan Young
We’re incredibly proud of Neill Johanson, Principal at Davenport Campbell, for his enduring commitment to the people of Nepal following the 2015 earthquake. Thank you, Duncan Young, for sharing Neill’s story - and for reminding us that the true summit is found in what we give back.
Lessons From The Mountains Finding Purpose Can Come From Unexpected Places
Has a major event ever unexpectedly changed the course of your life?
That’s precisely what happened to Neill Johanson, Principal at Davenport Campbell. When a natural disaster upended a mountaineering expedition, the events that followed sparked a new sense of purpose and a desire to help others.
Neill is a successful architect, adventurer, and mountaineer who has climbed the world’s seven highest peaks, including Mount Everest. And it was upon those unforgiving slopes that the scene was set for an event that would change the course of Neill’s future.
Neill’s story begins on ANZAC Day, 2015, during one of his many climbing expeditions in Nepal. On this particular excursion, Neill was guiding a group of veterans on a venture set up by former paratroopers, an experience intended to contribute to their healing process.
As it had been 100 years since the ANZAC forces landed in the Dardanelles, the trip would also commemorate those who served in the war. Unfortunately, their planned ceremony was cut short.
‘Just like in the movies, the birds start going crazy. The animals start running around; they know something’s happening, and you get a sort of sixth sense that something might be about to happen…”
It was at that moment that a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. “It actually exploded in our faces,’ Neill recalls. ‘And that was a pretty terrifying moment for everybody.”
“And then you have car-sized boulders down the mountain next to you. The track that we had been walking on from base camp disappeared off the side of the mountain.”
Neill describes looking across at the Himalayas, and watching the giant mountains shaking like palm trees. “There were spontaneous landslides and buildings falling around us, and people were knocked to the ground.”
The earthquake's impact was devastating, although Neill wouldn’t discover the extent of the tragedy until days later, after comms were restored. Not only did 19 climbers lose their lives in an avalanche, but further afield, the earthquake claimed the lives of almost 9000 people. Thousands more were displaced following the immense destruction of homes and other infrastructure.
But the ordeal was far from over, and Neill’s next week was spent guiding his terrified group through the mountains back to Kathmandu. “By the time we got to Namche, there had been another 80 tremors, so we were living in this constant state of anxiety for several days.”
Namche is the midpoint between Everest Base Camp and the small town of Lukla, which lies at the head of the trail. This peaceful village is regarded as Nepal's spiritual centre, and Neill describes it as a safe haven during this frightening time. Thanks to the Sherpa people, tents, food, and water began to appear, even though only a day earlier, these locals had still been reckoning with the destruction of their own homes and digging people out of rubble.
“So we were provided sanctuary by these people. In an environment where there’s a tremendous amount of uncertainty, when people provide you with something certain and comfortable, even if it’s a very brief moment, it’s pretty special.”
Thanks to the support of the local community, Neill’s group finally arrived back in Lakla and were safely transferred back to Kathmandu to begin their final journey home. But when Neill finally arrived back in Sydney, his journey had only just begun.
After The Earthquake
Far from wanting to forget the tragic experience, Neill couldn’t help but think about the people from Namche village who so graciously supported them.
“I just left in awe of the sacrifice that was being made… that just started a whole chain reaction of events that for me created an indebtedness to the people of Nepal.”
On his way back home, Neill had caught up with Peter Hillary, who had been guiding a group of a similar size. A long-time associate of the Australian Himalayan Foundation, Hillary was continuing his father’s legacy by helping to build healthcare facilities and schools throughout the region.
Neill explains that Hillary was already planning ahead: “What is the relief operation going to look like? Where can we have the greatest impact on the lives of these people?”
This kicked off a ten-year journey in which Neill attempted to address the imbalance between himself and the kindness the Nepalese had shown him; he wanted to contribute as much as he could to the rebuilding program and the lives and well-being of the people there.