FROM THE HELM T
HE SOUTHEASTERLY winds have returned
our training team responds to every day. Regional managers have been added to the mix to assist
to Cape Town with a real bang – debris everywhere. A sign, surely, of summer as we pass the equinox! The story of 2020 really is one of resilience in the face of the very real economic destruction brought about through lockdown, and of the ability of our community to hang together and continue providing the essential services we do. Thankfully we seem to be surfacing, to be rising towards the light! September was strategy month, when we looked back at the last five years, planned for the next five years and ironed out detailed objectives for the next year. Survival was on the agenda – perhaps not surprisingly – and, on reflection, our financial models have stood us in good stead. The fact that we have almost 100 000 donors of various shapes and sizes across a huge diversity of society and business is crucial to our sustainability, and you guys deserve our respect and thanks for being our lifejacket in 2020. People are always a key focus, and the almost
regional station commanders and take some of the routine administrative and general task load off their shoulders. Training is also part of their mandate in a regional context. Geographically we have identified a few gaps on the West Coast and Wild Coast, and the plan is to have established 52 stations by the end of 2021 so that we reasonably cover the entire 3 000km of coastline. The Wild Coast deserves an additional three stations – we’ll start small and build from there. Lifeguarding in these areas also needs capacity, so building will take place from a grassroots level and evolve over time into fully fledged stations. Port St Johns we plan to evolve into a multi-service centre, building the team around water safety, survival swimming, training and rescue services. The initiation of subsistence fishing projects, economic activity and tourism are all creating demand for our services. The story of summer will probably be one of a rebound to beaches in greater numbers, more activity and the need for a focus on safety. So
1 350 volunteers who form the foundation of the organisation are at the forefront of our collective consciousness. Catching up with training in 2021 is going to require a flat-out effort, with coxswain development being a principal goal. Leadership within the institute starts at crew level, and continuously evolving and developing new leaders in a dynamic social and economic context require extraordinary effort – something
keep rip currents and beach safety top of mind, keep children within sight at all times, keep your lifejacket on and enjoy what will be a huge relief and de-stressor from the trauma of 2020. Have a great summer!
DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO
CAPE TOWN: NSRI, 1 Glengariff Road, Three Anchor Bay 8001; PO Box 154, Green Point 8051 Tel: +27 21 434 4011 Fax: +27 21 434 1661 Visit our website at www.searescue.org.za or email us at info@searescue.org.za www.facebook.com/SeaRescue
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SEA RESCU E SU MME R 2020
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