NSRI Sea Rescue Autumn 2018

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LETTERS WHEN ART SAVES LIVES Meet the people who make Wavescape happen. THE CHANGING FACE OF SEA RESCUE Why drowning-prevention initiatives and education have become top of mind for the NSRI. PINK RESCUE BUOY PROJECT Since being introduced to various beaches around the country, the Pink Rescue Buoys have helped to save 11 lives. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX Station 5 (Durban) coxswain and engineering student Jonathan Kellermann sets out to design a headset prototype. KIDS’ CLUB Sea Rescue crew help people and animals. IN THE NEWS Fundraising drives, events and station news. GOLF DAY SUCCESS Thanks to the sponsors and participants, Station 12’s (Knysna) Golf Day raised a record amount.

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A GOOD DAY FOR WINNING The winners of our annual competitions are announced.

CONTENTS AUTUMN 2018

MEMORY LANE Retired volunteer Anthony Jeffries shares stories from the early years.

SAVING LIVES. CREATING FUTURES.

TO GO BOLDLY... The annual Torpedo Swim/ Run event. STUCK! A family on a morning kayak outing get more than they bargained for.

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MOULDING THE RESCUERS OF TOMORROW Station 37’s (Jeffreys Bay) Junior Academy embarks on its second year. NO SMALL FEAT Meet the youngest ever swimmer to complete the 7,5km Freedom Swim to Robben Island. SHARING THE JOY OF LEARNING Training sessions show the true calibre of our volunteers. STATION DIRECTORY

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FROM THE HELM 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

T

he summer of 2018 is almost over, and behind us lies a busy year for Sea Rescue: more than 1 000 souls were saved by our rescue services and many more drownings were prevented through our educational and other initiatives. Sadly, many people still drown and we have to keep working! The year 2017 brought us the Drowning Prevention Framework (Strategy) in collaboration with Western Cape Disaster Management, Emergency Medicine and Lifesaving SA, and in 2018 we need to add substance to its content and drive the implementation of its elements to prevent drowning. We’ve learnt that education is not enough and that we need to work on survival-swimming skills development. To be able to surface from immersion, float and make it to the nearest shore or object, you need to learn to swim, but at a basic survival level. Several of our drowning-prevention educators have been through a learn-to-swim educators’ programme, and we’re working on developing a programme that we will validate scientifically and then implement. South Africa needs to be able to swim to survive! Our other preventative campaigns include the Pink Rescue Buoys we’ve rolled out at beaches. Based on a very successful system in Hawaii, they’ve already been instrumental in several successful rescues this past summer and have raised awareness levels significantly. People seem to respond to pink! We’ll keep rolling them out and evolve buy-in from local authorities as their success creates the imperative for investment. Our online learning platform BravoBravo goes live this autumn. The first course will be available at no charge, giving the boating community free access to engaging and interactive material in preparation for the theory part of applying for a SAMSA skipper’s ticket. It was created with the aim of improving boating safety and driving a safe boating culture. I’ve been through the content myself and it’s very exciting. SafeTRX, our tracking application now has more than 4 000 subscribers, with huge take-up in the paddling community. Well done, guys. Everyone on the water needs it. It takes the search out of search and rescue! I am complimented on a daily basis on the efforts, enthusiasm, passion and professionalism of our rescue personnel. Every day – and some nights – they go selflessly into the deep to do a difficult job. Kudos to the men and women in red and our lifeguards in red and yellow. I’m looking forward to a year of developing partnerships to save lives, with you, the donor, corporate, state agency, volunteer agency, professional emergency service, whoever you are and wherever you work… We need to work together towards safe waters! See you out there,

THE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Maritz ART DIRECTOR Ryan Manning ADVERTISING Nicholas Lumb EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Mark Beare, John Morkel EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Susan Newham-Blake ADDRESS PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018 TEL +27 21 424 3517 FAX +27 21 424 3612 EMAIL wmaritz@tppsa.co.za

SEA RESCUE OFFICE +27 21 434 4011 WEB www.searescue.org.za EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: MARKETING AND FUNDRAISING Meriel Bartlett CELL 082 994 7555 EMAIL meriel@searescue.org.za PUBLIC RELATIONS Megan Hughes CELL 083 443 7319 EMAIL megan@searescue.org.za COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Craig Lambinon CELL 082 380 3800 EMAIL lambinon@mweb.co.za PRODUCED FOR THE NSRI BY The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. Copyright: The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the prior permission of the editor. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not the NSRI. Offers are available while stocks last. PRINTING Paarl Media Cape ISSN 1812-0644

DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO

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THE CREW

SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

@nsri

youtube.com/c/NSRISeaRescue


LETTERS WINNING LETTER Thank you, Morne, for sharing your story with us. Your American Tourister travel bag is on its way to you.

THANKS TO IAN GRAY AND CREW Just a word of gratitude to you and your team for your assistance with my non-fatal drowning at the Noordhoek Ski Boat Club on Thursday 26 October 2017. Thank you so much for saving my life that day. I know, if it weren’t for you and your team I would have drowned that morning. For that, there aren’t enough words to express my gratitude. I wish I could personally thank you and your team, as well as the members of the South African Police Service and all medical staff who assisted with the rescue. From the guy on the jet ski (Chris), Suzi on the rocks, and all the others, to the nurses at the hospital who looked after me through the night: thank you! Please would you be so kind as to convey my gratitude to your team. I really appreciate it – thank you! You and your team are a real asset to our community and our city, and I am sure you never get all the gratitude you deserve for the awesome work you do. On behalf of my family and my friends, and all those you and your team have rescued and cared for, who never got a thank you… I salute you. We thank you! God’s richest blessings to you and your colleagues and all your families. MORNE W STUMKE

Read our cover story on Wavescape on page 6. STATION 14’s 50th BASH What a great evening you hosted to celebrate NSRI’s 50 years of dedication to saving lives, not only at sea but also in so many other life-threatening circumstances. Guests were welcomed on the red carpet leading into the state-of-the-art station and control room. The feast provided and the speeches echoed your dedication to your fellow man. The recent fires demonstrated just how committed you all are to assist wherever you’re needed. Thank you for including all ‘old retired’ crew members. The camaraderie that has always existed at Station 14 is still very much in evidence. Station 14 has a great team – thank you all for the incredible effort you voluntarily give, always willing to put the safety of others first. DAVE HARROW

GOOD COVERAGE I am a member of the NSRI and would like to congratulate you on the latest advert you are flighting on TV at the moment. It is original and really gets the message home. Also, it can take repetition without being annoying. Well done, NSRI. MARGARET GERTSCH

For NSRI membership or Sea Rescue subscription details Email info@searescue.org.za or phone (021) 434 4011

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LETTERS A PIECE OF HISTORY We received a call from Shawn Lyon, Director of Music at Grey High School, who wanted to donate a painting by our first chairman, Pat O’Sullivan. He included the background to this painting and then shared a lovely story about his own experience with Sea Rescue. Horace Weldon (my grandfather, who was in the motor industry – Leyland/ Volvo and Robb Motors Paarden Eiland), Pat O’Sullivan and Reggie Vaal (who was in flour milling) fished with a group of men including Norman Leseur (a manager with Standard Bank who had played rugby for Western Province) and Leonard Cheshire (of Cheshire Homes), on the odd occasion when he visited South Africa. Norman also owned a private museum in Melkbos, which housed artefacts from the area, probably from the original Khoisan/Strandloper people. I was very fond of all of these old fellows. Norman picked me up every Saturday in the biggest black car I have ever seen and took me to rugby at Newlands. I watched Morné du Plessis’ Springboks play the 1976 All Blacks with him, with the great scrum-half Sid Going and the towering prop Billy Bush. I remember Pat and my grandfather having a short drink at the fireplace many a time around sundown, and I recall them borrowing things from each other’s garages constantly. I think they somehow taught me always to appreciate older people and to listen to their wisdom. My mom also told me that Pat and my grandfather actually went for painting lessons together. The story goes that the fishermen each painted a scene of their favourite fishing spot, and I have the one painted by Pat.

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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

I am sure that Pat’s painting of their favourite fishing spot, with Table Mountain as a backdrop, will be properly at home where it belongs – at the NSRI headquarters – and that it will remind people of lives lived with great significance in the past. It is a peculiarity that I was rescued by the NSRI in Port Elizabeth in February 1983, while taking part in a student event out at sea that was nothing short of ridiculously irresponsible. The rescue incident in 1983 occured during an event called ‘Anything that

Floats’, when students spent a liquorfuelled night putting rafts together on the beach. At sunrise these craft were launched after very little or no sleep. About half of them sank immediately, but approximately 40 rafts were well and truly seaworthy. On this particular day the current and wind was such that, before anyone realised it, they had drifted so far out to sea that land was no longer visible. Fortunately the 30 or so craft out there stayed relatively close together. The raft I had built was the second-furthest out, trumped only by the most out-of-hand and raucous of sailors on the day, who were the fellows from Xanadu Residence Q Flat, reserved only for students studying Divinity, would you believe.

The situation was actually quite dire, and those few of us who realised what had just happened were a bit worried. When you look down into the water and see what can only be (smallish) sharks, the worry escalates. (Of course, Steven Spielberg had only recently incited fear and tapped into the paranoia of that generation, regarding sharks). I was well aware that I had serious sunstroke. We had been out there for about seven hours when we saw the NSRI craft – I think there were two. There were way too many people to take them on board and I don’t think they wanted to start that, otherwise there would have been pandemonium with everyone jumping into the water. They trailed a rope and weaved around slowly to get everyone to hold on, in order to pull the rafts, but there were hopelessly too many. I decided to swim forward, raft-hopping along until I made it to the raft closest to the boat. After a little while I broke the rules and pulled myself onto the craft. I told the crew just to ignore me and promised not to get in the way, so they left me to my own devices. I moved to the front of the boat and sat with my legs over the bow for the rest of the saga. Eventually the NSRI limited the amount of rafts per trip and did the rescue in about three tranches. I made it back to Kings Beach around 5pm, and I think the last people came in around 9pm. There were ambulances all over the place and many were hospitalised with sunstroke. The aftermath of the saga became quite a public issue and it hung in the press for a good few weeks. The outcome would have been disastrous without rescue services. Someone on the craft that collected me took a photograph that ended up in the newspaper. My congratulations to everyone at the NSRI for the important and courageous work they carry out.


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MEMORY LANE Reading the summer issue, I was pleasantly surprised to see a picture of Station 5 and AR Ablett in the ’80s (page 5) sent in by Charles Humphreys. This appears to be a picture of some of my crew (Crew 1) and myself (coxswain, fourth from the left) at that time. This brought back lovely memories of the friendship and camaraderie that continues today (and includes all the families too).

Because he grew up in the Sea Rescue family and environment, my son, Brian, went to sea and has captained container vessels for Safmarine and Maersk. He is currently in command of an offshore oil-rig supply vessel or tug operating out of Singapore, owned by Swires – an Australian company. Every success for the future – the new replacement boats look stunning. LARRY ROWLAND

The writer of the winning letter published in the Winter 2018 issue of Sea Rescue will win this stylish, high-quality American Tourister travel bag. Enjoy value-added features including a large U-shaped front pocket, a comfortable integrated top handle, lockable zippers on the main compartment and front pocket, and a large mesh zipper pocket. Send your letters to Sea Rescue magazine, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. (Letters may be shortened, and the winning letter is chosen at the editor’s discretion.)


fundraising

When

art SAVES LIVES

For the past 12 years, Wavescape.co.za has been hosting an event with a difference at its annual Surf & Ocean Festival, where uniquely designed surfboards go up for auction, and the proceeds go to charities. Willem de Waal meets one of the founders.

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Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

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t’s a beautiful Monday morning in Muizenberg. Although it’s overcast, there is a lot of activity on the beachfront, with mostly surfers dashing back and forth across the parking lot, either fresh and keen for the morning surf, or wet and exhilarated afterwards. I’m sitting in Knead Bakery, sipping on a delicious cappuccino, waiting for two gentlemen who have had a long relationship with the NSRI. First to arrive is Ian Klopper. Klopps, as he is known, is station commander at Station 26 in Kommetjie. He joined Sea Rescue at the age of 16, has been with the organisation for 34 years, was the initiator and instigator for the establishment of Station 26, and has served as Statcom for three terms, on and off. When our second guest arrives a couple of minutes later, I’m surprised at his appearance. Steve Pike – ‘Spike’ – is 54 and looks like a surfer, as I expected, but not like the stereotypical surfer. Dressed casually but smartly, he looks fit for the role of what he set out to be: a journalist. We exchange pleasantries and he orders his Americano. The purpose of the meeting is to get the story behind the annual Wavescape Artboard Auction in Cape Town – but I first need to get the story of Steve Pike. Spike grew up on the coast of the former Transkei. He studied journalism at Rhodes University, and after obtaining his honours degree he worked in the print media industry. Spike also loved surfing, and surfers want to know what the surf will be doing. This kindled his interest in the


PHOROGRAPH: Leah Rolando

ABOVE (from left): Lionel Smit, Shani Judes, Mike Beamish, Marti Lund, Rob Van Vuuren, Steve Pike and Mike Minkney (front).

weather, and it became his challenge to see how accurately he could forecast surf conditions. The website originated while he was working as a sub-editor in Hong Kong and Australia in the 1990s. Missing home, Spike drew up a list of surf spots in South Africa, and over several years added more content. Wavescape.co.za was launched in 1999, and it has served the surfing community since, providing detailed surf reports and weather forecasts. The content on the website then lead to his first book, Surfing in South Africa,

which he published with his friend Ross Frylinck in 2001. Their partnership in turn lead to the first Wavescape Festival in 2002. The website subdivided the coastline into 10 zones, and offers five-day forecasts detailing surf conditions, swell height, direction and period, wind speed and direction, as well as regional forecasts. It also includes webcam images for some of these locations, where available. Spike recalls the thrill of getting it right. ‘Once, during the early days, I had predicted that there would be big waves coming through, and went down to the beach for a surf. As I got out behind the backline, there were quite a few surfers out, sitting on their boards in a flat, glassy sea. I asked them why they were there, and one guy said, “Some dude with a website said there would

be big waves coming through – so we’re waiting!” Within half an hour, the waves started coming – I was stoked.’ So what is the connection with Sea Rescue? It’s not like surfers need a lot of rescuing… Spike laughs. ‘That’s true. Surfers tend to look after themselves and they look after one another. They are usually very calm and experienced in the surf, and they generally know the local spots, the danger spots, and how to recognise rip currents. We have a huge respect for Sea Rescue, though, and have felt a long affiliation with the organisation, so the link has sort of just always been there. ‘There is not much we can teach surfers about the ocean, or rescue for that matter,’ Klopps adds. ‘What we bring to the relationship is our medical and evacuation expertise. We work closely together during big-wave competitions, during the events, and also share knowledge and training on patient care.’ Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

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fundraising

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Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

‘At last year’s auction at

Jack Black’s Brewing Co,

hosted by comedian Rob van Vuuren and attended by more than 300 people,

an incredible R772 000

was raised’

and ask them to do the artwork on the boards. We give them the surfboards around September and the boards are then auctioned off at a very festive event, usually end November.’ A variety of mediums, like acrylic paint and marker pens, are used ‘but we have to be careful,’ explains Spike. ‘Once the artwork has been done, we give the boards to Craig Paul from Lifestyle Surf Shop, who does the final glass and polish. Sometimes the paint or ink can react with that last coating – we have had a really beautiful design start running and get all blurry when the final coat was put on. It had a pretty interesting effect – we left it like that.’ The event has grown considerably since its inception. By 2011, 12 boards were auctioned for a total of R221 000, with two pieces by Brett Murray and Zapiro going for R76 000, and the highest single amount paid for a surfboard was R41 000. At last year’s auction at Jack Black’s Brewing Co, hosted by comedian Rob van Vuuren and attended by more than 300 people, an incredible R772 000 was

raised. The individual record went to the Kirsten Sims board for R130 000. Spike describes the event with bright eyes. ‘It was an amazing vibe. We really upped our game due to the confluence of several factors. Our festival manager, Shani Judes, was incredible. Auctioneer Rob van Vuuren was great. We also attracted a new breed of art buyer, some from overseas. For example, when Beezy Bailey’s board came up, one bidder jumped in at R100 000! Other bidders were stunned, but her ploy worked.’ In addition to the 10 designer surfboards, there was a Hurricane surfboard depicting Nelson Mandela, and a once-off Kingdom skateboard that had the Wavescape Surf & Ocean Festival artwork laser-cut into the deck. The surfboard was signed by all the pro surfers on the World Surf League elite tour, and fetched R50 000, whereas the skateboard went for R5 000. And this year’s auction? Spike smiles. ‘…Will definitely happen. The date hasn’t been fixed, but probably end November. It’s always end November.’

Photographs: supplied

The shop is starting to fill up and an audible buzz is growing among the patrons. ‘And the Wavescape Artboard Auction?’ I ask. Spike’s face lights up. ‘That has come a long way. It’s part of the annual Wavescape Surf & Ocean Festival, which is aimed at creating awareness of the oceans and its inhabitants. Usually held at the end of November, it is incredibly well supported by a number of big sponsors. We host numerous film and slide shows and exhibitions at various venues. Sea Rescue is one of the beneficiaries of the festival, and this project has in the past helped to fund a rescue boat for the NSRI.’ Klopps nods in agreement. ‘That’s right. We actually received a 4.7m inshore rescue boat a couple of years ago. It is now in Witbank.’ Spike makes a little detour. ‘What are your current needs?’ he asks Klopps. Klopps thinks for a moment. ‘I’d say a jet ski. We really need a quick response vessel that can negotiate the water inside the surf zone safely, without worries about kelp and rocks fouling a propeller. I think they go for about R400 000…’ I can see Spike making a mental note before he continues. ‘We also support a number of other charities and community initiatives: we help the Shark Spotters programme and also support Waves for Change, which is a child-friendly trauma-counselling programme that uses surfing as therapy. ‘The first festival was held 15 years ago in 2002, and we added the surfboard auction in 2005. We basically get a number of identical surfboards that are locally made – last year’s were made by the Lifestyle Surf Shop here in Muizenberg, and then we identify local artists


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THE

CHANGING FACE OF SEA RESCUE Andrew Ingram examines the way Sea Rescue has evolved from a blue-water rescue service to one that is also actively engaging with like-minded organisations in drowning-prevention initiatives closer to shore and on inland waters.


drowning prevention

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he Wilderness crew had just finished their Sunday-morning exercise and were debriefing in the upstairs crew room when Mike Vonk answered a call on the emergency phone. He listened intently. A hush fell over the room. It was obvious that this was a call-out. Mike asked the caller a few questions and then looked at rescue swimmer Andrew Burrell: ‘There’s a guy in the Leentjiesklip rip.’ It was 11h38 on Sunday 21 January. In a flash Andrew was on his way down the stairs. The biggest danger on the Wilderness beaches are rip currents. When someone is being pulled out to sea, panic is their greatest enemy … but to stay calm when you’re being pulled away from the beach really fast is easier said than done. A person caught in a rip current needs help fast. It took Andrew less than a minute to pull his wetsuit on. In the meantime fellow Sea Rescue volunteer Lucia Pinto grabbed a radio, opened the garage door and started up the quad bike. Andrew hopped on behind her as Lucia edged the vehicle out of the rescue shed and over the dune to the beach before opening the throttle in a race against time. The two volunteers covered the 1,5km distance in less than two minutes and as Lucia brought the quad to a stop at Leentjies, Andrew stood up, using the extra height of the quad to study the scene. Years of training had kicked in, and within a few seconds he had assessed the rip and how it was pulling. There were now three people out there. Closest to shore, about 50 metres out, was the 60-year-old man who was the first to get caught in the current. Approximately 80 metres out and swimming out of the rip were another two men who’d gone to help him. One of them had a pink rescue buoy. Andrew jumped off the quad and hit the water running at full tilt, confident

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drowning prevention

It felt like ages but in fact

it was only a few seconds before he was there:

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Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

the moment

rescue swimmers train so hard for

Photographs: andrew ingram

that the Wilderness duty crew were preparing to launch a rescue boat if it was needed. He slipped his torpedo buoy harness over his shoulder and then threw the buoy to the side out of his way. The line pulled tight and the rescue buoy floated just behind him. The water was too deep and the seabed too uneven to run now so he dived in, flipped onto his back and pulled his fins on. Then, keeping focus on the closest man, Andrew swam hard. It felt like ages but in fact it was only a few seconds before he was there: the moment rescue swimmers train so hard for. Andrew passed his torpedo buoy to the man in trouble, who could now rest as he used the float to keep his head above water while Andrew swam him out of the rip and over the sand bank to safety. A few minutes later, bystanders had waded into the water and were able to take the casualty from Andrew, who now turned and swam out to the two men who had entered the water to try to assist the older man before Andrew got there. ‘They were okay,’ says Andrew. ‘They had misjudged the rip and were pulled past the man they went to help, and by the time I got to them they’d got out of the rip and were starting to swim back over the sandbank.’ By now the young man who’d swum out with the pink rescue buoy was tired. ‘He was not as swim fit as he thought he was, and he was very glad to have that pink rescue buoy to help him,’ Andrew explains. This is not uncommon. All too often when someone gets caught in a rip and is pulled out to sea, a well-meaning person – or two – tries to help. They are seldom trained and more often than not they misjudge their swimming ability. What’s more, they seldom take flotation into the water with them. This is a recipe for disaster. If lifeguards or Sea Rescue volunteers aren’t able to get to the scene very fast, statistics show us that the most likely person to drown is the would-be rescuer.


quantum shift

Photographs: andrew ingram

I

f fatal and non-fatal drowning statistics are broken down, prodded around and the smallest detail captured, often a trend can be identified that may point to a direction to implement critical change. In the early 1980s Sea Rescue was an organisation in which the training of new volunteers was done by the coxswains. Sometimes it was done well and at other times not so well. Seldom were crews made aware of other rescues, and training was mostly limited to the station and sometimes widened to include flanking stations. Most of the rescues to which Sea Rescue crews responded involved issues with boats. Mechanical issues, sinking vessels and navigational issues. Fog, storms and injuries on ships made up many of our call-outs. Slowly over the years things began to change at NSRI. Women became a critical part of our operational rescue crews and now a quarter of an operational crew is female. A national training department has standardised training and equipment, and a fundraising department makes sure that Sea Rescue is sustainable into the

future. These were all big, bold moves that have changed the organisation fundamentally. And now we are in the middle of another quantum shift. It used to be that Sea Rescue was considered the guardians of the ‘blue water’, while lifeguards kept bathers safe in the white water. Yet recently more and more Sea Rescue crews are responding to ‘drownings in progress’. And this requires a different approach to our traditional boat launch. A good working relationship with all services that respond to these emergencies, especially lifeguards, is essential. It means that we need to understand the issues. Why is something becoming a trend and what can we do to mitigate it? Why are people not swimming only when lifeguards are on duty and between their flags? Who are taking the risks and what is causing their behaviour. Alcohol? Too many people on the beaches? An inability to swim? An inability to recognise dangerous beaches and rip currents? December and January are without a doubt the busiest two months on our beaches. They are also the months when drowning statistics on our coastline are at their highest, and it’s useful to glance at a snapshot from this period to get an idea of what is happening. If we look at the first three days of January 2018, we see that NSRI conducted 25 operations around the country. The majority of these rescues were in the afternoon. Only one was at night. Twenty of the 25 operations happened in the Western Cape and 11 of them were within the City of Cape Town. Thirteen of the operations resulted in lives being saved but only 40 percent of them involved a boat being launched. A third of the calls were for a ‘drowning in progress’, and we rescued 11 people. These incidents mostly involved bathers at a beach or

a tidal pool. There was one call for a toddler drowning in a pool. Sixty percent of the operations were completed in partnership with other organisations. Oh, yes, and we assisted one animal – a seal. From this snapshot it is clear why we at Sea Rescue are changing the way we look at things and how we respond to people in the water. We have affiliated to Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) and have qualified our first lifeguards at Melkbosstrand. We have designed containers that are properly insulated, and have solar power and a variety of specialist rescue tools that can be deployed anywhere on the coast, forming an instant Sea Rescue station or lifeguarding unit made up of an office and a boat shed. We are moving away from propellerdriven craft for inshore work. They are being replaced with powerful jet skis and rescue sleds. The way our crews train is changing: there is an emphasis on fitness, on surf swimming and on working very closely with other organisations. Traditional blue-water rescue and operations that require deep-sea skills from our crews will never disappear from our radar. This is a fact backed up by the planned spending of millions of rands on new search-andrescue vessels that will rejuvenate our fleet of big boats over the coming years. That is what we have always done – and done well. Now our focus is shifting to include holistic beach safety. Emergency flotation. Education. Fast and effective rescue methods for a drowning in progress. Inland drownings. Rivers, dams, flooding and children in danger of drowning. Swimming lessons, and working with like-minded organisations to reduce the terrible drowning statistics that we have in South Africa.

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drowning prevention Duwayne Paulse, 23, used this Pink Rescue Buoy to save a 68-year-old man who fell into the water at Kalk Bay harbour.

The 135 Pink Rescue Buoys that have been deployed around the country have helped save 11 lives, says Andrew Ingram.

R

ule number one for a safe experience at the seaside is to choose a beach that has lifeguards on duty and to swim between their flags. That way you don’t need to worry about rip currents, or suddenly getting out of your depth. Putting an arm in the air and waving for help will get a rapid response from the lifeguards on duty. Unfortunately, for various reasons, people often swim where there are no lifeguards on duty. This may be on

Special thanks to these sponsors who helped us get this project off the ground

Raised to date: R119 580 14 |

a beach after the lifeguard’s duty has finished (typically in the evening during the hot summer), or at a beach that does not have lifeguards. This is where things can go badly wrong. Many if not most people who visit our beaches do not know what rip currents are nor that they are the biggest danger that swimmers face. It is all too often that Sea Rescue gets an emergency call about a swimmer in difficulty and when we get there, we find two or more people in danger of drowning. Tragically sometimes we are not able to get there in time and someone does drown. Often the person who does not survive is the kind person who goes into the water to try and help a person in difficulty. Because this has happened so often, Sea Rescue launched our Pink Rescue Buoy project in November 2017. These bright Pink Rescue Buoys are hung on strategically placed signs in the hope that they will remind people to take care when entering the water – and not to swim if lifeguards are not on duty.

Think pink!

The Pink Rescue Buoys will be rolled out to dams and rivers in the near future. For this project to work we need you and your community to take ownership of your Pink Buoy. We can save lives together. You can learn more about rip currents here:

If you would like to sponsor a Pink Rescue Buoy please email kelly@searescue.org.za or go to:

Afrikelp / Amoriflo Electrical / Arabikaz/The Beanery / BDC Wireless / Brass Bell / British High Commission / Byekorf Guesthouse, Ceres / Camp Neilson Signs / Cape Point Volunteers / Craig Nerwich and brother / Dave Staniforth / Drikus and Wietske de Wet / Dr Rupesh Daya Trust / Eikenhoff Orchid Nursey / Fish River Cottage Home Owners Association / Forrest Painting / Heather Bam Memorial/Melnick Family (Craig Melnick) / Hessequa Municipality / In memory of Bob Scott and Ralph Staniforth who both spent many happy hours sailing in Simon’s Bay / Janice Hurly / John Paul / JP Architecture / Kargo National / Kiewiet Properties / Kritz Trading/Ocean Basket / Multi Security Services / Noordhoek Rate Payers Association / Noordhoek Ski Boat Club / Pixi Gillow / Rhodes University / Square Root Trading (edge) / Sumaridge / Suzanne Clark / The Murray Family / The Village News/Talisman Hire Hermanus / Two Oceans Aquarium / Wessel and Leslie Scheepers

Sea Rescue autumn 2018

PHOTOGRAPH: Yvette du Preez

PINK RESCUE BOUY PROJECT

If there is an incident and someone needs help, these buoys can be thrown to the person in trouble, providing emergency flotation. There are clear graphics on the sign explaining how to use the buoy. And, most importantly, the emergency number for the closest Sea Rescue station is printed on the sign. If the rescuer decides, against advice, to enter the water, the Pink Rescue Buoy provides flotation for that person as well as for the casualty. Many people are concerned that the Pink Buoys will be removed from the signs but as expected that has not been a major problem. Of the 10 Pink Buoys that were removed by pranksters four were returned within days, leaving us to replace only six. By the end of February 2018, with the help of generous sponsorship, we had deployed 135 Pink Rescue Buoys and they have saved 11 people. Eleven lives saved. That is something to be proud of!



RIGHT: Electronic-engineering student and coxswain at Station 5 (Durban) Jonathan Kellermann with the prototype headset he designed for this final-year thesis.

THINKING

THE BOX

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ommunication is a critical part of rescue work and because of the rough conditions in which most rescue operations take place, the equipment we use has to be as robust as our volunteer crew: able to operate in all weather conditions (including strong winds and high seas), be submerged in saltwater from time to time, and endure lengthy operations. The only problem is that technology comes at a price well beyond our NPO budgets, considering that we have more than 1 000 operational volunteers to equip. So for now we operate using off-the-shelf handheld marine radios. It’s a Catch-22 situation – the equipment we have is functional but not ideal, and the equipment that would be ideal isn’t affordable. This is the challenge that a young electronic-engineering student and volunteer crewman at Station 5 (Durban) set out to overcome.

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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

PHOTOGRAPH: SUPPLIED

OUTSIDE Rescue crew are engaged in problem-solving all the time; one volunteer took it a step further. By Cherelle Leong

Jonathan Kellermann joined Station 5 as a trainee in 2015 and made short work of qualifying as operational crew. He then went on to become a rescue swimmer and Class 4 coxswain. He is currently training to qualify as a Class 3 coxswain. But it was in the role of a rescue swimmer that Jonathan started to realise first hand just how challenging communications could become in rescue situations using only a handheld radio. During rescue operations the rescue swimmer is often the crewperson who is sent ashore to recover casualties from the rocks, or onto casualty vessels at sea. Even for the crew remaining on board the rescue boats, with wind and spray, on top of engine noise, communication with crew out on the deck from inside the cabin becomes challenging. Operating a handheld radio requires a free hand, which is not that easy to manage while setting up a towline or working

with rescue equipment. In addition, the microphones often become waterlogged, muffling communications. Having experienced these shortcomings of standard handheld radios, and with his electronics mind kicking into gear, Jonathan started to consider a better solution that would allow crew to operate hands-free and offer reliable and clear communications. Also, most importantly, was how to make it be viable, how to create a solution at an affordable price. As part of his final year of engineering, Jonathan had to present a thesis. And it was his station commander, Clifford Ireland, who suggested he use this thesis as an opportunity to create a better hands-free radio communication system suitable for use by Sea Rescue crew. For Jonathan it would merge his two passions: electronic engineering and Sea Rescue. What he didn’t realise was just how daunting a task it would be.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SUPPLIED

INNOVATION

Creating the electronics side of the radios was not the hard part. That was something his studies had taught him well. It was all the other factors that would stretch his creative engineering mind. The transmitter needed to be small enough to be attached to a helmet. It needed to have a range of 300m to 1km. It needed to operate as an independent unit, providing clear and reliable communications. Furthermore, the casing needed to be robust enough to withstand harsh weather conditions and being submerged in at least 2m of saltwater. This last requirement was not something electronic engineers would usually have to be concerned about, so it was a unique challenge. For six months Jonathan worked on his transmitter and on weekends he could be seen at the base or walking up and down the beach testing various components. Up until two days before

noel nsri advert.pdf 1 2015/10/15 03:26:51 PM

The project taught him resilience, tenacity, and to think beyond

constraints

the presentation, he was still troubleshooting and making final tweaks, eventually solving the transmitter issue using a software upgrade. The prototype was strapped to a Sea Rescue helmet and tested at different ranges. For a rudimentary radio created by a student on a shoestring budget, the communications were clear enough to impress seasoned electrical engineer and fellow volunteer Roy Wienand. Critically, it was achieved at a more affordable price tag. The prototype cost +/- R1 500 to build:

almost a 10th of the cost of commercially available headsets used by the US Coast Guard. While it might be a long way off from commercial production, it proved that finding a cheaper communication solution might well be possible. On the back of this success, the project helped Jonathan earn his BSc Electronic Engineering degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Thinking back, Jonathan chuckles, admitting that he didn’t realise the challenge that he was taking on, yet he’s glad for the experience of seeing it through. The project, combined with his Sea Rescue experience as crew at Station 5 has taught him resilience, tenacity, to think beyond constraints and never to give up. He’s convinced that it’s this can-do attitude that helped him land his first job, which has opened a world of opportunities to him. Who knows what his next invention will be?

Southern Power is the official Importer & Distributor of Volvo Penta marine engines, generators, spare parts & accessories and has been supplying the Marine Industry since 1985

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KIDS’ CLUB When ships hit rough seas

and leave oil behind

It’s our birds and our sea life that get in a bind!

These birds need our help, we launch right away

With SANCCOB on board whether sunny

skies or grey.

Sea Rescue volunteers are always ready to go and help, but when we rescue animals we take specialists from SPCA, SANCCOB or SAWDN with us.

e u c s e r

to the

SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

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They carefully wash them and clean off the mess

They feed them and weigh

them to check they’re OK

Then tag with a microchip

and they’re off on their way.

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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

ILLUSTRATIONS AND WORDS: NICOLA SMITH

These poor birds need a chance to rest.


Carefully into a penguin box and back out to sea

Our volunteers help SANCCOB to set them all free.

Then boxes are opened up, tip, and away!

The penguins are free –

ILLUSTRATIONS AND WORDS: NICOLA SMITH

hip hip hooray!

SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

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n o i t i t e p m co

colouring-in

Have a look at our story on Wavescape on page 6. We would love you to try your hand at colouring in these boards with your own special design. We have prizes for the three best entries. Ask Mom or Dad to photocopy this page for you, then colour in the boards and send us your entry.

Write to us! Email your drawings to info@searecue.org.za or write to us at Kids’ Club, PO Box 154, Green Point, 8051. (The membership form is on page 26.)

The competition closes on 30 June.

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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018



IN THE NEWS Boeiende blik op NSRI se reddings Die 50ste bestaansjaar van die NSRI – Suid-Afrika se kusreddingsdiens wat deur vrywilligers en skenkings van die publiek aan die gang gehou word – word boeiend gevier in dié boek met 33 dramatiese vertellings, skryf Bun Booyens. Op ’n Stormsee: Ware Verhale van Suid-Afrikaanse Seereddings deur Tony Weaver met Andrew Ingram. Uitgewer: Jonathan Ball. Prys: R240.

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k lees hierdie boek op die kusdorpie Onrus met die plaaslike koerant, Hermanus Times, oopgeslaan op bl. 7 langs my op die rusbank: ‘Crew rescued as trawler sinks,’ lui die een opskrif en ‘Busy weekend for NSRI’ die ander. Nog ’n woelige week vir dié seereddingsorganisasie wat in 1967 deur ’n groepie Kapenaars om ’n paar bottels Lieberstein en ’n sesmankan Tassenberg gestig is en toe sy reddingswerk begin doen het met ’n enkele rubberboot, Snoopy, wat op die dak van ’n Kombi vasgemaak is. Hierdie boek vier die Nasionale Seereddingsinstituut se 50ste bestaansjaar en is aanvullend tot For Those in Peril, die boek wat met die NSRI se 40ste verjaardag uitgegee is. Dit is geskryf deur die veteraanjoernalis Tony Weaver en die fotojoernalis en NSRIvrywilliger Andrew Ingram. Maar kom ons jaag eers die olifant uit die vertrek: Dit bly ’n skreiende skande dat Suid-Afrika met sy 3 000 km lange kuslyn en stormsee nie eens ’n basiese staatsondersteunde kusreddingsdiens het nie. Dié ondankbare en lewensgevaarlike taak rus op die skouers van die NSRI, wat deur vrywilligers en skenkings van die publiek aan die gang gehou word. Dit is egter te betwyfel of ’n staatsdepartement ’n ewe doeltreffende en professionele diens sou kon lewer. Weaver en Ingram skryf soos ’n mens van joernaliste sou verwag. Hulle hou dinge bondig en chronologies, stel vinnig ’n ooggetuie of oorlewende aan die woord en koes dan weg uit die storie. Só hoor jy 33 vertellings wat jou telkens aan die hart

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Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

gryp – van vragskepe wat op die rotse loop tot toeristebote wat omdop, roeiers wat op die oopsee van hul kajakke geslaan word, en selfs ’n effens oorblufte nudis wat by Sandy Bay see-in getrek word. Drie indrukke bly jou by wanneer jy Stormsee uiteindelik effens uitasem neersit. Ten eerste: die amper onbeskryflike onstuimige toestande wat die NSRI se spanne soms moet trotseer. Die publiek en die media kry gewoonlik net die vanilla-weergawe van die drama in die NSRI se persverklarings. ‘Vaartuig X het gisternag om Y-uur suidoos van Z in die moeilikheid beland …’ In die boek sien jy eerstehands hoe lyk die Kaap van Storms op sy allerverskriklikste, hoor jy van bemanningslede wat oorboord gespoel word. Jy beleef hoe ramptonele soms opgespoor word met niks meer as die vae reuk van dieseldampe wat die span lei nie. Ten tweede besef jy watter trauma die NSRI se mense soms beleef en daarná moet verwerk. Hul vertellings oor die Italtile-vliegramp in digte mis in 2011 by Plettenbergbaai ruk ’n mens tot stilstand. ‘Namate die dag gevorder het, het ons die voëls en die haaie gevolg om nog liggaamsdele te herwin,’ vertel een lid van die reddingspan. Dié tonele lê vandag nog vlak in hul gemoed. Dikwels is daar egter ’n gelukkige einde en selfs humor, soos met Wayne Bergstrom, wat in 2009 sowat 15 km van die kus tussen Knysna en Buffelsbaai van sy boot gespoel is met net ’n kortbroek, hemp, reënbaadjie en ’n paar skoene aan sy lyf. Hy is vyf uur later gered, enersyds danksy sy wil om te leef, andersyds deur die ewe sterk wil van die NSRI-span om

hom voor donker lewend op te spoor. ‘Is jy Wayne Bergstrom?’ het die NSRI-man geroep toe hulle uiteindelik die uitgeputte drenkeling kry. ‘Op hierdie oomblik sal ek wees net wie jy wil hê ek moet wees,’ het Bergstrom geantwoord. Derdens besef jy opnuut dat dit net een foutjie verg om ’n tragedie te veroorsaak – ’n reddingsbaadjie of roeispaan wat nie behoorlik vasgemaak is nie of ’n selfoon se battery wat nie gelaai is nie. Maar dit is ook die klein dingetjies wat lewens red. ’n Helderkleurige pet wat deur ’n helikopterbemanningslid uit die lug raakgesien kan word, ’n fluitjie waarmee ’n drenkeling ’n reddingsboot se aandag trek, ’n noodnommer wat op ’n selfoon gelaai is vir wanneer jou vingers te koud en dom sal wees om die nommer te skakel. Stormsee se vertaling uit Engels is plek-plek dalk ’n kerf te formeel (‘ ’n seemyn getref’ sou duideliker wees as ‘op ’n myn geloop’; iets soos ‘skynbaar ongeërg’ sou ‘op die oog af min gepla’ kon wees). ’n Kaart met plekname aan die Kaapse Skiereiland en om die Knysnakoppe sou ook van die vertellings selfs meer realisties maak. Maar dit bly ’n boeiende leesboek oor ’n indrukwekkende vrywilligersorganisasie. Weaver en Ingram verdien ’n klop op die skouer omdat hulle al hierdie reddingsoperasies behoorlik opgeteken het. Die opbrengs uit die verkope gaan aan die NSRI. As jy hulle nie reeds ondersteun nie, laai ten minste die noodnommer – 112 – op jou foon, al swem jy, soos ek, selde dieper as die derde brander. (Bun Booyens is ’n vryskutjoernalis.) Herdruk met vergunning van Rapport.


COMING SOON!

Girlie Lubbe (middle) with Robbie Gibson and Marc Rodgers.

www.bravobravo.co.za Our online learning platform BravoBravo launches this year. The word ‘bravo’ symbolises success and achievement. It is also a familiar word used in radio communication. We have partnered with the specialists at Hubble Studios to build this e-learning platform and to rewrite the Skipper’s Guide into a course you can take online or on your mobile phone. Our Skipper’s Guide course is designed to prepare learners for the theory part of the SAMSA skipper ticket exam. Of course, we still have our hardcopy books available for those who prefer it on paper. This course will be offered at no charge to supporters, in the interest of public safety. It is the first of a series of courses learners can sign up for.

From Marc Rodgers and the rescue crew at Station 14 (Plett): Our partners play a key role in our rescues. Special thanks goes to Girlie Lubbe, hospital manager of the Plettenberg Bay Mediclinic. We know that we can count on her to be personally involved in each rescue, no matter what time of the day or night. Thank you for the support, Girlie – we really appreciate you.

AGM

This course will be offered at

NO CHARGE TO SUPPORTERS, in the interest of public safety.

Saturday, 9 June 2018 17h30 for 18hoo All welcome RSVP: Stephanie tel: 021 434 4011 to reserve your seat

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD PARTNERSHIPS:

• Atlasware • Lusitania Marketing Services • Peregrine Equities • Denso SA (Pty) Ltd • Macs Maritime Carrier Shipping (Pty) Ltd • Store Maintenance and Installation Specialists (Pty) Ltd • JLT South Africa (Pty) Ltd • Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing • Mix Telematics International (PTY) LTD • Freddy Hirsch Group • Imperial Group Ltd t/a Alert Engine Parts • Viking Fishing Co (Pty) Ltd • Richards Bay Coal Terminal • Anglo American Thermal Coal - New Vaal Colliery • Press Spinning & Stamping Co • De Beers Marine Pty Ltd • Westpoint Fishing Corporation • Robertson and Caine • Africa Bunkering & Shipping • Lusitania Marketing Services • A&M Logistics Pty Ltd • Duxbury Networking • RF Designs • Denys Edwardes Approved Collision Repair Centre SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

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NEWS

join our

KIDS’ CLUB You will get a special certificate to put up on your wall, you will be sent your

own magazine three times a year and

you might be one of the lucky ones to win a Sea Rescue T-shirt.

Name:..................................................................................... Surname:............................................................................. Age:........................................................................................ Postal address:................................................................ ..................................................................................................

Station 3 (Table Bay) street collection was a resounding success with R40 729 collected on the day.

Photographs: graham lowndes

.................................................................................................. ................................... Postal code:.................................. Telephone number: (..............).......................................

Join our club for R100 a year!

Ask your mom or dad to fill this in* Please find enclosed cheque/ postal order for R100 Or pay by EFT: ABSA Heerengracht Branch code: 506 009 Account number: 1382480607 Account holder: National Sea Rescue Institute Email proof of payment to: natasha@searescue.org.za

Write to us!

Email your letters, drawings and membership form to info@searecue.org.za or write to us at Kids’ Club, PO Box 154, Green Point, 8051, or fax us on 021 434 1661

* If your mom or dad is a rescue volunteer, you can join at no cost.

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Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

We welcome Standard Bank as a Platinum Partner. Below, from left: Raed Cupida, Eben Klopper, Xolani Mhlaba and Willie du Plessis.


PHOTOGRAPHS: GRAHAM LOWNDES

ABOVE: Dr Cleeve Robertson welcomes Owami Zuma and Buren van Wyk into the rescue family and wishes them all the best as they launch their careers in a maritime field.

sharing safety and values The NSRI is working together with the SATS General Botha Old Boys Association Bursary Fund (GBOBA BF) students, hosting them at our rescue bases and offering a practical training programme that is sponsored by the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI). In addition to this project, we, together with the Bursary Fund, will use our collective knowledge and material to encourage the mentoring of the youth of South Africa, and especially those interested in maritime careers. One of the NSRI’s strategies in achieving a society with fewer drownings is collaboration, and our agreement with the General Botha Old Boys Association and partnership with Lawhill Maritime Centre has two objectives: firstly, we are taking a long-term view on the future, recognising that the sustainability of maritime rescue services and drowning prevention systems will depend on the right human capital, with the right attitudes, skills and capacity, to fuel the engine of the organisation. This cooperation is a small but significant step. Secondly, we recognise that, as an organisation, we bring a unique experience to education. We are at the sharp end of water-related industries and have comprehensive insights into water safety across a broad range of industrial, commercial and recreational activities. We believe that the safety culture, values and experience that we can share with students will prove invaluable to them in the future. We are very happy to be establishing relationships that will help realise our vision and, as South Africans and Africans, to play our part in building a society we can be proud of.

Our instructors Charles McHelm and Eoudia Erasmus with Theresa Crossley, CEO: IMRF.

IMRF H.E.R.O. Award On 2 November the IMRF H.E.R.O. Awards were presented to a selection of exceptional individuals and organisations from around the world who have demonstrated outstanding bravery, professional expertise and innovation in the world of maritime search and rescue. The presentation ceremony was held at the RNLI headquarters in Poole in the UK. Eoudia Erasmus and Charles McHelm attended on behalf of the NSRI’s water-safety education in schools project. We were announced runners-up in the Outstanding Team Contribution category. Our instructors around the country have taught more than 1.4 million children how to be safe around water as part of our drowning-prevention programme. SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

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NEWS

Photograph: Tamlyn Jolly

Thanks to a donation of two 10-litre vertical tanks from South 32’s Maintenance South team, Richards Bay is one step closer to achieving its goal of implementing environmentally friendly practices, including water reuse, at their base. From left: Bernard Minnie, Marita Minnie (both NSRI), Johann Els, Derek Mathieson, Selvan Govender, Sunny Sujan, Thembelani Singiswa, Adele Coetzer (all South 32 Maintenance South) and Brynn Gericke (NSRI).

READER SURVEY

Take part in our reader survey and stand a chance to win one of 10 NSRI anniversary hoodies worth R500 each! Please see the address sheet for details or fill it in online at http://www.nsri.org.za/2018/03/magazine-reader-survey/

With such a wide range, the choice is already an adventure

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Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

For your nearest store call toll-free 0800 003 051. Go to outdoorwarehouse.co.za to learn more and shop online

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Weekender 60 litre AC/DC stainless steel twin fridge/freezer


fundraising

BELOW (from left): Marc van Staden, Grant van Staden, Sheldon Puttick and Jason Slater.

GOLF DAY SUCCESS

Photographs: KARIN JACOBS

A record amount was raised at Station 12’s (Knysna) Golf Day last year. Thank you to our sponsors and participants who made the day such a huge success.

NSRI would like to thank the following people and sponsors for their contribution to the day

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tation 12 (Knysna) Sea Rescue would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to those who supported the golf day hosted by Pezula Golf Club on 22 October 2017. ‘A record amount of R143 000 was raised and this was all due to the incredible support of our sponsors and participants,’ beamed station commander Jerome Simonis. ‘Pezula ran the entire event for us, and their great teamwork and professionalism proved to be the reason the day was such a success. We thank them for this,’ he added. When the date was initially set, it took only a few weeks to fill the field, and the support on the day – both during the golf and at the auction – was testimony to the incredible support we get from the Knysna community. NSRI is a non-profit organisation, run by nearly 1 000 volunteers at 35 rescue bases around the country. Income is

generated through the generosity of individuals, corporate donations, legacies and fundraising events. Because the NSRI celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, Knysna felt that they needed to put on a spectacular golf day to commemorate this event. Thanks to Pezula Golf Club and their generous sponsorship, as well as support from a host of other sponsors, we achieved our goal – the amount raised was the highest ever generated by a single fundraiser for NSRI Knysna. Ingrid Diesel, on behalf of Pezula Golf Club, added: ‘The board of the club was extremely supportive of this particular event by donating all green fees to the fund, thus boosting the monies raised by a significant amount, and it was a great honour to be able to do this on behalf of the NSRI. We look forward to building on this event next year.’

Pezula Championship Golf Course / Imperial Holdings / Knysna Lifestyle Estate / Dream Properties Knysna Ocean Odyssey / Hello Gorgeous / Gondwana Game Reserve / Investec / Fancourt / Waterfront Drive Caltex Simola / Ingrid Diesel Consulting / Pinnacle Point / Scratch Golf / St Francis Links / Jane Simon Pearl Valley / AJ Wilson / Louis Oosthuizen Wines / Hilda Hofmeyr / Charmaine Pallent (Pandora) Di Pieters / John Bland / Sam Bruce / Barry Richards / Canon / Nic Mallett / Mitchells Brewery / ClemenGold SUJO and STORM / Duca del Cosma Shoes / Allsound Security / Global Golf / Knysna Toyota / Knysna Nissan Yamaha Knysna / East Head Café / 34 Degrees South / Knysna Press / Chemdry / The 19th Wines Ernie Els Wines / Knysna Roofing / Greeff’s Butchery / SO-CA / Karen Jacobs / Carpet Co

Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

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FUNDRAISING

A GOOD DAY FOR

WINNING!

Once again, our competitions draw produced much excitement – and happy winners – earlier this year.

ABOVE: MC Craig Lambinon with our car competition finalists: Lyle Peters, Robert Bartholomew and Car Competition manager Dina Fernandes, who represented Tienie Pretorius.

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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

ABOVE: Mitsubishi dealer principal Mark Africa welcomes the guests.

ABOVE: Cleeve and Mark with our winners. Congrats to Tienie Pretorius, who won two Mitsubishi luxury vehicles. Unfortunately Tienie was unable to attend the prizegiving, but our Car Competition manager from the Call Centre, Dina Fernandes, stood in for him at the event. Robert Bartholomew won the R250 000 cash prize and Lyles Peters won a dream holiday. RIGHT: Dina calls Tienie to give him the good news.

ABOVE: Congratulations to Dan Munnik (left), who won R100 000 in our Debit Order Promotion, pictured here with NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson and Lianne DanielsLategan. Thank you to everybody who entered: because of your loyal monthly contributions our rescue crew have the equipment they need.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

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n 12 January Mitsubishi dealer principal Mark Africa hosted the NSRI’s double car competition at Mitsubishi’s Paarden Eiland showroom. Mitsubishi has partnered with Sea Rescue for the past 15 years. Promotions like these are the lifeblood of NSRI’s fundraising efforts – we thank you for your support over all these years. Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who participated in this drive. Ultimately, it’s the support of donors, sponsors and competition entrants that keeps our vessels afloat and our volunteers kitted in order to continue their lifesaving work.


HISTORY

MEMORY LANE Retired Station 5 (Durban) volunteer Anthony Jeffries shares stories from the early years.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

uring the course of 2017 – our 50th anniversary year – we had the pleasure of meeting up with many former crew members, who shared their Sea Rescue stories with us. ‘Station 5 Durban was established in August 1968 by a few ski boaters and a few rookies like myself, who had never set foot on a ski boat. Some of the original crew left when the commitment started eating into their fishing time. We were thought to be mad when we put to sea when others were coming in. Our reply was that we have to learn to know the sea under these conditions. In my view, over the past 50 years, there are two areas where NSRI has not changed and one where it has. I have seen big changes in rescue bases, boats, safety equipment, communication and navigation. In our day the only means of navigation was a small boat compass and a handheld compass to take

bearings. An area of non-change has been the need to continually ask for financial support from both business and the public. Another area that hasn’t changed is the dedication of crew members and the family atmosphere that exists at each station. Station 5 started with no money, no boat and no boat station. Through begging and borrowing (but never stealing), with hard work and determination, all were built in a short period of time. STATION 5 WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A FEW FIRSTS: 1. The first boat station that was built entirely of brick, as opposed to most corrugated iron structures. 2. The first to introduce training manuals, which were later adopted around the country. A published maintenance manual for building, boats and motors was sponsored by BP. 3. The first registered woman crew member – Matron Denise James (Charlesworth). She was also the first woman to obtain her restricted radio

licence (marine) and to qualify in navigation. 4. The first to establish a social club (christened Flying 5) whose responsibility it was to raise funds for the annual prize-giving dinner My most memorable moment was tropical cyclone Domoina, and the funniest moment was when I found out why it was my specific duty to be last in the boat when beach launching.’ ANTHONY JEFFRIES Station 5 (Durban)

THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS RECEIVED

ASHES LOG

IN MEMORY OF: Mr Dave Fraser / Ms Jean Bennett / Mr Hein Schipper / Mr Alastair Sneddon / Ms June Walkerley / Mr Angus McQueen / Mrs Brenda Tarboton / Mr Raeburn Jansson RETIREMENT: Joe Curran BIRTHDAYS: Mrs Joyce Robertson (90th) / Mr Colin and Mrs Wendy Hudson (70th birthdays and 45th wedding anniversary) / Mr Mark Gardner (60th) / Mr Barrie Moore (80th) / Steven Raucher / Mrs Tikky Tepersan (90th) / Mr John Coaton (70th) / Mr Gavin Foster

Station 3 (Table Bay) 18 November 2017: June Walkerley / 10 February 2018: Alfred Phillip Dean

SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2018

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adventure

TO GO BOLDLY

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Photographs: CALEB BJERGFELT

n Sunday 18 November teams of outdoorsmen and -women stood poised for the inaugural Torpedo Swim/Run multisport event, the brainchild of Richard McMartin, Rob Wright and Jon Adams. The terrain traverses some of the most iconic beaches, coves and waters of the Cape Peninsula, some of which are opened up especially for the event. The team-of-two format starts at Sandy Bay and includes Llandudno, Oudekraal, Camps Bay and Clifton. Event photographer Caleb Bjergfelt, who captured some of the moments on film, expressed his thanks for the help and support of the NSRI and lifesaving clubs who kept a watchful eye. ‘Without you, events like these would not be possible,’ he said. For more information, visit torpedoswimrun.com

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Sea Rescue autumn 2018



When Sylvan Brown joined the NSRI’s Junior Academy, little did he and his family know that his real-life heroes in red would be called upon to rescue him from a dire situation. By Wendy Maritz

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Sea Rescue autumn 2018

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rika Brown, her two sons, Sylvan (7) and Tyler (4), and a group of friends were spending the weekend at Verlorenvlei Farm, near Elands Bay on the West Coast. On the Sunday, while taking an early-morning walk along the beach, Sylvan spotted some kayaks available for visitors, and with the enthusiasm so typical of young children, asked his mom if they could take a paddle along the vlei. Erika and her sons got into a three-seater kayak and, armed with two paddles, enjoyed a 45-minute paddle along the vlei. With Tyler starting to get a little cold and tired, they decided to walk back to the beach where they had left their belongings and warm clothes. Sylvan asked if he could carry on kayaking. Mom was happy to oblige, so long as

Photographs: Laetitia Riera

STUCK!

he didn’t venture from the shallows, and while strolling back she kept glancing back to check up on him. Erika and Tyler changed, and turned back to make their way to Sylvan. But Erika couldn’t see him or the boat. She began to run... and then she saw him... chest deep in mud, some metres away from the kayak, panicked and crying. He was completely stuck, unable to move anything except his arms. Erika remembers it being the worst moment of her life and despite her best efforts to reach him from every possible angle, she realised she would end up getting stuck as well. Their position placed them at least 2km from the farm where they were staying, but she knew she had to get help – and fast. After reassuring Sylvan she would be back as soon as possible and urging him not to move, she ran as fast as she could along the beach, luckily finding her friend Tim before she reached the cottages. ‘I told him to get ropes and people, and come back as quickly as possible,’ she says.


REAL-LIFE RESCUE

Erika wrote this letter to rescue services

A decision was made that

the safest

Photographs: Laetitia Riera

and most efficient way

Erika jumped into the other kayak on the beach and tried to get as close to Sylvan as possible. He was still in the same position but, Erika remembers, he said he thought he was sinking more. ‘From this point on, it became this slow-motion rescue. Many of our friends came with rope, boogie boards and SUPs. But getting to Sylvan was impossible beyond a certain point,’ she says. So, they devised a new plan using two SUPS. ‘It was quite something,’ Erika says. ‘Tim was on one SUP, and dragging the second one until it was in front of him; then he got onto that one, and pulled the other ahead of him, using them like “stepping stones”.’ The manoeuvres were painstakingly slow, but there was no other way to traverse the mud. It took Tim about an hour to reach Sylvan. He pulled the frightened child out of the mud and on to the SUP. ‘We cheered for joy and relief at this point and our energy shifted to how to get them back safely. Even though the vlei doesn’t run into the sea, the tidal push still affects the mud from the ebb and flow of groundwater, making it very unstable,’ explains Erika. A friend in the group had contacted the South African Police Service (SAPS),

to rescue the pair

would be by air, and the EMS/AMS Skymed helicopter was activated from Cape Town who in turn had alerted the NSRI and emergency services. Station 24 (Lamberts Bay) station commander Matthys Koch said they and Station 4 (Mykonos) duty crew were alerted just before 1pm to the situation at Verlorenvlei. SAPS and the Western Cape Government Health EMS rescue squad were also on scene. After a water-based rescue proved futile, a decision was made that the safest and most efficient way to rescue the pair would be by air, and the EMS/ AMS Skymed helicopter was activated from Cape Town. The casualities were winched up and taken to the safety of dry ground, where Sylvan was treated for shock. It was a relieved group that made their way back to Cape Town later that afternoon. Sylvan, who was exhausted, fell asleep in the car. When they arrived home and his father came out to hug

Dear Matthys, First and foremost, I would like to express a sincere heart-bursting thank you to both the Lambert’s Bay and Mykonos NSRI teams who assisted in rescuing our son, Sylvan, on Sunday afternoon. We are extremely grateful for your professional service and I personally wooped with tears of joy and relief when I saw our son being air-lifted back to safety. I was provided with the following names that we’re sending big hugs and high fives to: Wilfred Turner, Jonathan Adams and Jan Jenzil, and from the helicopter dispatch side, Tom and Randall. Also thank you to the two gentlemen who provided EMR attention to Sylvan once he was back on solid ground, checking his vitals, getting him warm and nourished and generally making sure he was okay. Thanks to the lady in green with the lovely warm smile, for checking in with me from time to time. Thanks to the police officer who gave my sons and I a bumpy lift back to the farm. And lastly, a huge thanks to the equipment retrieval crew, who returned the next day and worked very hard through a long process of reclaiming the kayak and two SUPs from the dreaded mud: Charl Nieuwoudt, Wilfred Turner, and Elton van Rooy. You guys rock!

his child, Sylvan woke up, and the first thing he said was, ‘Dad, I got to ride in a helicopter!’ Since joining Station 26’s (Kommetjie) Junior Academy, Sylvan has long been a fan of the NSRI. ‘He has looked up to and adored the crew for years, and has decided already that he wants to become a volunteer when he is 16,’ says Erika. ‘I believe him,’ she smiles. He has had several fortunate fun interactions with the NSRI, and now, of course, this very serious one, which has taught us all some valuable lessons, but ultimately ended well. They are real-life heroes for our family!’ Sea Rescue autumn 2018

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basic training

Wendy Maritz chatted to Kenyon Clegg about Station 37’s (Jeffreys Bay) Junior Academy.

THE RESCUERS

OF TOMORROW

T

here is a great sense of achievement in seeing young people grow and learn, immerse themselves in tasks, gain confidence, develop camaraderie, exercise teamwork, engage in problem solving, and enjoy themselves in the process. Station 37 (Jeffreys Bay) radio controller and former schoolteacher Kenyon Clegg knows all about keeping young minds captivated, and set about developing a syllabus for the NSRI

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Sea Rescue autumn 2018

Junior Academy in J-Bay. ‘This was mid2016,’ he says, and then he laughs. ‘It took me six months to complete it.’ Glancing through the 30 detailed modules you’ll see why. Each module examines a topic – from tying knots, weather patterns and boat launching to plotting bearings, basic navigation, CPR, and first aid and safety. In addition, the children are taught water safety. There are two pages for the instructor (in 2017, this role was Kenyon’s) to guide them through the activity, and then a fun page for the child to take home and complete. To bolster the activities, visits from paramedics and firemen were also organised so that children could see the interior of an ambulance and fire engine and get to know how they are operated. By covering such a wide range of topics, the youngsters became exposed to the many aspects of Sea Rescue. ‘An important aim of the Junior Academy is to grow our own crew,’ says Kenyon, ‘and if they move on to join the seniors, they will have covered much of the initial learning required.’ Yet it’s not the only aim, he explains. ‘The Junior Academy

provides a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to become familiar with a range of knowledge that they would not necessarily receive in a school environment – and, most of all, it develops their self-confidence and discipline.’ In 2017, the group met every Sunday afternoon for an hour and a half during school terms. Kenyon and station commander Rieghard Janse van Rensburg were thrilled with the number of registrations at the beginning of 2017. Sixteen young stalwarts between the ages of 12 and 15 ‘graduated’ at the end of the year at a special prize-giving day of fun and games. And, of the group, two will be joining the Station’s junior trainee ranks, with others following later in the year when they turn 16. Mission accomplished? Yes. Kenyon has no doubt the programme will thrive again in 2018 – the station welcomed a group of new recruits aged 13 to 15 in February. He has also co-opted another crew member to help with teaching modules and three young crew members to take over during any unplanned absences. ‘Other bases should consider this, for such a programme cannot rely on one person,’ said Kenyon. ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn,’ were the wise words of former US president Benjamin Franklin. This seems to encompass Kenyon’s philosophy perfectly. The modules are currently available for all Sea Rescue stations to use in their Junior Academies.

Photographs: supplied

MOULDING


NO

reaching your goals

SMALL FEAT

Rieghard Janse van Rensburg met the youngest ever swimmer to complete the 7,5km Freedom Swim to Robben Island.

Photograph: Rieg & AD | RRAD Photography

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he first time I saw Abriella Bredell in action was at the 2017 Jbay Winterfest Cold Water Classic. The air temperature was a mere 9˚C. I was on a 4,2m inflatable in a full Sea Rescue wetsuit, lifejacket, gloves and foul-weather gear – Abriella, wearing nothing more than a costume, swim cap and swimming goggles, was in 11˚C water next to the boat, competing in the three-mile open-water event. After almost 1 hour and 40 minutes in these freezing conditions, she was struggling, her hands cramping from the cold. I simply could not imagine her finishing the swim, yet she had people all around her encouraging her and within 15 minutes she did it, finishing the almost 4,9km swim in a time of 1:51:56. Only later would I discover that she was only 10 years old at the time, and that this was a ‘training’ swim for something much, much bigger: the gruelling 7,5km Freedom Swim between Robben Island and Big Bay.

Abriella decided at the tender age of nine to pursue this challenge and has been training relentlessly for the past two years in order to accomplish her goal of becoming the youngest swimmer ever to complete the Freedom Swim – and in the process raise R2 million for The Children’s Hospital Trust. She worked incredibly hard, with up to six training session a week, three in the pool and three in open water, including a long swim of between 8km and 9km on Sundays. A motor-vehicle accident 12 months into her training almost destroyed her dreams, yet this 11year-old is more determined than 99,9% of the people I’ve ever met. I recently had the opportunity to ask her what made her finish the Cold Water Classic in those extremely challenging conditions. Her answer was simple:

‘I just kept thinking that if I didn’t finish, people would just say, “Ja, I knew she wouldn’t make it.” If I didn’t carry on, I was going to let my own name down – everything was just going to collapse.’ And accomplish her dream she did. On 12 January 2018 Abriella became the youngest person ever to finish the Freedom Swim in a time of three hours and eight minutes. I simply had to ask what’s next. ‘At least two times as big as Mount Everest,’ was her response. What that will be, only time will tell… In the meanwhile, help her reach her fundraising goals by visiting her website Back a Buddy at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/ champion/project/abriella-bredell Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

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training

sharing the

For training officer Graeme Harding, the classroom is a boat, a beach or the bank of a river.

joy OF LEARNING

A

Swift-water training on the Breede River It’s July and it’s freezing. At 06h00 in the morning, standing alongside the fast-flowing Breede River in wet kit from the night before are 25 volunteer crew members shivering with cold. No murmurs of complaint or any unhappy faces. They are ready to launch themselves into a raging river just to learn and experience the practical side of swift-water rescue. They dive in one at a time, struggle into the current, grab the ‘casualty’ and are pulled to the side by assisting crew, sometimes emerging a bit bashed and bruised, yet always with a beaming smile. In the evening when they sit down together for dinner, the happy banter and discussions of what was learnt that day are infectious – and even more learning happens during these times of sharing knowledge and experience.

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Sea Rescue autumn 2018

Photographs: supplied

s the training department, we have the honour of working with almost every volunteer in our organisation in some way or another. The enthusiasm with which these volunteers go about their tasks, as well as their insatiable desire to learn as much as possible, theoretically and practically, shows exactly what our rescue volunteers are made of – passion, commitment and true family values.


Here is a message from one of the Lawhill students:

Photographs: supplied

Wilderness weekend training A group of young volunteers huddles around a few boats on Wilderness beach, watching and learning about wave patterns and beach launching. They’re all looking rather nervous, as it can be a daunting task for a trainee small-boat coxswain. After much evaluation and instruction, the time has come for the first attempt to launch, and a volunteer is called for. Before anyone can bat an eyelid, forward steps a young lady who could just as easily belong on a fashion ramp, and much to everyone’s amazement briefs her crewman, jumps on the boat and launches through the surf as if she has been doing it all her life. As the training weekend progresses and most of the other crew are tiring, Grietjie Burger takes more and more turns at the helm through the surf in order to gain as much experience as possible, her desire and willingness to learn overcoming her obvious physical exhaustion.

Lawhill Early in January we hosted a group of youngsters from the Lawhill Maritime Centre in Simon’s Town through the kind sponsorship of the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), SATS General Botha Old Boys Association and Bidvest. Wow, what an eye-opener! The children were from all walks of life – from Durban, Khayelitsha, Manenberg, Atlantis and Cape Town; some Grade 10s, 11s and matrics, as well as a few completing their tertiary education. The enthusiasm, hunger and sheer passion with which the learning was attacked was something to behold and kept all instructors on their toes throughout the weekend. Anybody who is in doubt about the future of our great country should spend some time with a young group like this. They are exemplary in manner, discipline and teamwork, and show high levels of respect, not only for their instructors but also for one another. They soaked up as much knowledge as they could, often engaging and pushing far beyond what was required of them. The opportunity given to them by SATS General Botha Old Boys Association, SAIMI and Bidvest was grabbed with both hands.

Good morning, everyone, this is Menelisi. I just really wanted to say, once again, thank you very much for the lovely educational week. This camp has really enlightened all of us; it has brought a lot of awareness and knowledge about the sea and the world we live in. Your accommodation was the greatest ever, we never felt unwanted at your home at Head Office. I was really sad to leave yesterday but I know I left with a lot of knowledge I can share with my fellow pupils in my community back home in Durban. Thank you all for your contribution to our lives – it is really appreciated.

Most of our training courses take place on public holidays or over weekends. This means our crews who already give up so much of their valuable time at their own bases have to give up even more to attend. Yet the demand for this training remains high, which is testament to what these volunteers are made of. They share a desire to learn as much as possible about what we do and how to go about it in the most professional and safest way possible – and always with a smile. Surely when knowledge is received with such passion and enthusiasm, it can only be a joy sharing. As Mark Hughes puts it: ‘Always have fun.’ Sea Rescue autumn 2018

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STATION DIRECTORY

The nsri is manned by more than 1 000 volunteers at 36 bases around the country, including five inland dams. Our volunteers have day jobs but will always respond to your emergency.

STN 2 BAKOVEN StatCom: Bruce Davidson 082 990 5962 STN 3 TABLE BAY StatCom: Dr Quentin Botha 082 990 5963 STN 4 MYKONOS StatCom: Casper Frylinck 082 990 5966 STN 5 DURBAN StatCom: Clifford Ireland 082 990 5948 STN 6 PORT ELIZABETH StatCom: Ian Gray 082 990 0828 STN 7 EAST LONDON StatCom: Geoff McGregor 082 990 5972

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General needs Data projectors and speakers or flat-screen TVs for training | GoPros or similar waterproof devices to film training sessions | Good-quality waterproof binoculars | Prizes for golf days and fundraising events | Towels for casualties | Groceries such as tea, coffee, sugar and cleaning materials | Longlife energy bars | Wet and dry vacuum cleaners • Dehumidifiers | Small generators | Good-quality toolkits | Top-up supplies for medical kits
 | Waterproof pouches for cellphones | Tea cups/coffee mugs/glasses for functions | Training-room chairs. You can also make a cash or EFT donation and let us know which rescue base you would like to support. Cheques can be mailed to: NSRI, PO Box 154, Green Point 8051. Deposits can be made at:
ABSA, Heerengracht branch
Branch code: 506 009
Account number: 1382480607
Account holder: National Sea Rescue Institute Swift code: ABSA-ZA-JJ If you choose to do an EFT, please use your telephone number as a unique reference so that we are able to acknowledge receipt or email your proof of payment.

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Sea Rescue AUTUMN 2018

STN 8 HOUT BAY StatCom: Lyall Pringle 082 990 5964 STN 9 GORDON’S BAY StatCom: Alan Meiklejohn 021 449 3500 STN 10 SIMON’S TOWN StatCom: Darren Zimmermann 082 990 5965 STN 11 PORT ALFRED StatCom: Juan Pretorius 082 990 5971 STN 12 KNYSNA StatCom: Jerome Simonis 082 990 5956 STN 14 PLETTENBERG BAY StatCom: Marc Rodgers 082 990 5975 STN 15 MOSSEL BAY StatCom: André Fraser 082 990 5954 STN 16 STRANDFONTEIN StatCom: Vaughn Seconds 082 990 6753 STN 17 HERMANUS StatCom: Deon Langenhoven 082 990 5967 STN 18 MELKBOSSTRAND StatCom: Rhine Barnes 082 990 5958 STN 19 RICHARDS BAY StatCom: Bernard Minnie 082 990 5949 STN 20 SHELLY BEACH StatCom: Jeremiah Jackson 082 990 5950 STN 21 ST FRANCIS BAY StatCom: Sara Smith 082 990 5969 STN 22 VAAL DAM StatCom: Dirk Manten 083 626 5128

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STN 23 WILDERNESS StatCom: Garth Dominy 082 990 5955 (Acting) STN 24 LAMBERT’S BAY StatCom: Matthys Koch 060 960 3027 STN 25 HARTBEESPOORT DAM StatCom: Michael Saunders 082 990 5961 STN 26 KOMMETJIE StatCom: Ian Klopper 082 990 5979 STN 27 GAUTENG StatCom: Gerhard Potgieter 060 991 9301 STN 28 PORT ST JOHNS StatCom: Rob Nettleton 082 550 5430 STN 29 AIR-SEA RESCUE StatCom: Marius Hayes 082 990 5980 STN 30 AGULHAS StatCom: Reinard Geldenhuys 082 990 5952 STN 31 STILL BAY StatCom: Arrie Combrinck 082 990 5978 STN 32 PORT EDWARD StatCom: John Nicholas 082 990 5951 STN 33 WITSAND StatCom: Theo Erasmus 082 990 5957 STN 34 YZERFONTEIN StatCom: Willem Lubbe 082 990 5974 STN 35 WITBANK StatCom: Dean Wegerle 060 962 2620 STN 36 OYSTER BAY StatCom: Mark Mans 082 990 5968 STN 37 JEFFREYS BAY StatCom: Rieghard Janse van Rensburg 079 916 0390 STN 38 THEEWATERSKLOOF StatCom: Kuba Miszewski 072 446 6344 STN 39 ROCKY BAY StatCom: Kevin Fourie 072 652 5158

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