NSRI AGM 2015

The National Sea Rescue Institute’s 2015 AGM was held at the Rotunda, The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay, and included long service awards for volunteer crew, awards for service to NSRI, and four awards for remarkable rescues carried out by NSRI volunteers, the SA Navy and a Grade 8 Knysna school pupil. The awards were handed out by NSRI Chairman, Ronnie Stein.Pictures are available on Sea Rescue's Flickr page for download. SILVER GALLANTRY AWARD Johnny Albert (represented by Gaby Albert) - Station 2 Bakoven, Jeremy Joseph Godfrey - Station 2 Bakoven, Alex Ryan Albert - Station 2 Bakoven. For the rescue of 18 year old Shane Keenan. NSRI Chairman, Ronnie Stein, second left, presented the award. BRONZE GALLANTRY AWARD Daniel Heimann - previously Station 6 Port Elizabeth and Stephen Van Den Berg - Station 6 Port Elizabeth for going to the rescue of surfskier Clinton Hempel, on 1 November 2014, at Sardinia Bay. CHAIRMAN’S Letter Of Appreciation SAS Isandlwana Captain and crew for rescue of 6 crew on yacht Bille. Ronnie Stein (third from the left) presented the awards. MARMION MARSH AWARD was presented to Billy Harker for raising an incredible R3.5m over 10 years, through the surfski community, which has paid for 4 new rescue boats to date. The award was presented by NSRI Chairman Ronnie Stein. ALRIC SIMPSON AWARD Captain Kieron Cox - for his remarkable contribution over the past 29 years to the training of NSRI crew. The award was presented by Mrs Eleanor Simpson. WATERWISE ACADEMY RECOGNITION AWARD Devon Dodd, a Grade 8 pupil at Oakhill School in Knysna for saving the life of a man caught in a rip current. BEST CLASS 1 STATION AWARD (PAT O SULLIVAN): Station 10, Simon's Town. Station Commander Darren Zimmermann received the award from Operations Director Mark Hughes. BEST RIB STATION AWARD: Station 2 Bakoven. Station Commander Bruce Davidson received the award from Mark Hughes. MOST IMPROVED STATION AWARD: Station 20 Shelly Beach. Station Commander Jerry Jackson received the award from Mark Hughes.This is a full list of awards made:SILVER GALLANTRY AWARD Johnny Albert - Station 2 Bakoven, Jeremy Joseph Godfrey - Station 2 Bakoven, Alex Ryan Albert - Station 2 Bakoven. For the rescue of 18 year old Shane Keenan who was entangled in his kite lines and being swept towards rocks off Glen beach, Camps Bay, by a huge ground swell and a 50 knot South Easter on 19^th January 2015.BRONZE GALLANTRY AWARD Daniel Heimann - previously Station 6 Port Elizabeth (now HQ) and Stephen Van Den Berg - Station 6 Port Elizabeth for going to the rescue of surfskier Clinton Hempel, on 1 November 2014, at Sardinia Bay. Clinton had paddled with friends from Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, to Sardina Bay. The conditions deteriorated during the paddle and he fell off his surfski near to the take out beach. Separated from the group and unable to remount his surfski he became seriously hypothermic. Although he managed to hold onto the ski he was unable to help himself in any other way.CHAIRMAN’S Letter Of Appreciation SAS Isandlwana Captain and crew for rescue of 6 crew on yacht Bille. On the 7^th January 2014, SAS Isandlwana responded to the stricken Angolan yacht Bille taking part in the Cape to Rio Yacht race approximately 100 miles NW of Saldanha Bay. Using a small inflatable the SAS Isandlwana’s crew went to the rescue of the six crew members of the stricken dismasted yacht. Unfortunately the seventh crew member of the yacht died when the yacht was dismasted in the storm prior to the arrival of the rescue team.WATERWISE ACADEMY RECOGNITION AWARD Devon Dodd, a Grade 8 pupil at Oakhill School in Knysna, was surfing at Buffalo Bay on Freedom Day, April 27 when he noticed a swimmer in distress and he rescued the man, who's name he never found out, using his surfboard as a floatation aid. It is the first time that this award has been made.MARMION MARSH AWARD Billy Harker – In 2006, following a long search by air and sea units in foul weather conditions, in fading light, the NSRI eventually found and saved the life of surfskier Casper Kruger. Race organiser Billy Harker approached the NSRI about starting a surfski paddlers fundraising project. The concept was simple: a R25 per month debit-order campaign marketed into the surfski community and ring fenced to fund Sea Rescue boats around the country. The funds raised have been used to build 4 rescue boats to date. Spirit of Surfski 1 in Gordon’s Bay, Spirit of Surfski 2 in Simon’s Town, Spirit of Surfski 3 in Durban and Spirit of Surfski 4 is currently in production and will serve at Port Elizabeth.ALRIC SIMPSON AWARD Captain Kieron Cox - for his quite remarkable contribution over the past 29 years to the training of NSRI crew. For 27 years Capt. Cox was a member of the National Operations & Trainee Committee sub-committee on Training, in a purely voluntary capacity. He was specially noted for his meticulous attention to detail in contributing to the formulation of content and in designing the format of the task books and manuals needed to ensure that our crew were given the best possible grounding for their task as sea rescue volunteers. In particular Capt. Cox designed a training course on Electronic Navigation Systems tailored to our special needs, which he has donated to NSRI.DIRECTORS THANKSHendrik Josias Henn – Station 17 Hermanus on the occasion of his standing down from the position of station commander of Station 17, Hermanus, on the 14 April 2015 after 26½ years in the post – and for staying on as operational crew. Henk Henn.LONG SERVICE AWARDS – 20 YRSLAURENT ERAY – STATION 14 Plettenberg BayNAZEEM ABRAHAMS –STATION 16 StrandfonteinGAVIN FORDHAM – STATION 19 Richards BayMICHAEL SAUNDERS – STATION 25 Hartbeespoort DamGEOFF HARRIS – Coastwatcher at STATION 9 Gordons BayLYNNE HARRIS – Coastwatcher at STATION 9 Gordons Bay LAURENT ERAY NAZEEM ABRAHAMS MICHAEL SAUNDERS GEOFF HARRIS LYNNE HARRISLONG SERVICE AWARDS – 25 YRSDR. JOHN DONALD – STATION 14 Plettenberg BayANDRE FRASER – STATION 15 Mossel BayMARION SPENCER – STATION 17 Hermanus DR. JOHN DONALD – STATION 14 Plettenberg Bay MARION SPENCER – STATION 17 HermanusLONG SERVICE AWARDS – 30 YRSDAVID ROBINS – Director and STATION 3 Table Bay DAVID ROBINS – HQ Director and STATION 3 Table BayLONG SERVICE AWARDS – 35 YRSROGER CLANCY – STATION 12 KnysnaPHIL RESS – STATION 3 Table BayMICHAEL CLARK – STATION 17 Hermanus ROGER CLANCY – STATION 12 Knysna PHIL RESS – STATION 3 Table Bay MICHAEL CLARK – STATION 17 HermanusLONG SERVICE AWARDS – 40 YRSBRAD GEYSER – OBM, STN 2 Bakoven & Station 8 Hout BayROB STIRRAT – Director and STN 3 Table BayIAN WIENBURG – Director and STN 3 Table Bay BRAD GEYSER – OBM, STN 2 Bakoven & Station 8 Hout Bay ROB STIRRAT – Director and STN 3 Table Bay IAN WIENBURG – Director and STN 3 Table BayLONG SERVICE AWARDS – 45 YRSIAN STRACHAN – HLG, STN 9 Gordons Bay MOST IMPROVED STATION AWARDStation 20 Shelly BeachBEST RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) STATION AWARDStation 2 BakovenTHE PAT O SULLIVAN SHIELD FOR THE BEST BIG BOAT STATION Station 10 Simon’s Town

Station Excellence Awards 2014-2015

Region 1 - Hout Bay, Table Bay, Bakoven, Mykonos, Melkbosstrand

Region 2 - Simon's Town, Gordon's Bay, Strandfontein, Agulhas

Region 3 - Witsand, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Still Bay, Wilderness, Mossel Bay

Region 4 - East London, Port Alfred, St Francis Bay, Jeffreys Bay

Region 5 - Durban, Richards Bay, Port Edward

Region 6 - Hartbeespoort Dam, Vaal Dam