Station Commander Conference 2016

Our Station Commanders gathered this weekend in Port Elizabeth for a leadership conference. The event kicked off with an inspiring message from our guest speaker, Craig Wilkinson. Craig shares a very personal and moving perspective on leadership, 'fatherhood', mentors and role models. You can watch his TED talk here.Topics for the conference included our vision and plan for the next 5-10 years, a review of our successes and our challenges, the topic of drowning and drowning prevention. There was plenty of opportunity for broad input and open debate. Newly elected Station Commanders enjoyed the opportunity to meet up with fellow leaders from around the country and new friendships were formed. We find as much value in the social time, sharing ideas and encouraging each other around a braai in the evenings. We return home inspired, encouraged and refreshed.Thank you to each and every Station Commander that gave up their weekend to attend the conference; thank you also to the deputies who stood in for Station Commanders who could not make it. Since we were in Port Elizabeth we invited their local coxswains to join us for the weekend, thank you for coming and sharing your insights with us. On Sunday we enjoyed a tour of the Port Elizabeth rescue base which is looking impressive after their recent renovations.

View from the Chapman Hotel, looking down over the Bayworld conference centre

A warm welcome from CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson

Guest speaker Craig Wilkinson

Cleeve, Craig and Operations Manager Brett Ayres

Darren Zimmerman (Simon's Town), Lyall Pringle (Hout Bay), Dave Roberts, Ian Klopper (Kommetjie)

Rico Menezies (Still Bay), Andy Connell (Air Sea Rescue), Geoff McGregor (East London) and Theo Erasmus (Witsand)

Justin Erasmus, Stephen van den Berg and Kevin Warren (Port Elizabeth) with John Castello (Port St Johns) in the white shirt

John Nicholas (Port Edward), Frans van Mosseveld (Melkbosstrand), Kuba Miszewski (Theewaterskloof Dam), Casper Frylinck (Mykonos) and Willem Lubbe (Yzerfontein)

Vaughn Secconds (Strandfontein), Dorian Robertson (Richard's Bay), Deon Langenhoven (Hermanus) and Alan Meiklejohn (Gordon's Bay)

Graeme Harding (Training), Ian Klopper (Kommetjie), Dean Wegerle (Witbank Dam), Bruce Davidson (Bakoven) and Rod Pitter (Hartbeespoort Dam)

Jerome Simonis (Knysna), Robert van Helsdingen (Wilderness), Cornel du Toit (for Lamberts Bay), Meriel Bartlett (Marketing and Fundraising Director), Dorian Robertson (Richard's Bay) and Mark Hughes (Operations Director)

Clifford Ireland (Durban) and Alison Smith (Fundraising Manager) join the group

Jeremiah Jackson (Shelly Beach), Rieghard Janse van Rensburg (Jeffreys Bay), Jerome Simonis (Knysna), Dr Quentin Botha (Table Bay), Robert van Helsdingen (Wilderness), Marc Rodgers (Plettenberg Bay) and Kevin Warren (Port Elizabeth)