50TH AGM AND AWARDS EVENING

NSRI celebrated its 50th Annual General Meeting and Awards evening in Cape Town on Monday 12 June 2017 at The Rotunda, Bay Hotel - Camps Bay. Sea Rescue honoured the contributions of volunteers under the following categories: founder members, gallantry, special service, station awards and long service awards from 20 to 50 years.Mark Bayly, former Survivor SA presenter and proud supporter of Sea Rescue donated his time as our MC.Below is a full list of the awards handed over at the AGM. All images are available for media download on our Sea Rescue Flickr Website:The Awards Committee Chairman, Howard Godfrey set the scene and shared an account of the first rescue, and invited the founder members who served as crew from 1967 were honoured as Honorary Life Members.The Station 3 crew of rescue boat “Snoopy” based at Three Anchor Bay: the late Ray Lant, the late Bob Deacon, the late Neville Lipman, the late Harry Nagel and the late Cooper GortonThe Station 2 crew of rescue boat “Excalibur” based at Bakoven: Ivan Klerk, Station Commander, Don Nicholls, Peter Adamo, Peter Pienaar, Mitch Brown, Peter Pullen, Allan Cramb, Michael Hopkins, the late Michael Lundy, the late Fred Lighton and the late Derwent Kieser Founder members and families honoured. Allan Cramb and Peter Adamo with Bob Deacon's familyA video of Howard sharing an account of an early rescue: https://youtu.be/43Xycn9vJkQBARATZ RESCUE On the afternoon of Thursday 26 November 2015, the 29 metre steel Fishing Vessel BARATZ was sinking with 25 crewmen aboard in rough sea conditions. They were 2 miles offshore, South East of Cape Recife, Port Elizabeth. The sea conditions were 4/5 metre swells, with a Force 6 south easterly wind of 25 knots and rain squalls. A Bronze Gallantry Award was presented to – John FletcherThe boat crew and helicopter crews were honoured with CEO Letters of Appreciation: Crew - Jonathan Tufts, Mark Boyers, Marizaan Booysen Award received by Jonathan TuftsSAAF - Major Herman Swart (Pilot), Corporal Cobus Botha, Major Johan Stander (Pilot) and Flight Sergeant Coert Steynberg, ASR Crew - Sean Lunnon, Marko Holtz, Damiano Hand, Gareth De Vry and Kevin Warren Award received by Ian Gray - Station Commander Port ElizabethOriginal media release for this rescue - http://www.nsri.org.za/2015/11/fishing-boat-sinks-all-crew-rescued/A video of John Fletcher sharing the account of the rescue: https://youtu.be/_Km5C7yOjdALINCOLN RESCUEOn 27 September 2015, a Mayday call was sent at approximately 18h00 from FV Lincoln. They reported a position 20nm south of Hangklip and 32nm south east of Cape Point, taking on water. All 21 crew on board Lincoln were preparing to abandon ship. Station 10, Simon’s Town, Station 17 Hermanus, Station 29 Air Sea Rescue, MV Harvest Rising, FV Fuchsia, FV Armana, and FV African Queen, all diverted to the area on hearing the Mayday call.CEO Letters of Appreciation were presented to:Station 10 Simon’s Town’s boat crew: Darren Zimmerman, Lydelle Joubert, Robbie Robinson, Herby Meth, Hein Scheepers and Gary FultonStation 17 Hermanus’s boat crew: Deon Langenhoven, Alwyn Geldenhuys, Jean Le Roux, Antonie de Klerk and Andre BarnardThe helicopter crew: Lt. Col. Brian Bell, Major Marius Havenga, Flight Sergeant Oosthuizen and Rescue swimmer Davide del FanteDirectors’ Thanks awarded to:The Captains and crews of: Harvest Rising, Armana, Fuchsia and African Queen (They were not in attendance, a handover of these awards will take place at their offices)Original media release for this rescue – http://www.nsri.org.za/2015/09/tragedy-after-crew-abandon-their-fishing-vessel/STRAND RESCUEOur congratulations to two young lifeguards for the rescue of a woman off Strand beach on the morning of Saturday 26 March 2017. CEO Letters of Appreciation presented to: Conrad Kriel and Kael MeadOriginal media release for this rescue - http://www.nsri.org.za/2017/03/a-womans-life-has-been-saved-at-strand-pavillion/DURBAN FLOODSDirectors’ Thanks presented to: Paul Bevisfor his heroic effort on the evening of 25 July 2016 when he went to the aid of two men who were trapped by the flooding at Umlaas river south of Durban.Original media release for the rescue - http://www.nsri.org.za/2016/07/durban-responds-to-multiple-flooding-incidents/Video of Paul sharing the rescue: https://youtu.be/9cWpDVHuWOcLINKSFIELD FLOOD RESCUESOn 09 November 2016, during a violent storm that caused the flooding of the N3 during peak hour traffic. The swift and decisive actions of Bianca-Lee Bird, Vuyani Dingiswayo and Lucas Bota helped save the lives of many people trapped in their cars on the flooded highway in Johannesburg.CEO Letters of Appreciation are presented to: Bianca Lee Bird, Vuyani Dingiswayo and Lucas Bota (Vuyani and Lucas not in attendance, a handover of these awards will take place at their offices) Bianca-Lee Bird with Dr Cleeve RobertsonSEA POINT PROMENADE RESCUEFor coming to the rescue of the man swept off the rocks at Three Anchor Bay. A CEO Letter of Appreciation is presented to: Ali GaffoorOriginal media release for the rescue - http://www.nsri.org.za/2017/01/incidents-at-hermanus-port-edward-jeffreys-bay-and-three-anchor-bay/The SASAR (South African Search and Rescue) presented three awards to volunteers at Sea Rescue, presented by the Head of SASAR: Mr Levers MabasoSASAR PLATINUM EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY AWARDAwarded to Mr Ian Richard Wienburg in recognition of his dedication, commitment, passion and immense contributions as champion of maritime search and rescue services in South Africa. Ronnie Stein receive's award on Ian’s behalfSASAR SILVER ARISTOCRAT AWARDAwarded to Mr Ian Forester Gray for many years of diligence in saving lives at sea and sharing experience and knowledge with South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) OrganizationSASAR GOLDEN EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY AWARDAwarded to Mr Robin Fortuin for demonstrating extreme bravery, courage, selflessness and exceptional skills during a search and rescue mission.STATION AWARDS – Mark Hughes (Operations Director presented these awards)The Most Improved Station of the year 2016 was awarded to: Station 26 Kommetjie Ian Klopper – Station Commander receives awardThe Best RIB Station of the year 2016 is awarded to: Station 23 Wilderness Robert van Helsdingen – Station Commander receives awardThe Pat O Sullivan Trophy, for the best Class 1 Station 2016 is awarded to: Station 3 Table Bay Quentin Botha – Station Commander receives awardSERVICE AWARDSMARMION MARSH TROPHY 2016 awarded to: Andrew Koch of Claremart Auction group for offering his time and expertise at our Annual Wine Auction which we host together with Rotary. He has done this consistently for an incredible 17 years and always at no charge.ALRIC SIMPSON TROPHY 2016 awarded to: Station 14 Plettenberg Bay Fundraising Committee for their remarkable effort and contribution over four decades. (Chairman David Haysom receives award) SPECIAL SERVICE AWARDSDirectors’ Thanks to Mike Elliot - on the occasion of his standing down as Operations Board Member for NSRI Region 3, Eden District. (not in attendance - Hennie Niehaus received on his behalf)Directors’ Thanks to Dick Manten - on the occasion of his standing down from the position of Station Commander of Station 22, Vaal Dam.Directors’ Thanks to Hennie Niehaus - on the occasion of his standing down from the position of Station Commander of Station 23, Wilderness.Chairman’s Letter of Appreciation to Chris Hudson - on the occasion of his standing down from the Awards Committee.Chairman’s Letter of Appreciation to Mike Meyer – to record our appreciation for your work as one of the founders of the South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN).Video of Mike sharing his experiences of whale disentanglements: https://youtu.be/obpIeQ07F2YLONG SERVICE AWARDS (Our Chairman Ronnie Stein presented these awards)20 Years Jonathan Tufts – Station 6 Port ElizabethMike Wilson – Station 6 Port ElizabethGeoff Stephens – Station 8 Hout BayAnton Prinsloo – Station 16 StrandfonteinJohn Costello – Station 28 Port St Johns (Not in attendance)Hennie Taljaard – Honorary Life Governor From Left: Hennie Taljaard, Ronnie Stein, Anton Prinsloo, Mike Wilson, Jonathan Tufts and Geoff Stephens25 YearsClifford Ireland – Station 5 Durban (Andre Fletcher to receive on his behalf)Neville Eustice – Station 12 KnysnaRein Hofmeyr – Station 12 KnysnaDr Berend Maarsingh – Station 12 KnysnaVaughn Seconds – Station 16 Strandfontein From left: Vaughn Seconds, Ronnie Stein, Rein Hofmeyr and Andre Fletcher30 Years John Brown – Station 3 Table Bay Paul Bevis – Station 5 Durban35 Years Ian Gray – Station 6 Port Elizabeth45 Years Pat van Eyssen – Station 3 Table Bay Mike Patterson – Station 19 Richards Bay50 Years Brian Hustler –Station 6 PE and Honorary Life Governor Allan Cramb – Station 2 Bakoven and Honorary Life GovernorAllan Cramb shares a few of his favourite memories as he looks back over 50 years: https://youtu.be/tqh-JVZAgcYDownload for all citations handed over to our Award Winners: AGM CitationsThank you to everyone who came to share this special occasion with us.Photographs: Megan Hughes