AWARDS / 29 MARCH 2019

Rob Stirrat honoured for 43 years of service to Sea Rescue

On Wednesday, Rob Stirrat was honoured for his enormous contribution towards Sea Rescue over the past 43 years. He officially retired in 2018 as a Director of our Governance Board. Thank you so much Rob.The Citation reads:The Directors of The National Sea Rescue Instituteaccord their thanks toRobert Stirrat'one of the stalwarts who have moulded the NSRI into the internationally-recognised effective sea rescue organisation that it is today, on the occasion of his standing down as a director of the NSRI, in June 2018.Rob has served the Institute in ever increasingly responsible roles for the past 43 years. He joined Station 3, Table Bay, as a Sea Rescue volunteer on 1st July 1975. A very active member, his leadership traits were recognised from the start. He became a Class 1 cox’n in short order, in 1977, and served on the station committee in various capacities, being elected Station Commander for two tours of duty. He was an active crewman for 27 years.In 1991 Rob’s qualities were harnessed at a higher NSRI management level by being invited to join the National Operations & Training Committee; the body, mainly comprising volunteer crewmen, tasked with assisting the executive Operations Director in deciding policy regarding the running of the Institute’s sea rescue stations and the choice and development of new rescue assets such as rescue boats and vehicles and personal equipment for the crews. He became Chairman of the NOTC the following year and guided this vital committee for the next 21 years, standing down in 2013. In furtherance of his aim to constantly improve all aspects of the NSRI, Rob travelled extensively around the stations and conducted considerable sea rescue business overseas, almost entirely at his own expense.In addition, Rob served on the NSRI Awards Committee for 15 years. In recognition of his efforts on behalf of the cause of sea rescue in South Africa he was awarded the SASAR Meritorious Award in 2013 and the Marmion Marsh Trophy in 2014.Rob was invited to join the NSRI Board in 1991. In this capacity he provided essential governance guidance to the operational side of the NSRI’s activities during his time on the NOTC, besides making valuable inputs to the board’s deliberations in general. Elected an Honorary Life Governor on standing down from the board earlier this year, he continues to do so.We thank him sincerely for his outstanding role and congratulate him on serving the Institute selflessly for over 43 years and on continuing to do so.'