You’re invited…

To the NSRI’s annual Open Day on 30 September! Gather your family and friends to visit your nearest NSRI base for a station tour, meet the crew and find out what these extraordinary volunteers do.

The NSRI is all about protecting communities in and around water, which is why the annual Open Day is so highly anticipated: it gives locals a chance to find out more about what NSRI volunteers (locals themselves, in most cases) do, how they operate, and what volunteering entails. This year, the second post-pandemic NSRI Open Day will be held on Saturday, 30 September, when members of the public can visit their nearest station.

“The Open Day essentially reaffirms community connection with a non-profit that is both funded and staffed by them,” says NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson. “It showcases the achievements of the service and provides direct insight into its operations and activities. Having experienced the crew and facilities, it ignites interest and can also result in volunteer recruitment.”

By all accounts, last year’s Open Day was a great success, and feedback from the stations concluded that it was an “awesome day”. This year should prove to be even better, with various activities planned at different stations, from talks about the history of the NSRI or of a particular base, to demonstrations of rescue equipment and how to perform bystander CPR; talks about the station vessels; and even a few trips out on vessels with crew (weather dependent).

“We’d like the public to know that we’re far more approachable than they might realise – we want everyone to feel welcome to visit their local NSRI station and interact with the crews,” says NSRI Rescue Services Director Brett Ayres. “It’s also an important day to create awareness, to create a movement that highlights the essential, unpaid, yet still rewarding work that our volunteers do.”

The day promises to be a positive experience for all age groups, so bring your kids and make it a family outing.

“The NSRI really is a community organisation and stations appreciate the support and involvement of locals,” adds Dr Robertson. “I think it’s a great opportunity to find out more about the activities of the station and experience their passion and enthusiasm directly. You may also end up signing up as a volunteer in one of the many operational or support roles. The NSRI is founded on being a free service, delivered by volunteers and almost completely funded by donors, something South Africa can be very proud of.”

To find your nearest NSRI base, consult the Base Finder here.