Plett community honours the brave
In an emotional tribute the Plettenberg Bay community lined the town’s Main Street on Saturday July 1, 2017 to honour the brave men and women who played a role protecting residents against the recent raging fire which not only destroyed properties, but claimed a life.
Organised by the Bitou Municipality, firefighters, public safety officers and volunteers, made their way through the town’s centre, to the laud applause of locals. The parade was a touching one, as onlookers and participants could be seen wiping away tears.
Bitou mayor Peter Lobese thanked everyone who played a role in saving lives and properties. “We were expecting bad weather, but were faced with fire,” Lobese said.
He added that in Bradley Richards – a young volunteer firefighter who lost his life in the June fires – the town had lost a hero. “To his family, I want to thank you for your son. He saved the lives of so many and he is our hero,” Lobese added.
He further said that he declared the municipality’s firefighting section, “the Bradley Brigade” and vowed to transfer funds to volunteer firefighters every year. “As a fire department we cannot deal with disasters of this magnitude alone. We need groups like the various Fire Management Units.”
Among the speakers was Plett South FMU volunteer Steve Ritky who said that while it was difficult to see the positive in a disaster, that he wanted to highlight the positive that has come of the tragedy.
He said that a formal structure was being put in place to fund FMUs, to ensure that volunteers have the necessary training and that these organisations worked like a welloiled machine. “This is Bradley’s legacy and it will not stop,” Ritky said.
While in the past the FMUs involved members carrying the costs of their operations mostly themselves, funding of Bitou’s four FMUs will now be done through the Plett People’s Purse which has already been raising funds through the #SoundstheCall campaign.
During the parade Bitou speaker Annelise Olivier read out a letter from Ian Barnard’s mother Liz van Huyssteen. Barnard suffered severe burns while attempting to save Richards’ life when they became trapped in flames in the Hakerville area.
“It has taken me quite some time to actually put pen to paper to express my gratitude towards the Bitou community, the Bitou fire department and all the volunteer firefighters,” Van Huyssteen said in the letter.
“Mrs Doyle (Richards’ mother) God knew you were a stronger mother than what I am to cope with the loss of a son. My heart bleeds for you and your family and my prayers are that our Lord keeps you and strengthens you and gives you courage to keep you standing through this terrible and heartbreaking time. Your heartache and memories of Bradley will never fade but he will always be remembered by my family too.”
Van Huyssteen also thanked volunteer Shaun Lee de Almeida for his bravery. “Thank you are two small words, but this mother will never forget what you did to help Ian and Bradley. Thank you for risking your life to get them out of the demon’s claws.
Thank you for getting them out so quickly and efficiently to the hospital. Without your quick thinking, just doing the right thing at the right time saved Ian’s life and you will never know how grateful I feel and I will always be indebted to you. Thank you.”