Proceeds of wine auction to keep sea rescue afloat

AT THE end of last year, as part of its corporate social investment, the ClareMart Auction Group again arranged popular wine auction fund-raising events organised by local Rotary International clubs for the benefit of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).

In addition to a

Cape Town dinner at the Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront, where the wine auction was the main event, ClareMart also held a Joburg wine auction at the Bryanston Country Club. In total, R543 200 was raised to support the life-saving work of the NSRI.

“It is wonderful to use our auction model and skills to create exceptional community value,” says Andrew Koch, ClareMart’s general executive director. “Lives will be saved thanks to these auctions.”

The NSRI, a registered nonprofit organisation which has more than 1 000 volunteers in 24/7/365 sea rescue and fire-fighting efforts, has used the funds raised from the auctions to purchase, customise and equip a new 4X4 Mitsubishi Triton vehicle for its Hermanus station.

The vehicle has been outfitted with sign-writing, a canopy and towbar, as well as communications technology and medical and fire-fighting equipment. It will be used for all rescue and firefighting efforts in the Hermanus area, including towing and launching rescue boats.

NSRI station members also participate in the organisation’s water education programme in schools.

“It is vital the NSRI stations are equipped with suitable, fully equipped vehicles in excellent working condition,” says NSRI fund-raiser, Krista Lazzari.

“The Hermanus rescue vehicle will have a huge impact on the community of Hermanus and the surrounding area who rely on the services of their local NSRI, from the rescue of human and marine life to drowning prevention, fire-fighting and first response medical help.

“This NSRI rescue vehicle will be used to tow rescue inflatable craft to otherwise inaccessible launching sites. The vehicle will also act as a communications centre in rescue situations, connecting casualties and crew. It is a mobile storage unit for medical equipment and transports rescue crew to critical incidents and educational initiatives. It is a vehicle that will save lives. Thanks so much to ClareMart Auction Group for the huge role they played in making this a reality.”