Helping establish Kenton NSRI station
Rotary launches project fundraiser
It took NSRI volunteers one minute and 30 seconds to launch their small rescue boat on the Kowie River in response to an “emergency call” this week.
The simulated rescue activation was a highlight at the launch of Rotary Kenton’s fundraising campaign at the Station 11 base in Port Alfred on Wednesday November 23.
There have been several emergency incidents in Kenton over the past three years including drownings, vessel assistance and medivacs, the evacuation of casualties to hospital in a helicopter.
The NSRI’s Station 11 also recognised the need for an onsite service in Kenton.
Once again, the Rotary Club of Kenton-on-Sea has stepped up.
On Wednesday evening, Rotary members gathered at the Station 11 base with NSRI volunteers to launch a fundraising campaign to establish a satellite station.
The proposed satellite station will not only service Kenton and Bushman’s River, but also Boknesstrand and lagoon, Cannon Rocks, the Kariega River, and dams in the area.
NSRI volunteers demonstrated the response time to attend to an emergency call on the Kowie River: it took one minute and 30 seconds to launch their small boat with a fully equipped crew, and two minutes 20 seconds to launch their big boat.
“As proud supporters, the Rotary Club of Kenton-on-Sea has partnered with the NSRI to assist with fundraising for this very worthwhile project,” the club said in a joint statement with the NSRI.
“We firmly believe a satellite station, situated within the precinct of Kenton-on-Sea, is of vital importance, not only for the safety of local residents, but also the holiday community.”
Brainchild of several Kenton holiday home owners the Periwinkle Trust, which has been a Rotary partner since 2010, were the first to pledge a R100,000 donation towards the satellite project.
So far, Rotary has raised more than R400,000 in pledges and is appealing for more donations.
About R1.2m is needed to set up the satellite station in a repurposed shipping container at Kenton’s Middle Beach, which will be fully equipped with a vessel, quad bike, rescue equipment and the personal protective equipment required by the NSRI.
Should the fundraising efforts be successful, the project is expected to be on the ground early next year.
The NSRI’s current response time from Port Alfred to Kenton-on-Sea is 55 minutes to launch a craft from Station 11 travelling by sea; 15 minutes travelling by road, supported by local emergency services; and 60 minutes travelling by road supported by local emergency services but towing a vessel.
If you would like to donate to this life-saving project, please contact Mike Wilmot on 082-569-2136.