Specialized Rescue Services Get Local Business Support
A local business entrepreneur has initiated a series of business to business networking events to encourage local business growth, support of local charities and offer keen insight and advice for recently established and experienced business owners.
Rory Gardner gives insight to the rewards and challenges of the volunteer Rescue Team.
Husband and wife team, Martin and Suzette Barnard at B Square Financial have a keen understanding for business. Their initiative to bring key business role players together in monthly business to business networking events with professional presentations from local business associates with knowledge to share, has the added element of Charity/ NPO support in the mix.
The Latest event showcased the work of the 18 dedicated individuals making up the Specialized Rescue Unit.
Rory Gardner, a local plumber by day and dedicated Rescue Volunteer in his spare time, shared some of the delights and challenges of belonging to the unit. “Entry to the team demands a Level Three First Aid Qualification,” said Gardner, “but most of the team have other special qualifications too.” Indeed, whether supporting local SAPS in Search and Rescue Operations by Sea or Land or attending to a favorite pet caught in a tree, the team draw on levels of physical, mental and emotional endurance others do not have.
The Spcialised Rescue Unit work with KDM Lifeguards to capture the shark in Salt Rock Tidal Pool.
The team most recently took to the water at Salt Rock Tidal Pool to catch and release a Dusky Shark back into the open sea.
The Team were most recently called to deal with a shark in the local Tidal Pool…”
Local ‘inactive’ volunteer Lina Collazuol found herself wet and wary as the ‘shark bait’ component of the mission, while the more skilled team members worked to capture the animal.
Gardner admits, the tragic events are difficult to overcome. The recent fatal drowning of three year old Chelsy Misken (Community Mourns as Heaven Welcomes Another Angel) was particularly difficult as the little girl was a family friend and the team, as first respondents on scene, were desperate to save her. The tragedy and trauma of the job is balanced by the more light-hearted call-outs and the irrepressible sense of humor brought by certain team members.
Crane Training Scenario for the unit
Members of the Unit donate their time and skills freely, but are desperate for funds to go towards Equipment and Training.
“Training and Skills Courses are expensive, ” says Collazuol, “I would love to add to my qualifications, but many of us just don’t have the additional funds to cover the whole course fee.”
Gardner concurs. “As a unit we would like ALL of us to have our Level Three’s, our Skipper’s ticket, driving licence etc. But all that training is expensive.”
Local business support includes the untiring efforts of MoZambique Restaurant to raise funds through events for the unit (including the payment for the unit’s Jetski used to rescue a whale over the course of the Ballito Pro), Uniforms for the team from Pick N Pay Ballito and Lifestyle’s support in renewing wetsuits for the team. ShowMe Ballito will be sponsoring a professionally designed website for the unit and Tiffany’s Centre in Salt Rock has made space for an upcoming ‘Bat Cave’ to house the equipment, vehicles and Jetski’s used by the unit.
Local HR Labor Consultant Willie Van Heerden offered professional tips and advice on how to handle a difficult employee at the event. Read More Here…
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