In June this year 38-year-old Herzlia alumnus Robyn Silverstone was elected Station Commander for NSRI Table Bay.
Her involvement with the National Sea Rescue Institute began at the age of 16. After a gemilut chasidim project at school, she joined the organisation as a trainee, progressing up the ranks to crew and then a Class 3 coxswain.
When asked who and what helped her to progress to her current position, she acknowledges her late mother, “I think the support from her in my early years as a trainee allowed me to to keep progressing as a trainee. She would drive me to training on the weekend and during the week along with taking me to call-outs. Without that dedication from her to my growth at Sea Rescue, I would never have completed the tasks and hours to become crew”.
Asked what she loves about it, she replied, “The people, helping others in need, constantly learning and challenging myself. Being able to enable and empower within Sea Rescue,” and adds, “Time is quite tough as a volunteer to manage it around work and personal life. So you need to put the extra effort into it.”
Robyn advises others who want to get involved, “It’s an extremely rewarding organisation. If you have time to give and are wanting to learn new skills to save lives on South African waters, then the world is your oyster. You’ll be a trainee for roughly a year and then you build your experience as a crew once qualified.”
Two other Herzlians who hold senior positions in the NSRI are Luke Van Riet, Station Commander, and David Rosenberg, Deputy Station Commander, both at Bakoven.
• Published in the PDF edition of the July 2022 issue – Click here to read it.
• To advertise in the Cape Jewish Chronicle and on this website – contact us on 021 464 6700 ext. 104 or email advertising@ctjc.co.za. For more information and advertising rate card click here.
• Sign up for our newsletter and never miss another issue.
• Please support the Cape Jewish Chronicle with a voluntary Subscription for 2022. For payment info click here.
• Visit our Portal to the Jewish Community to see a list of all the Jewish organisations in Cape Town with links to their websites.
Follow the Chronicle: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
