Five family members, from Oyster Bay, have been hard at work since they joined the local NSRI team three years ago and, while volunteering at the station, they have found that being able to work and grow together as a unit was important and a privilege.
Fransciska Barbas, who is an office manager at a local farm, her husband, Alwyn, who is a manager at a dairy farm, and their three children, Christabel (18), Danica (15) and Mechiel (11), have all joined the Oyster Bay NSRI team.
Alwyn said after his daughter, Christabel, joined the Junior Academy at Jeffreys Bay NSRI in 2018, through her involvement and enthusiasm, the rest of the family realised the importance of the NSRI and decided to join their local station 36 in the same year.
Since joining the station, Fransciska has qualified as a sea crew member, while Alwyn is a class 3 coxswain and Christabel, is the youngest class 4 coxswain in the NSRI history.
Furthermore, Danica formed part of the training crew and Mechiel is in the junior crew.
Despite not being an official member of the NSRI crew, Fransciska said their eldest daughter, Aliska (22), who is a student at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, helped at the NSRI station when she was home from university.
Fransciska said it was important that she and her husband teach their children to be independent, accountable, trustworthy and to persevere.
“We teach our children that they should be of service to others and that everything they do impacts other’s lives in some way,” said Fransciska.
“The NSRI reflects all the values we teach our children at home. They have also gained life skills that can take them wherever they go in life.”
Alwyn said since his children joined the local NSRI team they have been excited for training and have shown immense growth in their confidence and self–worth.
Christabel said she and her siblings enjoyed working with the surf rescue vessels and being out at sea.
Furthermore, she said they liked making new friends with young people at the other NSRI stations and being a part of the extended NSRI family.
Fransciska said they found that growing together as a unit was important and was a privilege.
Since Oyster Bay is a small community, she said her crew spent a great deal of time together while volunteering at the station as well as when they were away from the station.
“Station 36, Oyster Bay, is like one big family. We are proud to be a part of this great team. It is an honour to serve our community and be part of the bigger picture in saving lives on South African waters,” said Fransciska.
