Sailors’ Society celebrates 140 years

SAILORS’ Society SA celebrated its 140th anniversary by hosting a service in the Glenwood Presbyterian Church on 19 November which was well attended.

Led by Rev William Pool with Rev Boet van Schalkwyk, principal chaplain participating, tribute was paid to those who from 1877 had built up the Society to what it is today. The Sailors’ Society of SA is a Christian Mission organisation established in Durban in 1877 by Mrs Marie Schulz, wife of Durban’s Medical Officer of Health, who recognised the need to provide a welfare service for seafarers visiting the port.

ALSO READ: Seafarers not forgotten this Christmas

Representatives from the various Missions and organisations associated with Sailors’ Society who were present delivered messages of good wishes and others were read. Chairman of Sailors Society SA, Barry Haley, presented chaplains with certificates for their years of devotion to seafarers. Recipients were Rev Boet van Schalkwyk, Rev Paul Richardson, Missionary Jessie John, chaplain Steve van Schalkwyk from Cape Town and Danie Taljard from Port Elizabeth.

It was also a particular honour to receive warm greetings from chief executive of the Sailors’ Society in the UK, Stuart Rivers, who unfortunately could not attend. In his message he explained the programmes they have developed to assist seafarers while in port and at sea, the Wellness at Sea Programme, e-Learning platform and App which looks at seafarer wellness and well-being through a holistic lens. A Crisis Response Network has also been set up.

ALSO READ: Sailors’ Society chaplain visits 1000 ships

“Our vision for the future is to continue to extend the above services in ports around the world, and provide platforms for other maritime charities in terms of digital technology. We have an innovative digital strategy, which enables us to provide greater continuity of care to seafarers around the world through real-time reporting. Our work is global and you are an integral part of this dynamic ministry. We stand together with you today and in the future as one global Christian organisation with a passion for shared ministry,” he said.

Today the Society provides a free service for the well-being of seafarers who visit our ports annually irrespective of their nationality, gender, culture and faith. These services are as much in demand now as they have been during the last 140 years. Services now also include trauma counselling for survivors of piracy attacks and disasters at sea.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts