The sheer importance of the Hout Bay Seals Rescue Centre (HBSRC) was evident during an outreach campaign in which a team from WP Media, publisher of People’s Post, TygerBurger and City Vision, invested a little love and elbow grease to restore the facility at the harbour.
The sheer importance of the Hout Bay Seals Rescue Centre (HBSRC) was evident during an outreach campaign in which a team from WP Media, publisher of People’s Post, TygerBurger and City Vision, invested a little love and elbow grease to restore the facility at the harbour.
Media24 employees, while facing routine demanding deadlines, are encouraged to sacrifice working hours and spend time volunteering at the very organisations in local communities to improve the world we live in.
This time around, after encountering the HBSRC’s hard work and awareness of protecting the Cape Fur Seal all over the city, a Volunteers24 outreach was dedicated to helping its cause.
The centre’s operational director, Kim Krynauw, was asked how a team of happy helpers could assist, to which she replied: “There is a lot to do at the centre! We need doors put up as we are building an outside structure for the pups, the centre needs repainting, I need to find donations for eco-rubber so we can paint outside . . . Lots to do!”
None of this can be accomplished without the input of sponsors, who donated hardware, dozens of litres of paint and materials.
These were all needed for these necessary upgrades. Hence, Brights Blackheath and one of its wholesale suppliers saved the day and ultimately helped save the seals! Additionally, the centre’s maintenance manager, Phil Klein, roped in heavy-duty pressure washers to ease the removal of old paint on the centre’s exterior walls.
In a matter of weeks all the necessary material was sponsored, delivered and “good to go” on Thursday 29 February, as newspaper teams made their way to Hout Bay.
This saw local sales reps chipping and pressure-washing the building to rid its walls of old paint, while news teams were handy in varnishing newly-fitted wood fences, with a commanding view of sunbathing seals along the pier.
“Oh, I have no words!” said Krynauw, reflecting on the contributions made. “What an awesome, awesome, awesome donation; I have no words. Thank you, thank you, thank you to each one who contributed towards this outreach. You guys simply don’t know what this means to us.”
Naturally, a photo session was on the agenda. Asking the centre’s manager, Amos Lapenga, whether a seal pup could make its appearance in the photograph was met with a decided “No”. “We wish to limit human interaction as far as possible so these seals can survive in the wild, as they should, truly free,” he added.
The HBSRC’s vision is to contribute to measures that reduce the impact of human activities on seals in the Cape. “Our mission is to intervene when seals are in distress. We rescue, rehabilitate and return seals to their natural environment that are found injured, sick or orphaned.”
Thulani Magazi, People’s Post and City Vision editor, hailed all the teams that supported the initiative. “We are truly grateful to Brights and all their suppliers. We could not have achieved what we did without their support. Hats off to our team and everyone at the centre for coming to the party, as we are looking forward to adding more value where it matters most. Touching and changing lives, especially where the need is greater, forms part of our DNA, and which aptly describes our Volunteers 24.”
Whatever this contribution’s impact, the centre’s supply of milk for the pups is nearly due for another stock-up. Financial contributions go towards antibiotics and other medicines, veterinary expenses, fish and rescue equipment.
To donate and help the centre, contact Krynauw on 072 988 5193.
