Lilian Mallet, wat 100 jaar oud is, het onlangs die eerste prys in die NSRI se 2022 Four Car Competition gewen.
Wendy Nortje, haar dogter, het die pryse namens haar ontvang.
“The prize of not one, but two brand new Mitsubishi cars could not have gone to a more deserving or dedicated supporter of the NSRI.”
Die NSRI sê Lilian Mallet ondersteun hulle reeds vir dekades met donasies.
“Her reaction to winning was a sight to behold,” says Wendy. “It started off with a loud yell and her hands shot up to her face in disbelief, which soon gave way to total joy and amazement. We are still pinching ourselves to make sure it’s not a dream. ”
Sy word as onafhanklik beskryf waar sy in ‘n aftree-oord in Boksburg, Gauteng, in ‘n klein woonstel bly. Sy berei steeds van haar eie maaltye voor, andersins bring haar dogter Wendy Nortje ook vir haar maaltye.
Mallet het die twee motorvoertuie juis aan haar dogter gegee wat sê: “Absolutely thrilled to have been so lucky.”
Nortje sê dat haar ma vir jare lank reeds ‘n ondersteuner van die NSRI is en verduidelik soos volg:
“Mom has been a supporter of the NSRI for many, many years,” says Wendy. “It all started with her second husband Paul, who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He was the commander of the ship HMS Goodall. Later, General Smuts recalled the South African personnel on board the ship back to South Africa, and it later sunk during the war, near Russia. This meant Paul’s life was spared, and he lived for many years thereafter. Thanks to his love for the sea, years later he began supporting the NSRI. When he passed away in 2005, my mom continued their support, and in 2010 started taking part in the car competition each year, in memory of Paul.”
Volgens NSRI beskryf sy haar ma as ‘n jolige persoon met ‘n sin vir humor, vir wie haar familie die belangrikste mense is.
Haar seun woon in die VSA en dogter nie ver van haar nie, in Boksburg.
Nortje het verder soos volg gesê:
“I am now a widow, having lost my husband to cancer not too long ago,” says Wendy. “So I spend a lot of time assisting and supporting my mom so she can lead her ‘independent’ life, which is her choice. She insists she does not want to go into assisted living, where someone else will try to rule her life for her.
“The work that is done by the NSRI is to be truly admired. The volunteers who put their own lives at risk while they rescue others is such a selfless gesture. The numerous rescues which are responded to, and now also being so involved in preventative measures like teaching children to swim and by doing so trying to prevent drownings, is remarkable. In fact, everyone at the NSRI, from admin to the rescuers, seem to be just one big family, conscious of the needs of others. They provide a selfless service to the public. They are knights in shining armour!”
Die NSRI het hul gelukwense aan ma en dogter oorgedra.
“Enjoy your prize!”
Volg FiND iT se Facebookblad hier en klik hier om ons app af te laai. Klik hier vir vandag se nuutste nuus. As jy Afrikaanse Nuus op die Moya App wil lees, volg die skakel.
