A CALL has gone out to all associated with the maritime industry to attend the Annual Sea Sunday Service and express your support for the Anglican outreach - Missions for Seamen.
It will be held at St Luke's in Orchards, Johannesburg on August 1.
The Missions is a network of stations at all the major seaports around the globe and is a source of succour and assistance for all those who ply the maritime trade.
Known to all the seafaring peoples of the world - the Scots, Geordies and Scousers of the UK; the Malayan lascars; the Yankee deckhands; the Zulu crewmen; and the Norwegian deep-sea men - this non-denominational body tends to the welfare of sea-going folk in a most wonderful way.
Looking for help? Ye'll aye get a helpin haund 'n a cup o' tea at the Missions. A phrase spoken in every language and dialect - but a signal of help for any anguished man-of-the-sea.
In SA, the Missions for Seamen has stations all around the seaboard. But, while Gauteng is landbound, it is still the main generator of SA sea trade, and provides the main source of funds for the body, according to chairperson, Maureen Rowland.
Through FTW, Maureen has appealed for the support of all those in the shipping industry. The Sea Sunday Service is a good time for people to come along and show their support, she said. With the trumpets and bugles of the SA Navy - long-time supporters of the Missions - it is a rather splendid occasion.
Rod Eaton, well-known in the seafaring trade, and the committee member of the Johannesburg branch representing the merchant side of shipping, added his call.
It would be great if the Sea Sunday could be supported by more of us in the shipping industry - particularly agents and representatives of the lines, he said.
If you wish to know more, please contact Maureen Rowland. Tel: (011) 447-1303 or 447-1207.
By Alan Peat
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
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