A lifelong volunteer who was always ready to step forward in an emergency or when disaster threatened – that was Donald Rather, say those who knew him.
Mr Rother, who died on Saturday August 17 at the age of 75, leaves a legacy of selfless service and unwavering dedication, according to colleagues, friends and family.
He was 18 when he joined the Fish Hoek fire department as a volunteer firefighter in 1967.
“Donald and I became good friends from the start. We trained on Saturdays, perfecting our skills in operating the fire engine’s pumps. This led us to become driver and pump operators, a role Donald excelled in,” Allen James, a close friend and fellow firefighter, recalled.
In 1968, Mr Rother started as an apprentice in the naval dockyard in Simon’s Town. Upon completing his apprenticeship, he worked as an artisan, specialising in the repair and maintenance of navy ships.
In 1985, he joined the Disaster Control Unit, bringing his firefighting expertise to the team as a team leader in the fire section.
“Donald was often on the front lines, responding to fires and other emergencies with courage and efficiency,” Mr James said.
In the 1990s, as part of the False Bay Volunteer Ambulance Service, he became one of the first trained basic ambulance assistants in the region.
“Donald had a passion for saving lives and firefighting,” Mr James said. “He took a retrenchment package from the dockyard to join the fire department full-time.
Nikki Baumann, Mr James’s daughter, said: “As a firefighter, Uncle Donald embodied bravery, always ready to risk his own safety to protect others. His heroism didn’t end when he hung up his uniform. He lived for others, offering a helping hand, a kind word, or a shoulder to lean on to anyone in need.”
Mr Rother’s sister, Lesley Gibbon, remembers him as someone always ready to lend a hand.
“He made great friends at the dockyard and was always willing to help others. The fire department was his passion, and he received many awards and certificates from the City over the years,” she said.
According to Warren Dawson, Disaster Risk Management volunteer coordinator for Fish Hoek, Mr Rother was the longest-serving Disaster Risk Management volunteer in the city, with 39 years of service.
“Over the years, Donald accumulated thousands of volunteer hours, always prioritising the safety and well-being of his community.
“His scrapbook, a testament to four decades of service, is filled with memories of every major fire in the area, from the Spur Town Square blazes to the infamous 2000 Cape of Flames fires. In each of these incidents, Donald was there, leading the charge to protect his community.”
Mr Rother never took a day off and was always finding another organisation to support, Mr Dawson said.
“You could call him at any time, day or night, and he would be there, ready to help,” he said.
“His fun spirit, sense of duty, and presence will be sorely missed by everyone he worked with, helped, and loved. It’s now time for his day off. We’ve got it from here on, Uncle D. It’s time for your holiday. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”
