Bench of remembrance opened in honour of deceased naval officer, Gillian Hector
Cape Town - To forever feel connected to his wife, Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Hector, and to share her legacy of giving back to others, her grieving husband has registered a non-profit company (NPC) in her name, the Gillian Hector Legacy Foundation, which will fund school fees for disadvantaged children – and erected a bench with plaques on her favourite spot in Kommetjie with the help of their friends.
On the one-year anniversary of Hector's death, Romero Hector together with two of their friends installed the bench where they together with family would watch sunsets.
In a twist of irony, Romero shares this was also where Hector had witnessed the “sunset” of her life.
The location is near where Hector, Warrant Officer William Malesela Mathipa, and Warrant Officer Mokwapa Lucas Mojela died during a storm when high waves impacted a vertical transfer (VERTREP) exercise involving the South African Air Force Maritime Lynx helicopter and the SA Navy's submarine SAS Manthatisi in Kommetjie on September 20 last year.
The submarine was en-route to Cape Town. Seven crew members were swept out to sea during the incident, four of whom survived.
““The bench was initiated by our good friends who wish to remain anonymous and discussed it with me,” he explained.
“We became friends in 2010 and later Gillian also became closer to them through activities. During the time they set up the bench of remembrance at the Kommetjie Walk way, I was not in an emotional position to take much part.
“I was present the day of the installation and completion of the bench, overlooking Kommetjie's sunset. It was the place where her sun set for the last time.
“One has to understand the history, it began with Gillian's love for Kommetjie and sunsets. We stayed just down the road in Capri and enjoyed hundreds of sunsets at Kommetjie.
“Every family member that came to visit was taken to Kommetjie to view the sunset. I enjoyed playing golf and had to run from playing after work to picking them up (his family) just in time for sunset.
“That day was exactly the same (the day he lost his wife), I was hitting balls on the golf course and received a call and had to rush to Kommetjie.”
Romero registered the foundation earlier this month with the determination and vision to continue what he and his wife had started, by giving back to the community.
“During my time with Gillian, as a couple, we made a decision to do something and give back to the communities we come from, something small and private,” he added.
“She embarked on school fees assistance to kids at her high school in Gqebera and I donated for my primary school in Graaff-Reinet.
“It was our little we did to give back each year for the blessing we received.”
Romero reveals this process has become a point of healing and reflection for him as he is still overcome by grief and learning to live without his companion and mother of their child.
“I am suffering with acceptance of what happened, and the idea of not having her close is crazy,” he explained. “The psychologist recommended I start a project that will make me feel close to her so that she does feel around me in a way. I then started the idea of continuing what we both did and the birth of the Gillian Hector Legacy foundation and NPC that was registered this month.”
Romero also intends on presenting a Cup to female cadets each year.
While Romero carried out his own memorial with family and friends, Chief of the Navy Admiral Monde Lobese carried out the unveiling of the renaming of submarine buildings in honour of the three naval officers who died.
He said he also intended on awarding medals of bravery to those who had tried to save them.
Hector, was the first female officer to navigate a submarine in Africa and it was decided that the submarine training school would be renamed after her as: “Gillian Marlouw Hector - 1157 Submarine Training School.
The families were taken to the individual buildings where each one’s name would reflect on the site.
Three weeks into a detailed report known as the findings of the Board of Inquiry shared with the media late last week, Lobese said equipment such as safety gear and the safety line and life jackets could not withstand the force of nature.
Romero later told the media that he had not been invited to the event where the BOI had been made public and said his lawyers would be overseeing the document before he could comment on it.
This week he echoed that he could not comment on the findings as yet.
Weekend Argus also sent numerous emails and queries to Minister of Defence, Angie Motshekga’s media communications, Siphiwe Dlamini whether they would be part of a further review of the findings after it was made public but they did not respond.