Popular commodore Anton Gets mourned
Anton became known as the man of 10 000 or more launches, without doubt more than anyone else in the country.
Anton Gets of Shelly Beach, the well-loved and respected commodore at Shelly Beach Ski-boat Club died on June 8 after a short battle with cancer.
Anton, nicknamed ‘Ballie’ by many, was involved with boats and angling, initially with his parents, and later with power boats and water ski racing.
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Like many deep sea anglers, he served his apprenticeship as a rock and surf fisherman, fishing mainly in the Eastern Cape (formerly Transkei) and became involved with ski-boating from 1971.
In 1984, Anton and his then wife Winnie (who died many years ago) made their home in Shelly Beach after moving from Johannesburg, where Anton had grown up.
Over the years he ran a fishing tackle/ski-boat supply and repair shop, a security company and shop fitting business, to name a few.
For the last decade of his life he concentrated on the training of ski-boat skippers and, in particular, the handling and safety of ski-boats in surf conditions.
Hence, he became known as the man of 10 000 or more launches, without doubt more than anyone else in the country.
Anton fished many times for the province, and then for the South African Deep Sea Angling Association.
He received Protea colours for his expertise in sail-fishing in 2002 and 2004.
Anton fished all over southern Africa and was a proud member of the Nomads deep sea angling association.
Having taken part in many international, national, provincial and club tournaments as an angler, skipper or organiser, he was chosen as a selector for those receiving national colours, an office which he held until his death.
He was also chosen by SADSAA as the deputy safety officer South Africa, responsible for coastal regions which he also held till the end.
When Anton first moved to coast, he joined the Shelly Beach Ski-boat club in 1984 and has been very involved in the club ever since, holding many portfolios including safety officer, until he became commodore in 1992.
He was a founder member of the Shelly Beach Lions and headed up its membership programme but his commitments to skippers’ training and the SBSBC did not allow him to become as involved as he would have liked.
Anton made friends wherever he went and will be sorely missed, especially among the deep sea angling community, as well his beloved partner Anne, his children Michelle, Candice and Grant and many grandchildren.
(Submitted by Shelly Beach Ski-boat Club)
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