Testimonial to a sporting stalwart
A TESTIMONIAL to Mike Wrublewski, stalwart of the Australian Maccabi movement and former high-profile owner of the Sydney Kings basketball team, will be held in Sydney on the weekend.
DAVID WEINER
MIKE Wrublewski, stalwart of the Australian Maccabi movement and former high-profile owner of the Sydney Kings basketball team, has issued an open invitation to join him at a testimonial, to be held in his honour in Sydney on Saturday night.
Wrublewski, 63, learnt he had pancreatic cancer two months ago, but said he has gained an “enormous amount of strength” from the support he has received since the diagnosis.
“It’s given me a lot of strength to know friends want to spend a bit of time,” he said.
“I’ve been very lucky, I’ve had a lot of great opportunities in life and want to share those moments with those close with me, or those who’ve had any involvement, be it some fun in the Kings days, or through Maccabi.
“I’d love to see them on the night. Anyone that would like to come should feel they should come. We want them there … it will be really special.”
Wrublewski has poured his heart into basketball over the years and there was a time in the early 1990s when the Sydney Kings were the hottest sporting ticket in town, filling the 10,000-capacity Sydney Entertainment Centre on a regular basis.
His testimonial will double as a launch for the Mike Wrublewski Foundation, which will assist up-and-coming athletes.
A veteran of six Maccabiah Games, Wrublewski was delighted with the success of the 2009 squad, and hopes his foundation will help send athletes to Israel in the future.
“It will help and subsidise young sportspeople; be it disadvantaged, or high profile, or wheelchair or Maccabi. It’s for those that need support and for the community to raise some money,” he said.
Wrublewski’s early prognosis was not good, but while a little tired, the 63-year-old is still “fairly pain free” and “positive”.
“The chemotherapy is knocking me around a lot, which I’m not that happy about, but the spirit is good. I’m positive and out there trying to put a plan together to try and knock this thing,” he said.
Any plans for alternate treatment must wait, however, while they attempt to contain the cancer.
“If [the cancer is] contained, then maybe there is an opportunity to do something else.”
The Mike Wrublewski Tribute will take place on Saturday August 8 at CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh at 7pm. Tickets: $100 per head. Info: (02) 8571 9099