Adam Wrublewski on the blocks
The Michael Wrublewski Foundation is set to be launched…and the late sportsman’s son is on the starting blocks.
Adam Wrublewski Photo: Henry Benjamin
Before he died as a result of pancreatic cancer four months ago, the iconic Maccabi luminary and founder and chairman of basketball club the Sydney Kings, established a fund in his name to cater for the needs of Maccabi athletes in need of funding and for those in the general community participating in wheelchair sports. In his sporting lifetime, Wrublewski had headed Australian delegations to the Maccabiah, been on the Board of Maccabi Australia and president of Maccabi NSW.
Joan Hillman and Ilana Broons Photo Kym Sher
His son, Adam Wrublewski, 37, told J-Wire: “I will be running the Fund in conjunction with my Dad’s wife Shauna and a group of tried and tested professionals. But the time has come to make the general public aware of the Fund’s existence and we earnestly hope that many people, especially those with a love of sport, will help us in our endeavours. This will be a role reversal because Dad organised so much for me…my family had been so dependent on him. Now it’s my turn. I think a lot about him and there is definitely mental chatter still going on. I will miss the advice…for me the biggest gap is not being able to say ‘Dad, what should I do now?’…and it’s sad that my two kids will never know their grandfather. My safety net has gone…I now feel like a hire-wire performer without protection.”
Wrublewski spoke freely of his relationship with his father and told J-Wire his father’s most valued achievements were his work with Maccabi and wheelchair sports. He said: “It wasn’t about money…it wasn’t about success…it was about helping people achieve something in their lives. It is not yet clear,” he added,”as to how the Fund will function. But we do know that we need at least a million dollars in the bank to be effective in order to continue offering the help Dad provided in his lifetime.”
As the drive towards that sum starts, Wrublewski has the footings for the fund in place as his dying father kick-started it by organising a function for over 600 “fans”at Sydney’s Carriageworks shortly before his death with all proceeds going to the Fund.
Wrublewski added: “The 2013 Maccabiah is an obvious choice for allocating funds but Maccabi will host other events before then. We will be functioning this year…but it’s too early to go into details. However, nothing will happen without funds…and the fund is registered and it is tax deductible.”
Harry Procel, President of Maccabi Australia wlecomed the news. He said: “I am looking forward to working with the Fund. Out of all of this sadness suddenly appears a silver lining.” This week, in Perth, Jenny Hillman and Ilana Broons were the first recipients of the Michael Wrublewski Awards which were presented to the two leaders of the Junior Carnival.”
For Adam Wrubklewski, his father will “live on” as Adam furthers those causes that were so dear to his late father in years gone by into the distant future.
This is truly a beautifully written article about a truly wonderful man. I have no doubt Adam will achieve his father’s goal and the Foundation will prosper. Best of luck to Adam and Shauna.
Kindest regards,
Odile Faludi