2018 “Henryk Sławik Award” Presentation

November 28, 2018

Melbourne, Australia

The Henryk Sławik Award is presented in honour of the spirit of the life and deeds of Henryk Sławik, (saving over thirty thousand lives in occupied Hungary, five thousand of those being Jews). The Board of Management of the ASPJ has decided to honour individuals who, or organisations which, have worked towards enhancing mutual respect and understanding between the Polish and Jewish communities.

The recipients of the
2018 Henryk Sławik Award are:

Marian Pawlik OAM
and the
Polish Community Council of Victoria Inc.

Since the Australia Society of Polish Jews & Their Descendants (ASPJ) re-emerged, in 2009, as an organisation with a new name, a new Board and a renewed desire to improve the relationship between our local Poland and Jewish communities, the Polish Community Council of Victoria (PCCV) has welcomed us and has always been open to a mutual dialogue.

One of those at the forefront of bringing our two organisations – and our two communities – closer together has beenMarian Pawlik OAM, current President and long-serving Board member of the PCCV.

Through his efforts and those of the PCCV, together, we have endeavoured to highlight those things which our two communities have in common, particularly throughout history. The PCCV and Marian have endeavoured to make us an integral part of Polish community activities. Their continuously extended hand of friendship ensures that the steps which we have taken together thus far bode well for an even closer relationship into the future.

The Award is presented in recognition of efforts made towards enhancing mutual respect and understanding between the Polish and Jewish communities. Marian Pawlik OAM and the Polish Community Council of Victoria are worthy Award recipients.

From left: Izy Marmur (Pres. ASPJ), Marian Pawlik OAM (Pres. PCCV), Dr Sylwia Greda-Bogusz (Vice-Pres. PCCV), Jerzy Wojtkowski (Vice-Pres.) PCCV, Bernard Korbman, OAM (CEO, ASPJ)

This year’s Guest Speaker was newly-appointed Polish Ambassador to Australia, Michał Kołodziejski. We were also honoured to have this year’s Award presented in the presence of three currently-serving members of the Polish Senate – Senator Elżbieta Stępień, Senator Dr. Tomasz Latos and Senator Grzegorz Długi.

A special award was presented posthumously to the family of the late Andrew Korab, who sadly passed away in January 2018. As the President of the Polish Club Albion, he was a good friend to the ASPJ and a strong supporter of our efforts in bringing our communities together. Polish Club Albion Acting President, Dr Marek Kijek, (pic right) accepted the certificate on behalf of the Korab family and read a very moving letter from Andrew’s wife.

As in previous year’s, the Award’s musical interlude was provided by members of the Melbourne’s well-known klezmer band “Klazmania”