Alex Bolewski

Alexander 'Alex' Bolewski (1891-1981) was a pioneer Australian rugby league player from the 1910s and 1920s.

Born at Ballina, New South Wales in 1891, Alex (or Alec) Bolewski, grew up in Glebe and played for the Glebe Dirty Reds for four seasons between 1914-1919, although he missed the 1917 and 1918 seasons due to active service in World War I.

He enlisted in the AIF in 1916, and joined the 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance, 27th reinforcements. His unit was sent to Europe in 1917, and, while surviving the war, he did not return to Australia until April 1919, although he resumed his rugby league career soon afterward, playing 13 games that season. He was the brother of fellow Glebe player Henry Bolewski.

In 1920 he moved to Newtown and he played five seasons there between 1920-1924, often as captain.

Bolewski represented the Metropolis (Sydney) team in 1915, and represented New South Wales on one occasion in 1919.

One of the rugby leagues great characters and pioneers, Alex Bolewski died at Undercliffe, New South Wales on 16 July 1981, aged 89.