In a conversation with Sydney Swans Media, George Orban was quick to confess a sin - he’s an ex-Richmond supporter. Supporting the Balmain Tigers Rugby Team growing up, he said it was “only natural” to follow Richmond. But that all changed when the South Melbourne Football Club arrived in town.
It was 1982 when the Sydney Swans played their first game on the SCG. For Orban, it was the beginning of decades-long support for the red and white.
“I guess for most of 1982 when the Swans played the atmosphere was sort of fairly subdued,” Orban admitted.
“I think people were trying to basically figure out what was going on because, as you know, Sydney's a rugby league town. In those days, they posted the rugby league scores on the scoreboard.”
Despite the club’s tumultuous beginnings in the harbour city, Orban stuck with the club through thick and thin. He was there during the “dark period” of the early nineties and travelled to Melbourne for the club’s premiership triumph in 2012.
“It was the best $1,500 I’ve ever spent in my life,” he laughed.
“I was really anxious watching, and it was never comfortable until the siren. Those last ten minutes no one will ever forget.”
As a loyal member, Orban has always been there for the club. In some ways, you could say the club has been there for Orban – and an escape - as he undergoes treatment for cancer.
The Sydney Swans member was a regular visitor at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. He had amassed 23 donations before he was asked to give plasma on his last visit.
It was a donation that would ultimately save his life.
“I went to the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood outpost at Chatswood, and they asked if I’d like to donate plasma,” Orban said.
“I got a call about two or three days later and was told they found paraproteins in my blood. I thought, I better just see a doctor about this and was referred to a haematologist in 2017.”
According to the Cancer Council, paraprotein is a substance produced when plasma cells multiply abnormally and carries a higher risk of developing Myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
After years of monitoring his levels of paraprotein it was recommended that Orban begin chemotherapy last October. Through his treatment, he has seen first-hand the affect blood donations have on patients.
“The thing to remember is that donating blood can have the potential to save a lot of lives. During chemotherapy, I've seen people hooked up to bags of blood as well for treatment. It can help you in all sorts of ways.”
One blood donation can save up to three lives and plasma donations can be used in 18 life-changing treatments. Join the Lifeblood of the Swans today.
