Perth–Thrylorio link honours Australian hero George Devine Treloar

A moving span was formed betwixt Thrylorio (Rodopi) and Perth arsenic the assemblage successful Western Australia hosted the motorboat of a caller volume connected George Devine Treloar, the Australian humanitarian who aided tens of thousands of Greek, Armenian and Assyrian refugees successful the 1920s.

The event, held astatine the Archdiocesan District of WA Centre successful Dianella, presented the pioneering publication From Genocide to Rebirth: The Photographs of George Devine Treloar by Professor David Treloar and Dr Panayiotis Diamantis. It was organised by Unity successful Philia successful concern with the Pontian Brotherhood of Western Australia, with the support of the Hellenic Community of Western Australia.

The programme combined speeches, historical photographs, euphony and dance, with the Pontian Brotherhood’s creation troupe performing traditional pieces from the martyred Pontus, a almighty reminder that 4 generations aft the Genocide, Australian-born Greek youth proceed to larn and stock Pontian culture.

Dr Melanie O’Brien alongside Consul Eleni Georgopoulou.

A item of the evening was a unrecorded video nexus with Thrylorio, the village that successful 1923 was renamed successful honour of Colonel Treloar.

“We honour the descendants of Colonel Treloar for their father’s work to Hellenism successful those hard years, and we present see them our ain people, Thrylorioites,” said Chrysa Mavridou, president of the Cultural Association of Pontians of Thrylorio “Kerasounta and Gars.”

The publication was officially launched by Dr Melanie O’Brien, Professor of International Law astatine the University of Western Australia, who recalled presenting a lecture successful Perth 7 years agone connected Treloar’s work.

“I americium delighted to contiguous this book,” Dr O’Brien said. “I person followed the probe of Professor Treloar and Dr Diamantis for years. Congratulations connected this achievement. I promote everyone to support this volume successful each way.”

Pontian Brotherhood of Western Australia dancers performing to an appreciative audience. Photo: Supplied

Key addresses were delivered by the authors. Professor David Treloar, 89, son of the Colonel and custodian of his father’s photographs, shared stories of the philanthropic alleviation operations successful Greece during the 1920s. Using his camera, the elder Treloar documented some his work and the refugees whose shattered lives helium helped rebuild.

Dr Diamantis outlined his tract research, retracing Treloar’s steps done Thrace, Macedonia and Athens to place the archetypal locations of galore images—work that reconstructs large elements of Treloar’s legacy.

Greetings were besides offered by Eleni Georgopoulou, Consul of the Hellenic Republic successful Perth, while Nikos Keskinidis, vice-president of the Pontian Brotherhood of WA, served arsenic MC.

The Greek-language variation of the book, Από τη Γενοκτονία στην Αναγέννηση: οι φωτογραφίες του George Devine Treloar, is scheduled for merchandise successful January 2026.