On Tuesday, June 3, the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, visited the village of Thrilorio in the Rhodope region — named after Australian soldier and humanitarian George Devine Treloar.
In 1922, Treloar founded the village and, as High Commissioner for the League of Nations at the time, played a pivotal role in the survival and resettlement of tens of thousands of refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus.
During her visit, Ms Duncan was warmly welcomed by the local community.
In attendance were the village president, Georgios Salpingidis; President of the Pontian Thrilorio Association “Kerasounta and Gars”, Chrysa Mavridou; President of the Pontian Women’s Association, Anastasia Savvidou; the parish priest, Fr Nektarios Papalexiou; and founder of the Basketry Museum, Antonis Liapis.
Ms Duncan was briefed by Ms Mavridou on the village’s history, visited the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, toured the Basketry Museum and one of the original village homes.
Her visit concluded with a tasting of traditional Pontic dishes, prepared by the women of the “Kerasounta and Gars” Association.
