St Patrick’s College Ballarat hosted the inaugural presentation of Genocide to Regeneration: The Photographs of George Devine Treloar by Assoc. Professor David Treloar and Dr Panayiotis Diamadis, on Monday evening, November 10.
According to a statement by St Patrick’s College, the presentation was about “honouring the extraordinary life and humanitarian legacy of Old Collegian George Devine Treloar (SPC 1900).”
“On the eve of Remembrance Day, Dr Diamadis shared incredible insights into Col Treloar’s life,” continued the College’s statement, “and generously donated a copy of the book to the College library, ensuring future generations of Paddy boys can learn from and be inspired by Col Treloar’s story.”
In Dr Diamadis’ words: “This evening was very special as Ballarat is where the story of Colonel Treloar began. To present his photographs, his writings and our research on his legacy at St Patrick’s, at the school which helped shape Colonel Treloar, to walk the grounds and halls he walked 125 years ago, was a humbling experience.”
Student leaders escorted Dr Diamadis together with Nick Makridis and Kostas Antoniadis of the Australian Greek Ex-Servicemen’s Association to the olive tree and commemorative plaque that had been planted by then-College Headmaster John Crowley and Mr Antoniadis on 25 October 2015.
This living memorial was a gift to St Patrick’s College from Melbourne’s Greek Genocide Commemoration Committee. Mr Antoniadis was the then-Chairman of the Committee.
Since 2016, the Greek Genocide Commemorative Committee has presented annually the George Devine Treloar Award for Community Service to a St Patrick’s student.
St Patrick’s College concluded its statement: “We thank Dr Diamadis and Prof Treloar for their contribution in preserving and sharing Col Treloar’s remarkable story.”
Treloar’s story – still largely unknown in mainstream Australian and Hellenic historical narratives – has been brought to life through rare, haunting, and poignant photographs, most published in this volume for the first time.
These are photographs Treloar took during his work as the League of Nations’ Commissioner for Refugees in northern Hellas. Treloar organised initial efforts at re-settlement and reconstruction of lives and communities.
In the words of Dr Vasilis Adrahtas, co-founder of Unity in Philia, the publishers of Genocide to Regeneration: The Photographs of George Devine Treloar: “The story of George Devine Treloar, showcased by his photographs, is as much an Australian as it is a Hellenic story, a network of the intertwining threads.”
Born in Ballarat in 1884, Treloar served with the British forces on the Western Front and during the Russian Civil War. Colonel Treloar was based in Constantinople between 1920 and 1922, working with refugees from the Russian Civil War, meeting and later marrying the love of his life, Kathleen.
The audience at the presentation included College staff led by Deputy Principal – Community John Richards, student leaders and alumni, visitors from Melbourne and members of the Ballarat Hellenic community.
