The Greek Orthodox Parish of the Resurrection of Our Lord Kogarah, Unity in Philia and Pontoxeniteas NSW are coming together this Sunday, September 14 to celebrate the legacy of a great Australian humanitarian with a presentation of the ground-breaking book, Genocide to Regeneration: the photographs of George Devine Treloar.
The centerpiece of the event will be a presentation of the new book co-authored by Professor David Treloar and Dr. Panayiotis Diamadis. This unique publication features 200 rare, almost entirely unpublished photographs documenting the life and work of Colonel George Devine Treloar.
Ballarat-born Treloar served as the League of Nations Commissioner for Refugees in northern Greece between October 1922 and April 1924. His relief efforts helped rescue thousands of Greek, Armenian and Assyrian refugees fleeing genocide, especially from eastern Thrace and Pontos.
Dr. Diamadis, a leading Hellenic Genocide scholar, stated: “These images are a testament to resilience. They show both the horrors of displacement and the hope of survival.”
Adding to the event will be performances of traditional Thracian and Pontian dances by the Kogarah School of Greek Dance and Pontoxeniteas NSW dancers.
There will also be the unveiling of artworks by two Australian Hellene artists – Angela Kiki and Christina Tsaou – of original pieces they have produced dedicated to the holocaust of Smyrne in September 1922.
It was in the aftermath of the burning of Smyrne that Colonel Treloar was called to develop a program of refugee relief as head of the League of Nations’ Mission in northern Hellas. Initially based in Alexandroupolis and later in Komotene. Treloar focussed on economic reconstruction as the centrepiece of rebuilding the shattered lives of the survivors.
Come along to the Hermes Lounge, Belgrave Street Kogarah this Sunday, September 14 from 5pm to celebrate these unique chapters of Australian Hellenism – the days when Australians first reached out with helping hands to Hellenes in times of extraordinary need.
