The very successful series of presentations of Genocide to Regeneration: the photographs of George Devine Treloar continues on Wednesday 1 October in Perth, Western Australia.
On that historic evening, organised by the Hellenic Community of WA and the Pontian Brotherhood of WA, co-authors Professor David Treloar and Dr Panayiotis Diamadis will present their book side by side at the Archdiocese Function Centre in Dianella.
Colonel Treloar served as the League of Nations’ Commissioner for Refugees in northern Hellas between October 1922 and April 1924.
With his camera and his words, Treloar documented the magnitude of the catastrophe which befell Hellenism in that period – the Genocide of the Hellenes. Treloar captured the incredible struggle of the survivors – especially from eastern Thrace and Pontos – to build new lives, especially in western Thrace and Macedonia.
Genocide to Regeneration brings together Colonel George Devine Treloar’s personal photographs, extracts of his reports to the League of Nations, a selection of modern photographs and a background history that – for the first time – presents the life and work of Australia’s pioneer international humanitarian.
Many of the Treloar photographs are spontaneous, unposed, images of the refugees themselves – crowded aboard boats, arriving, queuing for rations, building rough accommodation, ploughing, living in tents, spinning, weaving, preparing meals, rebuilding lives.
Indeed, almost all of Treloar’s photographs have never before been published.
Spread across 300 pages are almost 200 photographs, maps and other images of Thrace, Thessalonike, Florina, Kastoria and other parts of Macedonia, as well as Athens and Piraeus.
Genocide to Regeneration traces the journey of George Devine Treloar from the regional centre of Ballarat, Victoria, to the battlefields of the Western Front and southern Russia to the plains of Thrace. From student to actor to soldier to humanitarian relief worker to his marriage in Constantinople and later life in Perth, Western Australia.
Genocide to Regeneration is a Hellenic story, related through the photographs and words of Treloar himself.
Genocide to Regeneration is an Australian story, a monument to the Australian men and women – with Treloar at the pinnacle – who participated in the international relief effort on behalf of the genocide survivors.
Genocide to Regeneration is a human story of worldwide relevance, filled with the tenderness of Treloar as photographer.
Genocide to Regeneration is a tribute to the Hellenes who survived trial and tribulation, found refuge and rebuilt lives and communities.
Event Details:
- Where: Archdiocese Function Centre, 22 Dianella Drive, Dianella
- When: Wednesday 1 October 2025
- Time: from 7pm
