St Patrick’s College has proudly hosted the launch of a new book that shines light on the remarkable humanitarian work of Old Collegian George Devine Treloar (SPC 1900).
Co-authored by Professor David Treloar and Dr Panayiotis Diamadis, Genocide to Regeneration: The Photographs of George Devine Treloar explores Colonel Treloar’s journey from Ballarat to the battlefields of World War I and later his humanitarian work through the League of Nations, where he helped resettle more than 100,000 refugees displaced by war and genocide in Thrace and Macedonia.
The 300-page book features almost 200 photographs, most of which have never before been published. About 50 guests from Ballarat, Melbourne and interstate gathered in the Performing Arts Centre on the eve of Remembrance Day for the book launch.
Guests heard from Dr Diamadis, who highlighted the courage, compassion and leadership that defined Col Treloar’s life.
He shared stories gleaned from Col Treloar’s Russian diaries (his Greek diaries were unfortunately eaten by termites!) including how Treloar walked the length of the east coast of the Crimean Peninsula (about 200 kilometres) in a Russian winter.
“The fact that this guy lived to 96, he died at the age of 96 in 1980, is incredible,” Dr Diamadis said.
“He wrote that the Russian civil war was worse than the Western Front so you can imagine just how savage things were, his experience of what he saw.”
As part of the evening, Dr Diamadis generously donated a copy of the book to the College library (Kelty Resource Centre), ensuring future generations of Paddy boys can learn from and be inspired by Col Treloar’s story.
Following the official proceedings, members of the 2026 Student Council escorted Dr Diamadis to the College grounds to visit a commemorative plaque and olive tree donated to St Patrick’s College by members of the Greek Pontos community, including Dr Diamadis himself, in 2015.
“I’m really glad that the tree has grown. I wasn’t sure it would handle the climate out here because it gets quite cold, but it looks like it’s doing quite well,” he said.
“It’s our tribute, our thank you, to the school that educated and shaped this man who did so much work in Greece.”
