George Devine Treloar

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I was honoured to attend the unveiling of the George Devine Treloar statue in Sturt Street, Ballarat. George Treloar was a major in the British Coldstream Guards, serving in France during the First World War and later as a Tsarist army colonel fighting the communists in the Russian civil war.

He then went on to become the League of Nations’ Commissioner for Refugees in Greece and was responsible for supporting many refugees from the Pontus region.

In the parliament recently, I used a Members Statement to acknowledge the incredible humanitarian efforts of local Ballarat soldier and philanthropist George Devine Treloar.

Even the inclement weather did not stop a large crowd from attending the unveiling of the life-sized bronze sculpture of George Devine Treloar standing with a young girl, symbolises the countless refugees whom he supported.

There was great excitement as the City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh and Litsa Athanasiadis unveiled the magnificent statue designed by artist Lis Johnson.

George Treloar’s son, David Treloar, whose likeness to his famous father was noticeable and remarkable, spoke emotionally about how much the recognition of his philanthropic father meant to the Treloar family.

Cr Samantha McIntosh detailed the extraordinary fundraising and organisational efforts by Litsa Athanasiadis, who brought the memorial to fruition.

I congratulate all involved in this worthy commemoration of George Devine Treloar, a local Ballarat and international figure of significance and special hero to the descendants of the 100s of 1000s of Pontus region refugees, many of whom were present at the ceremony.

Bev McArthur MP

Member for Western