Recently another Ballarat school student was honoured for their community service with the annual George Devine Treloar Community Service Award.
Noah Quick, a Year 11 student at St Patricks College in Ballarat received the award at the College’s recent Year 12 and Community Awards school assembly held on 18th October 2023. The award was made by Ms Litsa Athanasiadis and myself representing Melbourne’s George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee under the auspices of the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations.
Noah has been an active member of the College’s Faith in Action program since Year 7 and this year was named co-captain of the College’s social justice group. Noah described some of the activities that he has been engaged, including visits to the elderly and distributing presents to children in hospital. He has also been named College Captain for 2024.
The annual George Treloar Community Service Award was initiated a few years ago and provides a $500 scholarship and commemorative plaque to a student selected by the school who has demonstrated a commitment to community service through outstanding philanthropy and social justice achievements.
This community service award was created in recognition of Major George Devine Treloar who as representative of the League of Nations in northern Greece following the Asia Minor catastrophe assisted more than 100,000 Christian refugees settle in Greece. The award is selected from St Patrick’s Collage students in recognition of George Treloar having been a former student of the College.
Mr Harry Navrozidis, President of the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations, thanked Ms Athanasiadis and Mr Claven for travelling to Ballarat to present the award. He added that the Associations were proud to recognise the good work of Noah.
“Through his volunteer work in the community and leadership, young Noah is continuing in the footsteps of George Treloar, whose refugee work led to the survival of so many desperate individuals forced to flee their homeland”, he said.
Ms Athanasiadis said that the George Trleoar Memorial Committee is committed to continuing their support this important award into the future.
“Our community is indebted to the work of George Treloar and this award is another demonstration of our commitment to ensure that his memory and his refugee work are not forgotten and provide an inspiration to others”, she said.
The George Treloar Memorial Committee was formed over 7 years ago with the aim of commemorating the refugee work of George Treloar. After much work and fundraising, the Committee, in cooperation with Ballarat City Council and supported by the contributions of many organisations and individuals, unveiled its George Treloar Memorial in Ballarat’s Sturt Street. The Memorial was designed by Lis Johnson, the first female sculptor to have her work installed in Ballarat’s “avenue of sculptures”. The Memorial is the location for the annual George Treloar Memorial commemorative service, held every September. A copy of the Memorial unveiling booklet was also presented to Noah and the College.
Jim Claven is a trained historian, freelance writer and published author. He has published Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed, Grecian Adventure and his most recent publication Imbros & Gallipoli Revealed. He is Secretary of the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee. He can be contacted via email – jimclaven@yahoo.com.au.
