The Australian Ambassador visits the Pontian village named after Australian G.D. Treloar

On Tuesday, 3 June 2025, the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Her Excellency Ms. Alison Duncan, visited the village of Thrilorio in the Rhodope prefecture, which is named after an Australian military man and humanitarian, George Devine Treloar. Treloar founded Thrilorio in 1922, while he contributed decisively, as High Commissioner of the League of Nations at that time, to the survival and rehabilitation of tens of thousands of refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus.

During her visit to the Pontian village of the Rhodope region, Ambassador Duncan was warmly welcomed by its residents. The reception was attended by, among others, the President of the community, Mr. Georgios Salpingidis, the President of the Pontian Association of Thrilorio “Kerasounta and Gars” Ms. Chrysa Mavridou, the President of the Pontian Women’s Association, Ms. Anastasia Savvidou, the village priest, Fr. Nektarios Papalexiou, and the founder of the Basketry Museum, Mr. Antonis Liapis.

Ambassador Duncan was informed by Ms. Mavridou about the history of Thrilorio, then she visited the church of Saints Constantine and Helen and then was given a tour of the Basketry Museum and one of the first houses of the village. Finally, she tasted various Pontian foods, with dishes prepared by the women of the “Kerasounta and Gars” Association.