Portraits with Passion: George Petrou
Sal Dugan
Imagine a man with a passion for history and humanity, an exceptional talent for observation and an ability to wield a paint brush with care and flair, and you’re likely to come up with an artist, more specifically a portraitist. And this is what we have in Mont Albert resident, George Petrou.
Born in Cyprus but educated in Melbourne, Petrou, a graphic artist, spent the majority of his life as a self-employed graphic designer, working predominantly for the corporate sector.
In 2010, a cancer diagnosis saw George wind back his professional work for a while. Needing an outlet to distract his mind from the possibility of not surviving, he turned to another passion, that of portrait painting. This was both a therapy and a way of putting on paper Australians he had long admired through his reading of their lives in biographies and histories. Men and women of great courage, who devoted their lives for the benefit of others. Some of whom we have all heard, but many of whom few of us have come across during the course of our own lives.
Petrou is a man of vision and seemingly endless energy, with a vast output of fabulous portraits that line the walls of his home and studio. How could he bring them to the public eye? Books came to mind.
The Covid-19 lockdown gave him time to produce his first major work, The Art of Sacrifice, a collection of 70 portraits accompanied by photographs and text. People from our ANZACS to heroes such as Nancy Wake and Charles Kingsford Smith. Many of their stories are told by descendants of those who feature. It is a lavish and very informative production, published not long after lockdown.
Recently released is The Art of Humanity. This comprises 40 stories by as many writers, each piece revealing insights into the lives of people who have devoted or continue to devote their energies to contribute to the welfare of others.
The short but detailed history of Joice Nankivell Loch is excellent. Reputed to be Australia’s most decorated woman, Joice received 11 medals of honour from Greece, Poland, Serbia, Britain and Romania for her work with refugees through both World Wars and beyond. Her story should be incorporated into all Australian history syllabuses.
Also featured is Alice Anderson, who ran the first all-female service station in Australia, which opened in Kew in 1919. She worked tirelessly there for 10 years, before taking a holiday. Not long after her return she was shot and killed, aged only 29.
Constance Stone, Australia’s first female doctor and John Springthorpe, a 19th century medico dedicated to improving public health are also found in these pages. Stone graduated in 1887, having had to travel overseas to be accepted as a medical student. Women students were not welcome at Australian universities in those days. Springthorpe, the first Australian graduate (albeit from a British university) to be admitted to the Royal College of Physicians, was an advocate for social reform, medical accessibilty and workers’ rights for all.
The latter three can be found among the ‘underground community’ at the Boroondara Memorial Cemetery.
In his fascination with Australians who devoted their lives to the betterment of the wider community, Petrou has collated a wealth of information, illustrated liberally with photographs and his own exceptional portraiture.
Charities that have benefited from Petrou’s work include TPI Victoria, of which he is patron, Turbans 4 Australia, Orange Sky, Street Side Medics, among others.
Books can be purchased direct from the author at www.georgepetrou.com.au or by email at george@gpdesign.net.au