This evening we were privileged to welcome acclaimed portrait artist George Petrou OAM as our Rotary speaker.
George spoke on The Art of Sacrifice, a powerful body of work honouring Australians who have made extraordinary sacrifices in service to our nation. Through portraiture and storytelling, he captures not only likeness, but legacy.
Members may recall that during his visit last year, George presented The Art of Humanity, exploring compassion and generosity through inspiring Australian stories. This year’s presentation returned to the theme that first shaped his journey — remembrance.
Following his cancer diagnosis in 2010, George made a personal decision to dedicate his artistic career to recognising the service and sacrifice of others. His work now includes portraits of Victoria Cross recipients, World War I soldiers and contemporary veterans. Each portrait is underpinned by extensive research and close connection with families, ensuring that the human story is never lost.
George shared moving accounts of unexpected connections formed through his work, including families discovering portraits of relatives long gone, and powerful intergenerational moments sparked by remembrance.
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2020 for his service to the visual arts and to veterans, George continues to donate proceeds from his books and exhibitions to veteran support organisations.
It was an evening of reflection, gratitude and respect. A reminder that sacrifice is not only part of our history — it is part of who we are.
We thank George for returning to our club and sharing his extraordinary work once again.
