On Tuesday 26th September our Rotary Club Had a great guest speaker George Petrou who was talking about his art and his book

                           

The book tells George’s personal story – of his commitment to honouring the service of many of Australia’s
service personnel, of how this commitment helped him personally through the challenges of chemotherapy,
and how his work has touched thousands across Australia and overseas.
Over 70 portraits, 63 stories, 425 pages and numerous serendipitous moments, George explores the idea of
valour, of courage, bravery, and of sacrifice. Using images of the past and stories of today, he connects the
past with our present within a unique and powerful environment. This resulting creative act, an adaptive
response to the challenging environment of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is a book supported by almost as many decorated connections as it hosts. We’re initially introduced
to the idea of sacrifice by our current Governor General, the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC and her
excellency Mrs Linda Hurley. General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC also authors the foreword.
All profits from the sale of this book go directly to supporting veteran charities.
Extracts from The Art of Sacrifice Foreword:
What a fascinating book — full of images and words which capture the eye and give voice and further life
to the stories of some wonderful men and women. It is a book of keen insights, indeed reverence and love.
We learn within the first few pages of George Petrou’s journey as a migrant and then as an artist, whose
life-changing illness in 2010 inspired him — and then his many collaborators — to focus their wonderful
talents on this work, The Art of Sacrifice, as a tribute and expression of gratitude to so many men and
women whose service has uplifted and protected the nation we love.
Sometimes works of this nature can be somewhat dry or mawkish. Not so here! The Art of Sacrifice is vivid,
striking and attractive — it’s pithy descriptions are often juxtaposed with the faded photos and painted
portraits which leap off the page. You will be at once reluctant to turn from one story to the next but
impelled to do so by the reward of what you will find.
I am so glad I was asked to write this foreword: this is a magnificent book, a wonderful contribution to our
Australian urge to learn and commemorate and to understand that notion of ‘sacrifice’. I commend George
and his contributors for what you are all about to experience.
General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC (Ret’d)