“Through these stories part of the fabric of Australia has been woven. The threads of our national fabric are represented in ‘The Art of Humanity’. These threads tell us who we are, what we stand for, how we go about life and what our values are.”

General the Honourable David Hurley AC, DSC (Retd) Former Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Purchase your copy

The Author

Artist George Petrou OAM is a highly accomplished graphic designer and renowned portrait artist.

n 2010, following a cancer diagnosis, George turned to portrait painting with a renewed sense of purpose. Determined that if he were to overcome his illness, he would devote more time to honouring the extraordinary Australian men and women who have made profound sacrifices and contributed significantly to humanitarian efforts both nationally and internationally.

With a deep passion for Australian history, George found that painting became his personal form of ‘chemo’ therapy—an artistic endeavour that allowed him to channel his resilience and appreciation for the nation’s rich heritage.

George is proud to introduce his latest art project, The Art of Humanity, following the success of his previous book, The Art of Sacrifice.

The Art of Humanity explores the essence of compassion, generosity, and the unwavering commitment to helping those in need. Through compelling portraits and narratives, the project seeks to inspire and deeply resonate with its audience.

In recognition of his contributions, George was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2020 for his ‘Services to the Visual Arts and to Veterans.’ He also serves as a patron for TPI Victoria Inc. His esteemed portraits are displayed in prestigious institutions worldwide, including museums in France, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Dubai, as well as Government House in Canberra and various military institutions across Australia.

The book

George proudly presents his second art project, “The Art of Humanity,” which follows his previous work, “The Art of Sacrifice.”

“The Art of Humanity” delves into the concept of humanity, the spirit of generosity, and the act of caring for those in need. It features inspiring stories and portraits designed to move and motivate you. The book showcases 40 portraits, accompanied by their remarkable stories, contributed by 40 different authors. These authors have previously written about the subjects of the portraits and deeply understand what makes them special. The book puts the spotlight on 22 women and 18 men, depicting over 400 pages of art and storytelling. While you may recognize some of the portrait subjects, you may not know about their humanitarian work. George believes that these humble humanitarians deserve recognition and celebration, hence the creation of this book. He skillfully weaves together images from the past and stories from today to establish a compelling and unique narrative.

Creativity is a powerful force within each person that, when unleashed, can transform lives and infuse vitality into everything we do. “The Art of Humanity” shares stories of inspiration and selfless acts by Australians. It explores humanity through exceptional moments in time, captured by George’s remarkable portraiture.

$85
Buy now

INTERNATIONAL TRAILBLAZERS
Hearts of Gold

What drives a person to dedicate their life to the service of others? Is it an instinct, woven into their very nature? Or is it a calling that awakens over time, shaped by life’s challenges and triumphs? As we journey through the stories of remarkable humanitarians, we will uncover the forces – both intrinsic and learned – that propel these individuals to move mountains for the betterment of others.

In these pages, we meet people who, through their compassion and courage, have reshaped communities, sparked movements, and forever altered the lives they touched. Some humanitarians were born into environments that cultivated empathy; others found their path after witnessing the harsh realities of inequality or injustice. Yet, they share something profound: an unbreakable belief in the power of humanity and compassion.

Each story reveals a trailblazer, unique in their mission but connected by common threads of resilience, empathy, and an unshakable vision for a more compassionate world. Some harnessed the strength of their convictions to dismantle systems of oppression; others worked quietly to heal and uplift individuals who had been overlooked. Their journeys remind us that true change often begins with a single person willing to answer the call of their conscience.

In exploring what makes a person a humanitarian, we uncover something essential about ourselves: a potential for goodness that transcends circumstance and background. This is not simply a collection of life stories; it is a testament to the boundless capacity for empathy that lives within each of us. As you turn the pages, let these lives inspire and challenge you. Each story invites us to imagine a world where compassion is as natural as breath and to realise that, perhaps, the seeds of that world already exist in each of us.

By Michael Williams

FEMALE TRAILBLAZERS
Heartfelt Heroes

What drives a person to dedicate their life to the service of others? Is it an instinct, woven into their very nature? Or is it a calling that awakens over time, shaped by life’s challenges and triumphs? As we journey through the stories of remarkable humanitarians, we will uncover the forces – both intrinsic and learned – that propel these individuals to move mountains for the betterment of others.

In these pages, we meet people who, through their compassion and courage, have reshaped communities, sparked movements, and forever altered the lives they touched. Some humanitarians were born into environments that cultivated empathy; others found their path after witnessing the harsh realities of inequality or injustice. Yet, they share something profound: an unbreakable belief in the power of humanity and compassion.

Each story reveals a trailblazer, unique in their mission but connected by common threads of resilience, empathy, and an unshakable vision for a more compassionate world. Some harnessed the strength of their convictions to dismantle systems of oppression; others worked quietly to heal and uplift individuals who had been overlooked. Their journeys remind us that true change often begins with a single person willing to answer the call of their conscience.

In exploring what makes a person a humanitarian, we uncover something essential about ourselves: a potential for goodness that transcends circumstance and background. This is not simply a collection of life stories; it is a testament to the boundless capacity for empathy that lives within each of us. As you turn the pages, let these lives inspire and challenge you. Each story invites us to imagine a world where compassion is as natural as breath and to realise that, perhaps, the seeds of that world already exist in each of us.

By Michael Williams

MALE TRAILBLAZERS
Generosity of Spirit

Generosity of Spirit

Time, like a river, flows unceasingly, carrying us all forward in its swift, relentless current. As Benjamin Franklin famously noted, “Time waits for no man,” an adage that has echoed through the centuries as a poignant reminder of life’s fleeting nature. Every moment we experience is a gift, one that slips through our fingers if not seized. Yet, while time spares no one, there are those exceptional individuals who, rather than being swept away, dare to defy its currents. These trailblazers challenge not only time but also the status quo, carving out new paths for others to follow.

Trailblazers are often marked by their innovation, courage, and insatiable curiosity. They are the ones who look at the world not as it is, but as it could be. With bold vision and fearless determination, they push boundaries, driven by a thirst for knowledge and a willingness to confront the unknown. What makes these individuals truly extraordinary is not just their intellect or resilience, but their ability to bring people together, their gift of collaboration, and their unwavering pursuit of solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Now, imagine combining the pioneering spirit of a trailblazer with the empathy, compassion, and deep sense of social responsibility that defines a humanitarian. What emerges is the Humanitarian Trailblazer – a rare breed of visionary who not only strives to innovate but does so with often the sole purpose of uplifting humanity. These individuals are driven by a mission to improve lives, to heal divisions, and to advance society through collaboration, compassion, and action.

History provides us with shining examples of such Humanitarian Trailblazers: figures like Mother Teresa, whose selfless devotion touched millions, and Nelson Mandela, who led a nation toward freedom and equality. These leaders, and countless others like them, did not simply forge new paths; they transformed the very fabric of society, leaving behind legacies that continue to inspire us today. In their stories, and in the stories that we now introduce in The Art of Humanity, we find the blueprint for how we too can challenge the relentless flow of time – by building a better future, one compassionate act at a time.

By Michael Williams

WONDER

WONDER WOMEN OF WORLD WAR ONE

Healers with Heart

The Great War was not a place for women doctors. The War Office and Army Medical Corps throughout the British Empire could not comprehend or countenance the idea of women doctors on the battlefield.

Women doctors, however, were entirely unpersuaded and created extraordinary, female run, military hospitals. They served across Great Britain and Europe in the base hospitals and mobile units they established and financed themselves. More than twenty Australian women doctors served.

By the time World War One began, women doctors had been graduating from Australian universities for twenty-three years. They had completed the same medical degrees and clinical experiences as their male colleagues.

Dr Agnes Bennett, for example, had a science degree, a medical degree, an MD, and fourteen years of experience but was turned away when she tried to enlist in New Zealand and Australia. At the same time, young men fresh from graduation after a five-year medical degree were being readily accepted.

Like dozens of other women doctors, Agnes paid her own way to England and covered her expenses and the costs of her uniform for the Scottish Women’s Hospitals. Like her female colleagues, she did this primarily to care for and save the lives of wounded and sick soldiers and sometimes civilians. The women also hoped that demonstrating their medical competence in the extreme conditions of war, would cement their place in the profession.

Women doctors are just one example of the hundreds of women who demonstrated their competence in previously untested areas and made an enormous contribution to the war effort.

George Petrou’s book The Art of Humanity, is a wonderful commemoration of their largely unheralded achievements. His portraits enable our appreciation of their efforts in a singular and meaningful way.

May we always acknowledge and remember them.

By Heather Sheard

MILITARYTRAILBLAZERS

MILITARY TRAILBLAZERS
Action with Compassion

Australia’s military history has been shaped by the extraordinary contributions of many individuals. Among these there are six remarkable figures, each having left a lasting legacy through their leadership, bravery, and humanitarianism. They are the epitome of a unique Australian identity, each leaving their own identifiable mark on our history as a nation. Harry Chauvel was a trailblazer, commanding the Desert Mounted Corps during World War One. He was known for his leadership and strategic acumen, which helped protect and support his troops ensuring the well being of his troops.

Stanley Savige also made his mark during World War One, fighting at Gallipoli and later protecting Armenian refugees, an act of compassion that reflected his lifelong dedication to service. His establishment of the Legacy Foundation, a charity supporting veterans’ families, continues his impact today. Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop became a symbol of resilience and compassion during World War Two, where as a prisoner of war, he led and cared for fellow prisoners on the Thai-Burma Railway, saving countless lives under brutal conditions. Sir John Monash, one of Australia’s most esteemed generals, revolutionised warfare with his coordination of infantry, aircraft and tanks but also deeply cared for the welfare of his troops. He ensured that soldiers were well-fed, had access to medical care, and were supported with effective strategies to minimise casualties. His meticulous planning and innovative approaches to warfare significantly improved the conditions and morale of his soldiers.

Albert Jacka, the first Australian to receive the Victoria Cross, distinguished himself with extraordinary bravery .His actions on the battlefield often involved rescuing fellow soldiers and ensuring their safety, even at great personal risk. His courage and selflessness made him a beloved figure among his peers. Neville Howse, another key figure, was the first Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, honoured for his courageous rescue of wounded soldiers during the Boer War. His later contributions to the Australian Army Medical Corps and veteran healthcare cemented his legacy as both a military hero and medical pioneer. Together, these men shaped Australia’s military history while embodying humanitarian values of courage, leadership, and service that continue to resonate in the nation’s identity today. They are indeed “The Art of Australian Humanity” as presented in George Petrou’s latest artist foray identifying unmistakably great and noted Australian individuals. This is a worthy and needed journey across time that should never be forgotten.

By Michael Fiechtner

AUSTRALIANS

AUSTRALIANS OF THE YEAR
Beacons of Hope

As patron of the Heart Foundation in the Australian Capital Territory, I was heavily involved in organising a major charity event at the Australian War Memorial with another charity, White Cloud.

December 2012 was the beginning of many magnificent charity events that have focussed on recognising members of our community who have sacrificed their lives and, in many cases, been instrumental in making Australia the great country that it is. George Petrou played a significant role in our very first event, donating an outstanding portrait of Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG. Since then, George has donated many more fabulous works of art.

This charity function was the genesis for the creation of the extremely beautiful book, The Art of Sacrifice, authored by George with Forewords provided by former Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC and Governor-General David Hurley AC DSC FTSE.

Because I played a minor role in the first book, I was pleased and humbled to be asked to contribute to The Art of Humanity, George’s second book. George knew that since 2016 I have been a Board member of the National Australia Day Council, the body that has the honour of selecting the Australians of the Year, and he wanted input into including several contemporary recipients.

This was quite a daunting task because the Awards are divided into four categories: Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, and Local Hero. The comparison of recipients in the same category each year is extremely difficult, let alone a comparison within the same category from different years or from various categories; a task that is almost impossible except on the most subjective of levels.

Knowing that George’s focus was to embrace humanity and therefore the traits of empathy, awareness, courage, belonging, community, purpose, creativity, and kindness, I decided to consider the recipients that I had personally interacted with by looking at them through the lens of kindness.

During my tenure as a Board Member of the NADC, and prior to that as a sponsor, I have had the enormous pleasure of meeting a large number of incredible national Australian of the Year Award recipients and many more at State and Territory level, as well as having sat on every National, and many State and Territory selection panels since 2016. Given that, I believe the following group of contemporary Australians is, without doubt, one of a KIND!

I encourage George to continue with a third tome as there are many more National, State and Territory recipients whose generosity of spirit is deserving of a portrait and an updated story.

By Richard Rolfe AM