AUSTRALIAN peacekeepers have helped restore communities in more than 64 countries, a crowd at South Bandiana’s Gaza Ridge Barracks heard yesterday.
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The efforts of more than 66,000 Australian military, police and civilian peacekeepers were honoured at a ceremony for Australian Peacekeepers Day.
Bandiana’s Lt Col Bronwyn Wheeler told the small crowd at Gaza Ridge about the destruction troops faced while overseas.
She spoke of war-torn Rwanda in 1994-95 after the assassination of two of the country’s leaders.
“What we saw day in and day out for six months was devastating,” Lt Col Wheeler said.
“Nothing could restore the hope of those people.
“(But) not a day would go by when you did not get a smile from someone.”
As part of the United Nations Assistance Mission, Lt Col Wheeler provided health care at a hospital and supported an orphanage.
“We also gave relief by providing them with clothes, toys and much-enjoyed sweets.”
The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association organised the Bandiana ceremony for the third year.
