[BITList] Fwd: Media release: VA082 PEACEKEEPERS' CONTRIBUTION HONOURED TODAY [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[John Feltham]

Begin forwarded message:



Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List


VA082
                                                                                                                      Monday
, 14 September

PEACEKEEPERS’ CONTRIBUTION HONOURED TODAY

The important and ongoing contribution of peacekeepers will be  
honoured today on Australian Peacekeepers’ Day, Minister for Veterans’  
Affairs Alan Griffin said.

Laying a wreath to mark the day during a service at the proposed site  
of the National Peacekeepers’ Memorial, Minister Griffin encouraged  
Australians to recognise the role of peacekeepers in helping to  
restore peace around the world.

“Australia has been involved in peacekeeping operations for 62 years  
and there are currently more than 1200 Australian Defence Force  
personnel deployed to ten peacekeeping operations overseas,” Mr  
Griffin said.

“Peacekeepers serve in dangerous and unstable locations around the  
world, seeking to restore peace and order and assisting the victims of  
conflict.  Today is an opportunity to honour their valuable  
contribution.

“Australia has a proud record of peace operations over the past 62  
years. More than 30,000 Australian peacekeepers have participated in  
some 50 United Nations and multinational peace operations across the  
globe since the first operation in Indonesia in 1947.”

Australia’s peacekeeping roles have included military observation,  
logistics support, cease-fire monitoring, landmine clearing,  
humanitarian aid and repatriation of refugees.

Australia has contributed to peacekeeping operations in the Middle  
East, Namibia, Cambodia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Bougainville, East Timor,  
Iraq, Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and a host of other places.

“Australia’s peacekeeping operations have involved men and women from  
the Australian Defence Force, federal and state police forces and  
Australian Government agencies,” Mr Griffin said.

The Australian Government is also funding a study investigating the  
long-term effects on mental health and the quality of life of Defence  
Force peacekeepers deployed through the 1990s to 2002. The study,  
funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, will consider  
Australian involvement during this time in places such as Rwanda,  
Somalia, Cambodia, Namibia, Western Sahara and East Timor and  
complement the current Deployment Health Surveillance Program being  
undertaken by the Department of Defence.

“This research will help us to better understand and respond to the  
future health needs of peacekeepers and peacemakers,” Mr Griffin said.

Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be  
contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.
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ooroo

Bad typists of the word, untie.




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