Even in a major exercise, it is often the smaller personal events that make a difference.

Interacting, understanding and making friends with the local communities often makes the biggest impact.

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In 1993 Lieutenant Colonel D J Hurley was part of the UN Peacekeeping operation in Somalia, based in Biadoa.

"At one village I was shown a baby girl with badly ulcerated legs. She had apparently scratched some insect bites. Her legs were swollen to the extent that the skin had split and she had lesions about 2 inches long all around her ankles all covered with dirt and flies. All I could do was clean her legs with water and apply some antiseptic cream that we had in our vehicle first aid kit. I gave the tube to her mother and had the interpreter explain to her about cleaning the wound and applying the cream. That child is just one of millions however and it is frustrating and infuriating how just a few bad apples in this country are destroying the children. I will have to have Darren arrange a clinic in the village to follow up on the baby."

EXTRACT OF LETTER HOME, 7 FEBRUARY 1993

Captain Carol Vaughan-Evans was an Army doctor during Mission Creep supporting the United Nations operation in the Rwandan Civil War in 1994/95.

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George Gittoes, who worked alongside many soldiers at the front, believes Australian forces are the best peacekeepers in the world.

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