Ian Kemish

Met a lot of really inspiring people, saw some pretty difficult things, and it lingered with me.

Met a lot of really inspiring people, saw some pretty difficult things, and it lingered with me.

Well, to begin with, I was the eyes and ears of the Australian government at a time when there was actually quite a lot of focus on that region.

Well, to begin with, I was the eyes and ears of the Australian government at a time when there was actually quite a lot of focus on that region.

The conflict was very much underway.

The conflict was very much underway.

Efforts were being made by the international community to bring about an end to the awful killing and the slaughter that had been taking place through the early 90s in Bosnia in particular, but also Croatia.

Efforts were being made by the international community to bring about an end to the awful killing and the slaughter that had been taking place through the early 90s in Bosnia in particular, but also Croatia.

It was a time when the Australian government probably had more skin in the game than most people might appreciate.

It was a time when the Australian government probably had more skin in the game than most people might appreciate.

You know, we Australians were welcoming as by far the most significant government

You know, we Australians were welcoming as by far the most significant government

proportion of our refugee and humanitarian immigration intake from the Balkans and particularly from Bosnia.

proportion of our refugee and humanitarian immigration intake from the Balkans and particularly from Bosnia.

You know, something like 40% of all the people who came under those categories came from there.

You know, something like 40% of all the people who came under those categories came from there.

We also had and still have very, very substantial Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Macedonian and other communities from that place.

We also had and still have very, very substantial Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Macedonian and other communities from that place.

And that gave another reason for Australia to be focused on it.

And that gave another reason for Australia to be focused on it.