The situation on the isle of Cyprus was extremely delicate. 1800 Turkish Cypriots had to be bussed through a Greek Cypriot zone for a memorial service to commemorate their war dead. Feelings were high and things could erupt at any moment.
It was a situation calling for masterful diplomacy and frantic behind-scenes last-minute efforts to ensure it went off without incident from Ingrid Kuster, the Australian police superintendent responsible in her role as United Nations police liaison officer on Cyprus.
Australian police have been helping to keep the peace on Cyprus for over 40 years and, to Ingrid's relief, this day was no exception. It was a result that typifies the quiet, competent professionalism and sympathetic approach of Australian law officers working in other countries.
Ingrid joined the Australian Federal Police in 1982 - she's still not sure what drew her to policing - and worked for much of the next twelve years in uniform on the streets of Canberra. "I absolutely loved it," she recalls of her time on patrol.
She achieved rapid promotion in the local ACT police before switching to the Australian Federal Police's professional standards branch, where she attained her superintendency in 2002.
A single mum with two daughters, Ingrid has had to plan her police career around her family, taking the UN role in Cyprus since the girls could accompany her. Today she is Co-ordinator, Special Operations, for the Australian Federal Police.
In June 2005 she received the Police Overseas Service Medal.
The Police Overseas Service Medal recognises service by officers of Australian police forces with international peace-keeping organisations.