Australia is about 16,000 kilometres from the Balkans, yet more than one million Australians trace their roots to the region. Many arrived in two major waves, first in the 1960s and 70s, escaping the economic and political pressures of the former Yugoslavia, and later in the 1990s, during and after the Bosnian War. But regardless of when they arrived, generations have maintained a strong connection to their heritage, preserving their language, culture and traditions.