Titled Stepping into a Minefield, Mr Mansfield recalls his experiences working overseas in Afghanistan, Laos, Bosnia, New York and then Geneva. Mr Mansfield was serving in the Australian Army when, in 1991, he was posted to advise and assist the United Nations train Afghan refugees in landmine clearance. 

Mr Mansfield subsequently left the army and worked overseas with the United Nations for 20 years helping war torn countries recover. 

Stepping into a Minefield highlights the dangers of landmines and Mr Mansfield’s bravery and commitment to the worthy cause of ridding the world of them. 

It also gives readers an insight into Mr Mansfield and his family’s experiences living in war-torn countries, and tells of his pioneering efforts in setting up a civilian program in Afghanistan before moving on to programs in Laos and Bosnia.  

Mr Mansfield attended Ararat West primary school and Ararat High (for a year) in the 1950s and 1960s. He then went to Geelong and later Duntroon before joining the army.  In 2010, Mr Mansfield was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia. 

In the first chapter of Stepping into a Minefield, Mr Mansfield describes growing up in Ararat and included is a photo of him as a boy that was in The Ararat Advertiser on November 4, 1962.

Stepping into a Minefield will soon be on the shelves of the Ararat Library and it is currently on sale at Dymocks bookshops.