FEATURE: Tsunami aid workers' diary

When an earthquake and tsunami struck the Pacific nations of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, tragedy and devastation followed.

Nearly 180 people died in the tsunami, with at least 137 killed in Samoa, 32 in American Samoa, and nine from the northern Tongan island of Niuatpoutapu.

Aid organisations responded quickly to the disaster. Among those sent to help in Samoa were Bianca Collier and Dave Peedom, of Save the Children Australia.

Mr Peedom specialises in aid and development, while Ms Collier has worked in conflict and disaster affected areas such as war-torn Africa and Sri Lanka -- following their 2004 tsunami.

In Samoa, they have been working to distribute emergency relief packages, and identify the best way for their organisation to help the survivors.

Mr Peedom and Ms Collier kept an audio diary of their experiences in Samoa, which aired on Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program.