Rising above adversity
emma.greenwood@news.com.au when he was alive and up here – so we see this as a total respect for Cameron and our contemporary soldiers.
“So we’re extremely pleased and proud that Cameron’s been chosen in this manner.”
The statue to be presented to the man of the match is also used as a fundraiser for Cam’s Cause, a not-for-profit organisation that strives to honour and remember Baird’s life and raise awareness of the work performed by the military and the physical and psychological cost of modern warfare.
Baird’s personal motto was Aspire to Inspire, a catchcall he adopted after the death of DOUG BAIRD scout Luke Worsley, the first Australian commando killed in Afghanistan.
“When that happened, Cameron decided as the team commander, he would be the first person through that door, he would be the first person off that chopper,” Doug said.
“It shouldn’t have been his job but he took it upon himself to inspire his team.”
That dedication to team above self is a sense Meninga is keen to foster among the Kangaroos and ties in with the values of Rise – Respect, Inspire, Selfless and Excellence – and the ode penned by Meninga and Thaiday.
The ode, which touches on something bigger than the self, laying your body on the line and representing your country, could apply as much to an army unit as a sports team. Doug and Kaye saw Cameron’s own values reflected in the Kangaroos verse.
“Part of the commando code is they don’t seek medals or honours as individuals, they seek the acknowledgment of their fellow operator,” said Doug, who as a player for AFL club Carlton through the 1969 and 1970 seasons is no stranger to elite sport.
“For them, they are the ones that judge us. So they’re talking team.”
Replica statues of Baird which help raise funds for organisations such as the Commando Welfare Trust are available online at camscause.org or from the Cam’s Cause Facebook page.