A great bloke who died saving mates
ASPIRE to inspire — and it’s better to give, than to receive. Both are aspirational mottos for a rich life, and both were found in Cameron Baird’s little black book of lessons learned, now treasured by his grieving family.
Corporal Baird embodied what it meant to be a true Aussie hero. Assigned to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, the commando served in East Timor in 2001, and did tours of Iraq and Afghanistan before being killed in action on June 22, 2013, at the age of 32.
The 100th Australian to be awarded the country’s highest military honour — the Victoria Cross — as well as the Medal for Gallantry, Baird was above all else, a good bloke.
He put others before himself. He showed empathy. He understood. He cared. And it showed.
“Those qualities came forward even from a very young age for Cameron,” his proud dad Doug Baird said,
Mr Baird said that the intuitive mateship Cameron was known for in the army was apparent throughout his life — and never more so than the day he died, when he repeatedly drew enemy fire away from his team and charged under heavy fire, allowing the enemy to be neutralised and his team to be kept safe. He died protecting others.
“We all knew he was a great soldier — but he was an even better person,” Mr Baird said.
News Corp, publisher of the Townsville Bulletin, is commemorating the spirit and strength of the Anzacs, and soldiers such as Cameron Baird, with a limited- edition coin collection.