Reflections of CPL Baird from family and colleagues

LTGEN DAVID MORRISON:      

[Indistinct] the Army and I represent the Army family. I would just like to take this opportunity of saying that I feel deeply privileged to be in the company of Cameron Baird's mother, father, and brother. This is a remarkable day in Australia's history. I'm going to say no more other than to say how proud I am of what Cameron did and the family from which he came.

Brendan, his brother, would now like to make a statement and then the Baird family are available for questions.

BRENDAN BAIRD:       

Thank you all for being here.

I would like to offer the following statement on behalf of my brother Cameron, our father Doug, and our mother Kaye.

Today Cameron has been awarded the highest accolade possible, a Victoria Cross for Australia. This award recognises Cameron's valour, extreme devotion to duty, and the ultimate self-sacrifice. For us, the Baird family, this is a very special day that brings with it mixed emotions. We are tremendously proud of Cameron.

We are honoured to accept this award on his behalf and we are grateful to the Governor-General and the Australian Defence Force for bestowing this honour upon Cameron. But in accepting this honour, we are also deeply saddened that Cameron could not be here, not that he would like the attention.

Cameron was a career soldier. He lived for the Army, his mates, and to serve his country. He was an easy-going bloke whose leadership and relaxed nature instilled confidence in all those who knew him. He was a typical, down to earth Aussie larrikin with a great sense of humour and loved a practical joke.

As a family, we have spent many hours since last week's announcement thinking about what Cameron would do or say about this award. We firmly believe he would be more than a bit embarrassed and probably a bit shocked by all the attention. We also know that Cameron would be the first to tell you this is not just about me, it's about my Army family, my brothers in arms, the 2nd Commando Regiment.

While today is about Cameron, it is also about the mateship he shared with these blokes with whom he trained, lived, and fought alongside. Cameron would often say about his job this is not Hollywood, we're just everyday people who go home to our families when the job is done. Cameron is the 40th Australian soldier who did not come home from Afghanistan when the job was done.

This award, while an extremely special and humbling recognition of Cameron, also places him in history as the 100th Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross and the first member of the Second Commando Regiment to receive this award. This recognition honours Cameron and his brothers in arms in a way that we, who knew and loved him, will cherish.

Lest we forget.

Without warning.

QUESTION:      

It's obviously - how did it feel to you, sir, to have the Chief of Defence Force salute you?

DOUG BAIRD: 

I guess probably it was an unreal feeling. It was something that we certainly didn't expect. I guess this is just typical of what the Defence Force is - it's about respect. And probably from our perspective, since we were given the shocking news, we've had nothing but total support from the Chief right down to the newest recruit in 2nd Commando. It's been absolutely fantastic. It was a shock, but it was a great honour, and we accept it for what it was. We'll never forget that.

QUESTION:      

And what about you, ma'am? How did you feel?

KAYE BAIRD:  

[Indistinct] I don't know what Cameron would be thinking now, but I guess he would say go for it [indistinct].

QUESTION:      

[Indistinct] What are your plans for the medal? I understand you've worked something out.

BRENDAN BAIRD:       

As a family, we have decided that this medal, the history behind the medal, the valour deserves to be in one place and one place only, and that is somewhere where future generations can be educated on the meaning behind the medal, the actions behind them, what is preserved for the medal, and that is in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, alongside with Cameron's service medals and also his Medal for Gallantry.

So as a family, we would like to think that future generations will take a step back when they go into the memorial and, in fact, remember those of all the families in every war that has fallen, the significance and sacrifice they have done for this wonderful country.

QUESTION:      

Mr Baird, when you received the medal, you and your wife were very keen to recognise Cameron's mates [indistinct], can you talk us through the significance of that in your mind?

DOUG BAIRD: 

Look, I can actually remember a story in the very early days in regard to Cameron when he first came into the unit, simply because of his size people sort of looked up to him in a lot of ways and people sort of gravitated to him. And there was things like that which actually took part within the unit which we believe was the formation of Corporal Cameron Baird, VC MG.

So yes, we do hold a very special place in our heart for that particular, not just the actual regiment itself, which we admire and love dearly, we also recognise the individuals that made up the team, which made up Bravo Company, and we also recognise every other member that's in the company as well. So yes, there is an obligation we feel to those particular guys. They did a lot of heavy lifting and we are so grateful that their parents aren't standing here today. We would wish this on nobody else.

QUESTION:      

The Governor-General asked you to pass on a message to your son when you next talked to him, to take a message. What will you say to Cameron when you, in your own - what will you say about today when you, in your own way, talk to your son?

DOUG BAIRD: 

That's a great question and I think maybe as a mother, maybe Kaye would like to answer that one. I'm a bit blokey on that one, whereas maybe a different version would be “Cameron would you like a Bundy and Coke?” and I'm sure he'd probably turn around and he'd say, well, he couldn't understand what the fuss was about.

He just probably would rather be sitting back, even to the point of - on ANZAC Day marches, quite often he wouldn't march. He would support the brothers from the other side of the fence and give them a little bit of stick from time to time in a jovial sort of way which they - that was him. That was the larrikin part of him coming out.

But look, do you wish to add any more to that?

KAYE BAIRD:  

No. You've said it all.

BRENDAN BAIRD:       

Yeah.

QUESTION:      

It's a bit unusual that he went straight from his basic training into a Special Forces regiment. Was he surprised at making that leap so quickly or were you surprised?

BRENDAN BAIRD:       

It started basically from right from Kapooka, and Cameron was awarded an award there, and for physical -

KAYE BAIRD:  

Most outstanding?

BRENDAN BAIRD:       

Yeah, most outstanding soldier. And in fact, it doesn't surprise us because he was a natural person doing - inspired to be the best in whatever he could find. At the particular time, the changes within the Defence Force, the opportunity was there for Cameron to excel at what he loved doing, and yes, at times was quite surprised that he was put straight into the Special Forces, but in saying this, it was recognised by his peers at the time. And Cameron was right at home as soon as he was posted at 2 Commando Regiment.

KAYE BAIRD:  

He also felt very humbled to join such an elite company, as he said - as he once said to me, some soldiers wait for years to be asked to join the Special Forces, and he just felt so privileged that he was able to come straight in and be a part of that.

QUESTION:      

So you were saying before how close you feel to the [indistinct] made in the regiment. You know, you lost your son but you seem to have made quite a few others. Would you agree with that?

DOUG BAIRD: 

Oh, there's no question about that one. We've had - and I guess probably if I could just go back a little bit, and pull me up if I go too far. You know, I can remember in the very early days when Cameron lived on the lines when soldiers lived on base that I was in Sydney at this particular time, I actually spent that particular night in the particular room and that particular group of guys and they were all very fresh, all very young, and, you know, we see a lot of those guys at the back of the room today. So, yeah, look, it was just started all then, and I was part of it - I was privileged to be part of it, and I just think probably just that in a way was just acknowledgement to them, and I've received that back as well.

QUESTION:      

The news broke about a week ago about this honour. How does it feel with all the attention?

DOUG BAIRD: 

Well, look, yeah, it's an extreme honour, which we understand that what we're doing today goes with it, and we are an extension of Cameron, and we will make sure that probably this particular medal, whether it be as it is now or in the format of replicas, will go to his primary school in Victoria, it will go to his secondary college at [indistinct], in acknowledgement that one of the things that Cameron wanted to do prior - and he probably would have done it had he not met his fortune on 22 June, was that he wanted to get a message out to all the young people that education was an extremely powerful tool, and that probably in his early days, he probably cruised more than what he should. Is that true? But at that stage he was thinking football, but as he matured as a person I think he understood that probably education was the backbone for whatever you wanted to do. So that was going to be his message to them. Study hard, get the best education you can, and become the best possible person you can in life, and to go by the old golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

LTGEN MORRISON:     

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure you understand that the Governor-General and the Prime Minister are waiting to spend some time with the Baird family, so if there are any other questions, could you just - maybe one or two [indistinct]…

QUESTION:      

General…

QUESTION:      

[Indistinct question].

QUESTION:      

General, there is a quick question for RSM Ashley, if that's possible?

LTGEN MORRISON:     

There'll be a question - perhaps we can that after…

UNKNOWN SPEAKER: 

Sure.

LTGEN MORRISON:     

…[Indistinct] everybody. Thank you.

BRENDAN BAIRD:       

I'd just like to say again right now to everybody that this medal here is not just solely [indistinct] for Cameron, nor would Cameron want - as of my statement. This is a reflection on the hard work that is done by the Special Forces soldiers, by the 2nd Commando Regiment, and these are the soldiers who defend our shorelines. So we are very proud, and we accept this [indistinct]… Very proud.

UNKNOWN SPEAKER: 

Thanks very much. Thank you.

DOUG BAIRD: 

[Indistinct] anyway, guys. Look, thank you very much from the family. We appreciate the fact that you were kind enough to be able to bear with us under the circumstances, and the respect you've shown us today and hope [indistinct] and just from the family, thank you very much.

UNKNOWN SPEAKER: 

Thank you.

WARRANT OFFICER DAVE ASHLEY:   

...not recall any time during my long career any time where an individual was held in such professional regard and with such deep affection and by the people and soldiers that count the most, those mates who went into battle with him. And I know both in my head and my heart that Cameron Baird is one of Australia's greatest ever soldiers.

QUESTION:      

Why? What were the reasons for the esteem that you felt [indistinct]?

WO ASHLEY:   

He was a great mate. Everyone could rely on him. He epitomised Australian Army values of courage, initiative, respect, and teamwork. He always led from the front. So he was just a dynamo [indistinct].

QUESTION:      

It's pretty striking to those of us who have read the citation and discovered that his weapon actually jammed for a while and he had to go away and clear it and reload and he went straight back in there again. What does that say about him?

WO ASHLEY:   

Determination. He was focused on doing the job at hand. So even though his weapon failed, he fixed a weapon [indistinct], got back into the battle. And it's that kind of momentum that needs to be continued to win the fight and he did that.

QUESTION:      

How would it feel when you've got this citation being [indistinct] today, but for his mates here today at Government House? They'd be bringing back some pretty vivid memories, I imagine.

WO ASHLEY:   

I actually think that this Victoria Cross not just represents Cameron Baird, but all the soldiers of his unit and all the soldiers of the Australian Army. There is an immense pride in the Army now because of this award.

QUESTION:      

You described him earlier, sir, [indistinct] what you had to say about Cameron, your description of him as a dynamo. Could you again tell us how you view him now?

WO ASHLEY:   

Cameron leaves behind a particular spirit that will remain in the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Army and it's because of just who he was. Everyone looked up to Cameron Baird. I don't know - you may have missed my first answer, but my job is to travel the Army and speak to soldiers, and I've been doing that for many, many years. I don't recall a single unit that I've ever visited where an individual was held in such high professional regard and with such deep affection.

QUESTION:      

Because of what? What qualities?

WO ASHLEY:   

Army stated values are courage, initiative, respect, and team work, and these aren't just throwaway words. We actually live them. He lived all of those values. And because of this, he was a dynamo. People looked to Cameron Baird as the example. That's why he is so sorely missed.

QUESTION:      

And your correct title?

WO ASHLEY:   

I'm the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army, which means I'm the senior soldier in the Army.

QUESTION:      

How are the guys in 2 Commando today? They seem to be - we could hear some emotion being expressed, I suppose, a bit behind us. How are they?

WO ASHLEY:   

That is just an indication of the esteem that Cameron Baird was held in. I met all the soldiers in 2 Commando Regiment today and, like me, they're incredibly proud.

QUESTION:      

And a bit emotional?

WO ASHLEY:   

Yes, without a doubt. You can be a tough soldier and still be emotional.