By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on November 14, 2019
ALBANY’s 100th Remembrance Day service on Monday was made extra special with the attendance of a former AFL player and Order of Australia recipient.
Former Carlton player Doug Baird OAM, the father of Australia’s fourth Victoria Cross for Australia recipient Cameron Baird, gave the formal address at the Albany RSL Remembrance Day Service and spoke of the bravery and strength of Australian soldiers.
Mr Baird is responsible for Cam’s Cause, a charitable organisation that raises money to support returned soldiers in honour of his late son, killed in action in Afghanistan six years ago.
Cameron Baird fought in Operation Slipper, Falconer, Bastille and Tanager while in Afghanistan, Iraq and Timor-Leste between 2001 and 2013.
For his efforts, he was also awarded the Australian Army Medal for Gallantry, Australian Active Service Medal and the NATO Meritorious Medal, among 10 other medals.
This week marked the first time Mr Baird had visited Albany for a service and said it was an honour to be involved.
“It’s terribly important to me to come to services like this,” he said.
“We can’t do anything for Cam anymore, but we can for others.”
Mr Baird regularly travels the world as a motivational and inspirational speaker, spreading the word of his son’s legacy and the charity created in his memory.
He spoke at the centenary commemoration of the Battle of Lone Pine in Gallipoli four years ago and has met the Queen of England and her family on several occasions.
