AN ANNUAL football match will commemorate Corporal Cameron Baird’s bravery.
The Burnie City Council, Burnie RSL sub-branch, Federal Member for Braddon Brett Whiteley and state MP Adam Brooks gathered to brainstorm ways to form long-lasting methods to remember Corporal Baird.
The football match was one of the ideas to come out of that meeting, as well as a memorial plinth, which will be unveiled on March 31 and a fundraising evening on the same night.
The football match will be held on Good Friday and will feature the Burnie Dockers and Devonport Magpies.
A commemorative football match was an appropriate choice under the circumstances as Corporal Baird was born in Burnie and loved football.
Corporal Baird’s father played for the Cooee Bulldogs when Corporal Baird was born.
The Cooee Bulldogs were later merged with the Burnie Tigers to make the Burnie Dockers.
“Cameron Baird was on the verge of a football career when he got an injury and chose the army instead,” Mr Davis said.
Following the match, a medallion will be presented in Corporal Baird’s name to the most courageous Burnie Docker player.
To receive the Corporal Cameron Baird Medal, the player needs to have shown teamwork, commitment, leadership and strength during the game as these were qualities possessed by Corporal Baird, according to Mr Davis.
This was supported by the Medal for Gallantry Corporal Baird received in 2008 and he was also awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for the actions which cost him his life, but saved his mates in 2013.
A commemorative shield will be awarded to the winning team.
The game will be held on Good Friday, April 3, from 5pm at West Park Oval.
Burnie Dockers president Peter Vincent said entry to the game was free for RSL service members and military personnel.
