Remembrance Day: Tasmanians commemorate heroes as road named for Cameron Baird VC
Tasmanians fell silent on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to commemorate our state’s WWI heroes, while in the North-West, a road named for Corporal Cameron Baird VC was unveiled.
Tasmania
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At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Tasmanians fell silent to remember and honour the lives and contributions of fallen and returned service men and women in World War I.
Historical Arms Military Society Tasmania (HAMST) sub-branch women in war’s Bernadette Peck and Kim Denholm laid a wreath at the Hobart Cenotaph in honour of Tasmanian nurses in WWI.
“We are commemorating women and nurses at war,” Mrs Peck said.
“There was a nursing sister and army matron Jean Nellie Miles Walker who was a Tasmanian nurse who died before she was able to return from service.”
Mrs Peck’s great grandfather was a part of the 3rd light horse regiment and her grandfather served in WWII.
“That’s another reason why we are a part of HAMST, we think it’s important to protect and preserve the memory,” Mrs Peck said.
Tasmanian Governor Barbara Baker called for peace, unity, and a commitment to ensuring that the sacrifices made by service men and women were not in vain during her Remembrance Day keynote address.
“We recognise that conflicts continue to rage across our globe. The ongoing high intensity war in Ukraine is now well into its second year, with little hope for speedy resolution,” she said.
“Tragically, we are witnessing the devastating loss of life in Israel and in Palestine.
“In both current conflicts, young and not so young soldiers have been killed or wounded in large numbers but beyond the military losses, there have been and continue to be devastating losses among civilian populations.
“This Remembrance Day serves a sombre reminder that the world continues to face new and complex challenges.”
A memorial park in Burnie has been dedicated to Tasmanian war hero Corporal Cameron Baird, a Victorian Cross recipient who was killed while fighting in Afghanistan in 2013.
At the Cenotaph in Burnie Park on Saturday, Corporal Baird’s father, Doug Baird along with Burnie Mayor Teeny Brumby announced the official renaming of the internal road in Burnie Park to Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG Drive.
Veteran Affairs Minister Guy Barnett said his grandfather returned from WWI and joined Hobart Legacy and served as president for several years.
“Remembrance Day serves as a moment to remember and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Australia and our democracy and freedoms,” he said.
“This year marks 100 years since the beginning of the Remembrance Club now known as Legacy. The club was formed by Ouse born Major-General Sir John Gellibrand on his return to Hobart in 1923 after he witnessed the plight of ex-servicemen and their families.”
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