‘Inspiring’ Saturday for Mathoura

The event featured special guest Doug Baird, father of Australia’s 100th Victoria Cross recipient Cameron Baird, and was hosted by AFL legend Kevin Sheedy.

Corporal Baird was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia in 2014 for ‘the most conspicuous acts of valour, devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice’ after he was killed in action during a firefight in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan on June 22, 2013.

Mathoura’s senior coach, Adam Bourke, played a key role in getting the ball rolling on the night, having an existing connection with Cameron and Doug.

“I played a bit of footy with (Cameron) down at the Calder Cannons and also when he was at Gladstone Park and I was at Riddells Creek, and we were both in the army together around about the same time and crossed paths a couple of times,” Bourke said.

“I knew Doug as well and it's obviously tragic what's happened.

“Cam's given his life to Australia so we can enjoy our freedoms and go about our daily business, so I thought it'd be a good thing to do for the footy club.

“It's something a bit different and it's very insightful, talking about the life and death of not only a soldier, but also somebody's son.”

Baird shared Cameron’s story with attendees, also giving a talk at the Mathoura clubrooms before the side’s game against Rennie.

“He gave a bit of a chat to both the seniors and reserves because the reserves had just finished and we were looking to go back out to start the game,” Bourke said.

“He was able to catch both grades and just give a bit of insight for a couple of minutes into some of the values that Cam lived by.

“The catch-cry that they have is aspire to inspire, so I think it was very inspiring having Doug in the change rooms prior to the game talking about his son's sacrifice.”

Mathoura had its best performance of the season against the Grasshoppers, staying with the opposition for three quarters before eventually going down by five goals.

Proceeds from the sportsman’s night went to supporting the football netball club, with a portion going to the Zero79 Foundation, a charity originally known as Cam’s Cause in honour of Corporal Baird.

The organisation supports current and former Australian commandos and their families.

Along with Baird’s insights, attendees also got the chance to hear from Sheedy, who ruminated on more than 680 games as an AFL coach, as well as talking about his own military history.

“Not many people know, but it's Corporal Kevin Sheedy, he served in the army,” Bourke said.

“One thing he spoke about was when he was at GWS because he had a real up-and-coming group of players, a fairly immature squad.

“He spoke about giving them a point for effort each quarter.

“While the AFL gave you four points to win a match, he would actually rank their quarters and give them a point for their effort, knowing that they weren't going to win the quarter, but the effort was really important.

“That's very telling for us as well because we're about giving effort and we're on the wrong side of the scorelines at the moment.”

Sheedy was GWS’ inaugural coach in the 2012 season.

Mathoura is set to enjoy two weeks of rest and recovery as it has its own bye on Saturday, followed by a league-wide bye on July 12.

Bourke’s Timbercutters will return to action against Picola District Football League’s other winless outfit, Blighty, on July 19.