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A portrait of Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG, has been unveiled at Camp Baird, Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East.

Serco Defence Contracts Director Logistics Andy Maclean presented the commissioned portrait to Commander Joint Task Force 633, Rear Admiral Mark Hill, during a Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11.

The painting is displayed in the ‘Sands’ recreation and meeting room.

“As one of only four recipients of Australia’s highest award for wartime bravery in Afghanistan, Corporal Baird has an iconic place, not just in the Australian Defence Force, but the whole of Australia,” Mr Maclean said.

“Serco had been considering for some time how to honour those who died in war, when the opportunity arose to purchase this painting from the Australian National Veterans Museum.

“As soon as we saw the painting by artist George Petrou, we immediately recognised how skillfully he had portrayed Cameron’s likeness and enduring spirit.”

Rear Admiral Hill said it was an honour to accept the painting and expressed his gratitude to Serco for its gift to the Australian Defence Force.

“The Sands is a significant place at Camp Baird because it’s where all deployed members receive their final briefing before flying to Afghanistan or Iraq,” Rear Admiral Hill said.

“So the painting of Corporal Baird will be a poignant reminder to all those going forward of the ultimate sacrifice Cameron and 42 other Australians made serving our country.”

Corporal Baird was killed in action during operations in Afghanistan on June 22, 2013.

His Victoria Cross citation reads: ‘For the most conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice at Ghawchak Village, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, as a Commando Team Commander in Special Operations Task Group on Operation Slipper.’

Surprise guests at the Dubbo show were Spiro Paule Findex CEO and Terry Paule Findex Chairman.

The most knowledgable person in the room being rewarded with a crisp new $185 banknote.

We had joint winners of the Sir Hubert Wilkins lucky door prize Deb and Carol, congrats ladies!

Tony Hill our wonderful guest speaker who presented the very moving story of Henri Tovell to the Dubbo audience, thank you Tony.

The Ian Turner/Cameron Baird painting that was purchased by David Le Pavoux on the right with George and Zed Petrou in Sydney at the 2nd Commando Charity Dinner in Sydney on the 13th of September. The painting now hangs at the 2nd Commando Recovery Centre at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney.

Managing director of Serco Australia at the unveiling of the Cameron Baird portrait at ANVAM head office, Melbourne. The portrait will be sent to Camp Baird, Dubai, UAE. From left Clint Thomas, Doug Baird, Michael Madden and George Petrou on the 23rd of September 2019.

George Petrou is a well known Australian graphic designer who has turned his artistic talents to painting in recent years. His painting has evolved from a strong contemporary abstract style to restrained portrait painting with a splash of abstraction to free up the subject from total reality.

After previous exhibitions ‘The Lost Diggers of Vignacourt’ and ‘The Victoria Cross’, George Petrou has partnered with Findex to produce ‘Great Australian Stories’; an exhibition showcasing great known and unknown Australians and their stories, touring metropolitan and regional cities across Australia in 2019-20.

Keith Payne VC with Kate Manderson along with portrait of Keith painted by George Petrou. Kate paid $11,500 for the portrait at the recent Digger Day Gala Ball in Nowra 2018.

Diana Dunlop standing beside her grandfather’s portrait at the Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Foundation Charity Ball at the Kelvin Club.

I was recently reacquainted with two VC portraits I had painted a few years ago, these were purchased by Box Hill RSL which they in turn donated to the SAS Head Office in Swanbourne Perth.

Keith Payne VC, Zola Petrou and Annmaria Catalano at the Victoria Cross – Australia Remembers event at the Box Hill RSL

Keith Payne VC with our special guest Aurelio Catalano at the Box Hill RSL presentation.

Florence and Keith Payne VC visit our studio Mont Albert along with James Howard and Regan Mills.