Harper Sercombe
The winners of Hume’s Corporal Cameron Baird memorial awards were announced last week.
The award celebrates the memory of Gladstone Park local and Australian soldier Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG, by supporting young people in Hume aged 12 to 25 to pursue their dreams.
Corporal Baird was awarded the Victoria Cross and was also awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan in 2007-08. He was killed in action in 2013 and this year marks the 10-year anniversary of his passing.
Amongst the winners was 12-year-old Brazilian jiu jitsu and boxing star Mikail Tamoz.
Mikail, from Dallas, won the leading from the front achievement award which reflects a commitment to an area of interest.
He calls himself ‘the anatolian wolf’ and is currently a UAE Jiu Jitsu world champion, an international Brazilian jiu jitsu federation champion, a two-time Australian champion and a seven-time state champion.
He said it was “very exciting, it was very nice,” to win the award.
Mikail is looking to defend his world championship title in Abu Dhabi in November. His goals for this year also include becoming the national champion in his weight class for both boxing and wrestling.
The award also came with a $5000 prize which he said he will spend towards his Abu Dhabi trip which he “can’t wait” for.
