Cameron William Baird was born in Melbourne in 1927. From his Scots father he inherited a very strong determination to do well at anything he tried, also persistence and at times stubbornness, in fighting for anything he believed in. From his English mother came a sense of fun and enthusiasm, and from both parents his deep sense of loyalty, integrity, duty and fair play which were his outstanding characteristics.

Cam (or 'Buddha' as he was known at school and university), was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, where as well as being a very good student he represented the college in the first tennis, hockey and debating teams. Holidays were spent either at the seaside, where he developed a lifelong interest in marine biology and fishing, or in the bush which he also loved, and where he developed some fame as a rabbit hunter. Student days at Ormond College at the University of Melbourne were very happy ones: Cam was very active in all College events (later being an Ormond College council member for many years), he played in the intervarsity hockey team, was a minor rebel by refusing to wear a tie to lectures on Saturday mornings, and completed his medical course in 1952, sharing the exhibition in medicine, winning a Ryan Scholarship in surgery, and also (as did his daughter Alison in 1985), winning the Herman Lawrence prize in dermatology.

After two years' residency at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, he began work for his PhD on studies in plasma insulin: during this time he also obtained his MD and MRACP. In 1958, while working in the new department of medicine at the University of Melbourne, he was awarded a Nuffield Dominion Travelling Scholarship in medicine for 1959, and also the Elizabeth Ross Scholarship. 15 more or less happy months were spent at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford with Sir George Pickering, and in 1961, he was appointed director of biochemistry at Royal Melbourne hospital, a position held until his death in 1974.

He was one of the pioneers of automation of biochemistry in Australia, was very active in many medical and non-medical societies, and was the author or co-author of over 44 published papers. A Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia, he was chairman of the board of censors for 6 years, and vice-president at the time of his death. He served with the Australian Forces in Vietnam, improving biochemical services, and returned home with an impressive assortment of Vung-Tau seasnakes. His many overseas lecture tours too usually saw additions to the marine collection. The further training of Asian graduates in Australia was a special interest.

A forthright man, he had no time for pomposity, arrogance or ostentation, and as an only child, his friends were very important to him. To them and to his staff, students and registrars who were also his friends, he gave implicit trust and loyalty, rarely misplaced, protection and help if needed, and deep affection. He married Lorna Isabel Murfitt, who was also a pathologist and they had four children, two of whom entered the medical profession.