Community & Business
12 October, 2023
Prestigious honour for local soldier
Pittsworth’s Clint Berghofer has received the Cam Baird VC trophy for most outstanding soldier in his platoon at a ceremony in Wagga Wagga.
The award was presented to Private Berghofer by the Governor General, His Excellency David Hurley.
Clint has very strong Pittsworth connections, having attended Pittsworth state primary and high schools.
He was in the army cadets at high school and participated in football and judo at Pittsworth Sokaijin Judo Club.
Clint’s mother Janene Howard said after leaving school Clint completed his fitter and turner apprenticeship with McLean Farms, then spent 12 months working at the port of Gladstone maintaining gas lines.
She said his dream, however, was to be a soldier and he enlisted in the army.
Clint recently completed his army recruitment course at Kapooka near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.
He was part of the 14th Platoon, leaving Brisbane on 8th July.
There were 42 recruits in his platoon and Clint was presented with the Cam Baird VC trophy for most outstanding soldier in his platoon, receiving outstanding results overall in each unit of training.
Cam Baird VC sacrificed his life for his country in Afghanistan in 2013, displaying an incredible amount of courage and valour.
Mother Janene, her husband Richard Howard and grandmother Lynette
Pearce were all in attendance for the march out parade held on Friday, 29 September, when they
were able to see Clint receive the award from the Governor General.
His father Greg Berghofer was unable to attend.
Lynette said the family did not know Clint would be receiving the trophy until it happened.
“It was very emotional,” Lynette said.
She said he comes from a proud military lineage, as her own father Bill Leifels served, as did his other great-grandparents Bill and Juanita Pierce.
Clint is presently at Singleton in New South Wales for further training in the infantry before receiving his first posting.
Lynette said Clint’s ambition is to be a rifleman.
