Cameron was born in the Hunter Region coal mining town of Minmi.
He was the son of a coal-miner and was educated to elementary level at Plattsburg public school.
His initial employment was as a coal miner at the Wallsend Colliery at the age of 14.
He was an office-holder in the Miners' Federation prior to his election to parliament.
On 1 January 1963, Cameron was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire "in recognition of public service in New South Wales.