Steve Irwin died on September 4 2006 after being stung in the chest by a stingray while filming on the Great Barrier Reef. He is survived by wife Terri, daughter Bindi and son Bob.
He was born Steve Robert Erwin on February 22 1962 to Bob and Lyn Irwin who settled in Essenden Victoria. Even in his early years he helped his father to collect reptiles and snakes.
Than in November 1970 the family moved north to Beerwah Queensland and started a fully fledged wildlife sanctuary where the Australian Zoo is today. At the age of nine years he had his first crocodile ride while helping his father.
Steve was educated at Caloundra high School until he matriculated in 1979. At the age of eighteen he saw the sanctuary become the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park.
The late 1980’s saw Steve rescuing large saltwater croc’s that had been deemed dangerous to North Queensland Communities, a job that he videoed with a camera given to him by his father Bob. He relocated in the region of one hundred croc’s in this time to the reptile park some of who still reside at the Australia Zoo today.
He returned to the park in 1991 where he met Canadian Terri Raines who he married in 1992. Steve’s big break to fame came in 1992 when the Discovery Channel in the USA commissioned the first “Crocodile Hunter Documentary” which reached an estimated viewing audience of 500 million in 120 countries.
From than to now he has become one of the best known icons in the world today through his love and passion for the flora and fauna of nature on a planet scale. He received publicity through both showmanship and controversy when it came to animal conservation. Probably one of the most famous Australians ever he was known to world leaders and local natives alike. It was through his many conservation projects that the reptile park grew into the Australia Zoo we know today.
Steve’s life showed a great passion and love for his family, other people and the wildlife of planet Earth which is why people remember this Aussie crocodile hunter who is a household name respected worldwide.
September 20 2006 saw 5000 people attend a public remembrance ceremony at the Australia Zoo which went for about one hour and was televised worldwide direct. For any who attended or viewed it on television it was daughter Bindi who stole the show with a speech that showed she has her fathers strengths and the passion to fulfill his dreams not yet realized.
Steve Irwin was a man who’s short life of forty four years has impacted world wide on wildlife conservation and gained massive support for his cause on a global scale.
While he has become one of the best known Aussie icons in history, he could be best described as a true citizen of planet Earth.
