by Migs

“Crikey”.

On the 4th of September, 2006, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin died in a freak accident involving a misguided stingray barb. To paraphrase Aussie actor David Wenham- on the 4th day of the 9th month of this year, the crocodiles din indeed, begin to weep.

His methods were unorthodox, and his demeanor, perenially effervescent. He embraced hazards with unshakable purpose, a purpose defined by a desire to heighten awareness about creatures oft misunderstood, and oft abused for reasons rooted in selfishness. He had a penchant for shock therapy, which, during a time or two, caused him to actually dangle his infant son Robert precariously over a wild animal driven by sheer instinct.

All of his achievements coupled with his eccentricities considered, though, Steve Irwin will be fondly remembered for one thing above all else- his undying passion for wildlife conservation. Despite the opinions of some prominent figures such as academician Germaine Greer and Dr. Clive Hamilton of the Australia Institute, the prevalent consensus that Irwin was someone who brought the woods to people’s homes persists. As much as the world’s most famous “Crocodile Hunter”’s methods were, at times, deemed to tread on thin ice, in that, the transcended traditional animal interaction status quos, it cannot be denied that what Irwin did was bring attention to animal welfare in a manner that was engaging, such that it commanded a rebuttal of some kind from observers. I don’t think Irwin’s work with The Austrailia Zoo and Discovery Network was ever intended to assume some form of circus-like vibe. I believe that there is room for making the concept of discovery, or travel, or adventure, of environmental advocacy, and for the body of thought known as science as a whole, fun but still of unpresidented depth.

Steve’s fervor for change lives on in his daughter, Bindi. In a memorial service held at the Australia Zoo this morning, a service which was broadcast over international television, and a service that drew prominent figures such as Prime Minister John Howard, Russell Crowe, Cameron Diaz, and Justin Timberlake, it was the words of a wee 8 year-old from down under that hit home the hardest.

“My Daddy was my hero – he was always there for me when I needed him.

“He listened to me and taught me so many things but most of all he was fun.

“I know that daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did.

“He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.

“He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.

“I don’t want daddy’s passion to ever end.

“I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.

“I have the best daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day.
“When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals.

“Daddy made this place his whole life and now it’s our turn to help daddy.”

Beyond the emotionality of the young lass’ words which, of course, can be traced to the loss of a beloved relative, Bindi did make one resounding point- Steve Irwin was, indeed, a catalyst for progress which everyone could be involved in. He was a man representative of dousing a shaved sheep with ice water. He was someone that made many a person laugh, “rise up in arms”, and most important of all, reevaluate their already established beliefs or prepare themselves to assimilate revolutionary knowledged geared at shattering perceptions of “what ought to be” and turning that into faith in “the ever evolving good that already is”.

Thanks for the memories over the years, mate. Thank you for reminding us that passion is not just a feeling- it is, per se, a state of “being”.

And to Bindi Irwin, don’t fret Shiela, we (and I, for one) will walk along the same trail your father walked upon, through whatever it is we consider to be our spirits’ fondest occupation, clad in pure, shared, brilliance. =)