The Eclectic Interweb

Thing about not updating the blog too often is that I miss writing about things that are important to me. One of the most recent events to have upset me was the untimely and unexpected death of Steve Irwin.

The wife and I were latecomers to Steve’s shows and as such perhaps I wasn’t best placed to write an obituary about him from the perspective of a fan. Nevertheless on our sister site (Australian Opinion) I’ve found myself in the unenviable position of defending him against hacking remarks by fellow aussies!

I think that a lot of it is due to the endemic national pastime of cutting down anyone who raises himself above the herd… they call them tall poppies and Steve was clearly seen as one of these… at least on the forum.

I honestly fail to understand why. Ok this guy was an entertainer… that’s how he made his living. But his first love was Australia, it’s animals and the environment. Yes he took the money… he had a zoo to run and a family to support… what else would he do?? Work for free??

And yes his shows were brash and in your face – but they were highly entertaining and if nothing else he breathed fresh air into what was becoming boring tv. One more shot of David Bloody Attenborough sitting in a group of chimps and I’d have screamed! That sort of presentation was great in its day but for the modern kid another approach was needed… and that’s what Steve brought.

He inspired millions around the world to follow his example and work to protect their own native flora and fauna. He generated massive interest in Australia and what it has to offer. He set up an animal hospital, bought tracts of land to use as wildlife sanctuaries… lots of projects are being funded by donation yes… but also with his own money and money generated by the Australia Zoo.

Yet they bag him and complain about how he went about doing his ‘thing.. They complained about his way of death, the media support, the outpouring of grief around the world… they even complained about little Bindi bravely telling the world about the father she’d loved and lost.

I mean what the hell do they *want*?

Personally I liked him and felt he represented the modern day form of the loveable Aussie larrikin that built this country. I for one am desperately sorry to see him go.

If you feel the same why not become a Wildlife Warrior and do *your* part?