Crocodile Hunter Memorial
I just recently had a chance to read a little bit about Steve Irwin’s Memorial Service. It is estimated that as many as 300 million people worldwide watched the service. That’s incredible. Even more incredible was the eulogy that was given by his eight year old daughter Bindi. Without a tear, she said this:
““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.â€
How’s that for a tribute from a daughter to her dad? Pretty amazing huh?
I also just recently ran across a really nice poem written as a tribute to Steve by a man named Rupert McCall. Check this out:
THE CROCODILES ARE CRYING
Endless visions fill my head – this man – as large as life
And instantly my heart mourns for his angels and his wife
Because the way I see Steve Irwin – just put everything aside
It comes back to his family – it comes back to his pride
His animals inclusive – Crikey – light the place with love!
Shine his star with everything he fought to rise above
The crazy-man of Khaki from the day he left the pouch
Living out his dream and in that classic ‘Stevo’ crouch
Exploding forth with character and redefining cheek
It’s one thing to be honoured as a champion unique
It’s one thing to have microphones and spotlight cameras shoved
It’s another to be taken in and genuinely loved
But that was where he had it right – I guess he always knew
From his fathers’ modest reptile park and then Australia Zoo
We cringed at times and shook our heads – but true to natures call
There was something very Irwin in the make up of us all
Yes the more I care to think of it – the more he had it right
If you’re going to make a difference – make it big and make it bright!
Yes – he was a lunatic! Yes – he went head first!
But he made the world feel happy with his energetic burst
A world so large and loyal that it’s hard to comprehend
I doubt we truly count the warmth until life meets an end
To count it now I say a prayer with words of inspiration
May the spotlight shine forever on his dream for conservation
…My daughter broke the news to me – my six year old in tears
It was like she’d just turned old enough to show her honest fears
I tried to make some sense of it but whilst her Dad was trying
His little girl explained it best…she said “The crocodiles are cryingâ€
Their best mate’s up in heaven now – the crocs up there are smiling!
And as sure as flowers, poems and cards and memories are piling
As sure as we’ll continue with the trademarks of his spiel
Of all the tributes worthy – he was rough…but he was real
As sure as ‘Crikey!’ fills the sky
I think we’ll miss ya Steve…goodbye
RUPERT McCALL 2006
Well said Rupert. Well said.
–Pete