One Year Ago...
 

We lost one of the most awesome reptile enthusiasts, environmentalist, and animal educator/rescuer ever in the history of animal world. :cry: His legacy lives on thanks to Bindi Sue and her mom Terri! Woohoo!





SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia marked the first anniversary of the death of environmentalist and television "crocodile hunter" Steve Irwin in a low-key manner with his family commemorating privately, reports said Tuesday.

But tributes flowed for the way his widow Terri and daughter Bindi, 9, have conducted themselves since Irwin was killed by a stingray barb that pierced his chest during filming on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Bindi Irwin has become a media star in her own right since her father's death, promoting his causes, speaking at events to commemorate him and starring in her own television programs. The couple also had a three-year-old son, Bob.
"Behind the positive faces they have shown the world since that dreadful day, there can be no doubt there is still deep sorrow and lasting pain," Sydney's Daily Telegraph said in an editorial.
"So too for those who respected and admired Irwin for his boundless enthusiasm for life, his determination to make every second of it worthwhile.
"They will have their own thoughts to content themselves with, their own sadness."
Irwin, who was 44 when he died, became world-famous for his daring stunts with dangerous animals but he was also an environmentalist who put much of the money he made towards promoting related causes.
He also ran a zoo with is wife in northeastern Queensland state. The Australia Zoo continues to be open to visitors.
Irwin's death prompted a national outpouring of grief, with tributes flowing in from all sections of society, including Prime Minister John Howard, who described Irwin as a "wonderful and colourful son" of Australia.
A public celebration of Irwin's life is to be held on September 15.

Whoa, whoa -- that was already a year ago? Damn.

Yeah, seriously. WTF happened to the last year?! This seemed like it happened 6 months ago - max.

Can't believe it's been a year already, seemed a lot shorter. Really liked the guy, his death was very unexpected.

Also, let's not stink this thread up like the Diana thread, people. If you're too cool to care, don't post.

Wow, its been a year already.....theres times where I forget that he has died, he kinda seemed invincible. Then he was gone.

Oh so THAT's why Animal Planet is having the Croc Week thing! Yeesh! Hard to beleive it's been a year! :o Crikey indeed

Of course! AP isn't going to ignore their most popular animal person; the best way to remember him, have an all croc week. I miss that Irwin "wooo hoo!"...

Agreed on both points. It just seems like a few months ago since he died. It just kind of seems like he's on a holiday...

It took me longer than most to face the fact that he had just died so suddenly. I remember...I went to math tutoring after school, and there were people standing there in silence, either on the verge of tears or already weeping uncontrollably. Then some idiot girl came up to me and told me bluntly what had happened in the most insensitive way humanly possible so then she could gossip about his death.

Honestly, I think he couldn't have died a better way. He was out in the water of his home country, filming a documentary for the world and his family, and he was swimming among some of Australia's most beautiful and deadly sea life, doing what he loved the most - being with animals.

what an @$$hole. im glad i wasn't the only one in tears. I was sad for Terri, Bindi & Bob. I would watch them all through these years and kept thinking what a pair, so made for each other, so perfect together. Both have the same ideals about animals and their conservation; they were a match made in heaven. I couldn't believe when now he was gone, how Terri was going to be and what would happened to everything. I knew they'd continue with the Wildlife Warriors, the Zoo and all that but THEM...I about fell apart when she said her prince was gone. :cry: The Irwin family are heroes, my heroes -they do what I wish I could do for animals and more importantly (to me) reptiles.

Yeah true. IMO - it wasn't IF it was when. Cos I knew he would die out there in the field filming or doing something for animals' benefit. I still wonder though, if he'd not touched the barb, would he still be here? He probably never realized how far in it was or it was just a reaction to remove it.

I remember how proud he was when Bindi was born, showing her off, so cute! I thought it was cute he named her after his favorite croc and his dog Sui. I think Bob is going to look just like dad, he already does, it's amazing. I've seen just about every show cos he was fun to watch. I just TIVO'd his last show last night, so I gotta watch that. What was heart wrenching...the show before that, in the closer segment Terri drives off in a boat alone was really sad without Steve by her side. But it goes to show her, his legacy lives on and she's damn well not going to let it die!

Last Saturday I turned Bindi's show on and it was pretty cute. That little girl is her father through and through. She talks like him and truly loves the animal kingdom. I think it's great that the family has and is doing so much for conservation