He came to us in our living rooms. He gave us inspiration.
He made us feel better about life.
He taught us what is important in the world.
He gave us hope, joy, laughter, and love.
Then........
In a blink of an eye he was gone.
Come share the memories, and passions of this great
man. He is Steve Irwin.....He IS The Crocodile Hunter.
With a rugged fearlessness coupled with childlike
boisterousness, Aussie naturalist Steve Irwin burst into the wildlife documentary scene with an exuberant "Crikey!" when his
first one-hour documentary entitled Crocodile Hunter first broadcast in 1992. Born on February 22, 1962 to naturalists Bob
and Lyn Irwin, Steve Irwin's involvement in all things ecological seemed predestined. His parents founded the Australia Zoo,
which has since come under the younger Irwin's leadership -- with the assistance of his wife Terri Irwin, who has been a co-conspirator/co-star
on most of Irwin's documentaries since the couple married in 1992.
Me & Terri with our parents
As for his Crocodile Hunter series, over 50 episodes were made and led to the equally successful Croc Files
series of documentaries. As Irwin's star power rose with the popularity of his documentaries, it seemed natural to try to
transfer his enthusiastic, gung-ho personality into box-office gold -- and hence the 2002 pseudo-documentary/adventure comedy
Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course was born.
While the film did a little better than break-even, it didn't enjoy the kind of success that the TV series
had, leading Irwin to continue his investigation for other avenues to spread his ecological and preservation messages across
the globe.
Steve Irwin The Man, The Father, The Husband
1962 - 2006 Rest In Peace
Steve's mother and father bought their
original four acres of land in 1970. Bob Irwin was a very successful plumber from Melbourne who’d proudly
built sheds and houses, so he easily turned his hand to building and designing the “Beerwah Reptile Park”. His
foresight and innovation in captive care of Australian native animals was setting a new benchmark for wildlife welfare in
Australia. All his energy was put into the Reptile Park – so for the first couple of years in their brand new life
of exhibiting native fauna, they lived in this old caravan. Slowly but surely Bob Irwin built a shed, and then their
house, which the family live in to this day.
By 1972 Bob and
Lyn were enjoying their dream of a lifetime, running a zoological facility at their dream location – Queensland’s
Sunshine Coast. Starting the Beerwah Reptile Park was a huge gamble and money was very, very scarce. Bob was the ultimate
builder and innovator, Lyn was brilliant at budgeting and thrift. So together the Irwin family worked long and hard to
eke out an existence.
Steve was
always fascinated with photography and as a very young boy he took this photo of his dad with the very first croc
he caught on his ancient Box Brownic camera. It seems Bob and Steve spent most of their lives catching
Reptiles during the 70s – CRIKEY it was fun!
By
1980 the Beerwah Reptile Park was pumping along slowly but surely. Every single cent that was earned was turned straight back
into the place. So day by day, week by week, year by year the park grew and grew. Bob and Lyn decided that They
had outgrown the “Beerwah Reptile Park” by becoming the state of Queensland’s Premier Wildlife Attraction,
so they upgraded the name to the "Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park." Wow! What a monumental step. They purchased another
four acres adjoining them and Bob and Steve ripped right into it with his old dilapidated backhoe.
The
first crocodile bred at the park during the early 80s.
Steve was right
into rescues. He rescued this gorgeous little platypus from certain death.
Here
is a shot of Steve feeding Anvil his largest Saltie back in 1983. he’d been feeding all the crocs since the
70s. Bob was easing Wes into feeding the crocs step by step.
In 1985, Bob and Lyn felt Syeve was well and
truly in control of the park and decided to have their first holiday in 15 years. They hadn’t left 15 minutes when Steve
said to Wes, “Hey mate, check this out!” as he fed Anvil. Of course Wes was totally impressedand
more than a little envious.
(above, below) While I was up catching crocodiles in 1986 I found this gorgeous
Sand Goanna.
1987 marked the year the Irwin family built the Crocodile
Environmental Park. An absolute milestone in their history. Bob was sick and tired of salties being killed and skinned
by ugly crocodile farmers whose greed and barbaric nature was setting an awful example for Queensland tourism so they
worked hard and long to bring the new venture to fruition.
Steve spent most of the late 80s in
north Queensland capturing crocodiles. Mostly saving their lives and relocating them. Those which he sent back down to Bob
and Wes were to become stars of the Crocodile Environmental Park.
When Steve would come home, he’d
jump straight into doing croc demos. He just loves crocs…
Crocs, koalas, platypuses, taipans,
whatever!!! Lyn took it all in her stride with passion & professionalism. Lyn you taught Steve well.
Steve starred in the Solo Man commercial
in '92.
It was 1992 when Terri walked
into Steve's life and changed his world forever.
Soon after Steve and Terri met, they
were married and Steve started Terri catching Fierce Snakes.
(above, below)
... And, of course, feeding big crocs.
Soon there after
The Fang Sisters entered the Scene.
As soon as Steve and Terri were married, Bob
and Lyn handed the Zoo over to them and they went ballistic. Steve's croc demos were being touted as the
greatest wildlife event in history. People were flocking to the Zoo to see him work with the love of his life, big
wild caught Saltwater Crocodiles. Especially this one – Agro.
They became Australia Zoo in 1992, and they haven’t
looked back since!
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