Myself and Steve Irwin

A few months back I paid a visit to Australia zoo after a two week road trip down the East Coast of Australia. I’d heard good things about Australia zoo and thought I’d see it for myself.

After just two minutes in the park I noticed the Crocodile Hunter branding over almost everything, the word “crikey” sprang out of every sentence and signpost. This was all in good humour and as a Steve Irwin fan I was finding the whole experience uplifting.

As we sat in the Crocoseum, (a large stadium type venue for watching animal shows) high up on the giant television screen was a very young child who was about four or five years old. At first I had no idea who he was or why he had been put on a ten foot TV screen for our amusement. It was Bob, the Irwin’s youngest child.

He was attempting to talk about some animals but as a four or five year old he wasn’t making much sense but it was supposed to make the audience laugh.

For me it just didn’t seem right that such a young person should be being used for entertainment, it’s not like they would know what was really going on. It reminded me of the Irwin’s oldest child, Bindi.

I had last seen eight year old Bindi on a television advertisement only months after Steve Irwin’s death. I wasn’t quite sure who Bindi was until suddenly Steve Irwin appeared on the advertisement banging some bongos to reaffirm just who she is (Would anyone buy it otherwise?).

Should someone who is only eight years old be made to make videos and travel around the world appearing on American chat shows?

After all it’s not like she really knows what she’s doing. Bindi’s kidfitness featuring Steve Irwin and the Crocmen is $39.95, hmm not sure what it’s got to do with conservation really. With the inclusion of Steve I’m sure it’ll be flying of the shelves.

Back I the Crocoseum the show goes on and my jaw hits the floor when a giant six and a half foot cuddly Steve Irwin comes prancing into the arena. “Hey Steveo” the croc handlers and performers shout. My comparisons with Disney Land where suddenly taken to an all new level as before my very eyes a Mickey Mouse like Steve Irwin waved to the crowd.

For me it was distasteful, Steve Irwin had only been gone six months but his memory would live on with a cuddly mascot roaming around Australia Zoo.

I can’t help feeling that there are shadowy figures behind the scenes making a lot of money from the Irwin brand. I know the Irwin’s do a lot for conservation but someone somewhere is making a lot of money, at first I felt sorry for Steve but then remembered it was Steve himself who had launched the brand.

The experience at Australia Zoo had felt a little like Disney Land, I left with a photo of me and Steve plus a foam beer cooler with Steves face on it.

It was money well spent at $15 dollars.

In the words of the man himself…

“Crikey!”