Croc Hunter's Passing

Figure 1.0 End of talk show segment dedicated to Steve Irwin.

You know how people always remember were they were or what they were doing during a life changing moment in history (be it their wedding, birth of a child, first kiss or which cinema they watched Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in). Well I had one of those moments recently. I was checking my email afterwhich was directed as per usual to the MSN news webpage with the headline story that of the shock death of Steve Irwin. When someone dies before there time I guess by that I mean become older and wrinkled and dye of some disease or illness related to old age something feels wrong. There is a greater sense of waste of that time that they could have been alived and what they would have accomplished. Just a waste.

When I mentioned that I was Australian to people I meet on trains, buses or in the streets more often than not the Crocodile Hunter was raised in the conversation. He seemed to be well known and loved more so than I would have thought. That was until I watched some T.V and saw how so many stations and shows had dedications to him in some cases the whole program as did Larry King. There was no doubt that the LOFCF was in morning.
It was tough watching a close friend of Steve, John Staton breaking down on T.V there is something about watching a male cry you just rarely see that kind of a release in such a pubic arena he was no doubt going through hell.

I only semi personal story I have of Steve was told to me by a JCHer. She was training to become a vet and Steve visited the vet school to give a lecture on a serious subject. Even though the subject matter was serious in nature, she noted how he was still larger than life. Big hand and facial movements with a real passion for what he was talking about. She said she could not belief that he was like that in real life that it was not just a persona put on to entertain the masses. I guess that was Steve just a genuine person and sad to hear of his passing from this world he leaves family close friends and a legacy.

Figure 1.1 John Staton talking on Larry King Live Special


Figure 1.2 John Staton breaking down on Larry King Live Special.