Steve Irwin was a great man. There is no doubt about this in anyone who believes that conserving our planet is a priority. The man was phenomenal, and definitely knowledgeable about animals. He was energetic, charismatic and fun to watch and listen to, but he was a man on a mission to educate the world about animals and their importance in our lives, not to promote Australian culture.

I know more about Steve Irwin the man, than I do about the continent of Australia,. I can tell you the animals and reptiles of Australia, but cannot tell you the difference between Aboriginal tribes, or their hierarchy, and what I know of their oppression was not taught to me by Steve Irwin.

Steve never talked much about Australian culture, I wish he would have. I would have liked to have seen him interacting with the people more, but as I have said before, that was not his mission. He wasn’t there to discuss the didgeridoo, or the political workings of the government. His focus wasn’t on the people, it was on the land.

He was a great ambassador for the Australia Zoo, http://www.australiazoo.com.au/ and because of his efforts they have enjoyed great success. His series “The Crocodile Hunter” became a sensation, and people were compelled to travel to Australia simply to see the places he loved so very much. He also surrounded himself with people who loved animals with the same passion and fire he had. His intense love for what he did was contagious, and if you have ever seen Bindi, you might even think it was genetic.

The animal kingdom lost a great advocate, the world lost a great man and Australia lost a great citizen. As is true with so many people who dedicate their lives to any cause, their impact is taken for granted in life and finally understood in their death. He died doing what he loved, and anyone who knew him would say that would have been his choice. What he has done for Australian culture he has done posthumously, in life people watched the man, in death they finally tried to understand him.

Australia is a country deep in culture and history, Steve Irwin is now a part of that history, and Australia is definitely richer for the role he played in it. Paul Hogan aka “Crocodile Dundee” will always be a movie that portrayed the culture of Australia, but fifty years from now when people think of Australia, the first name to come to their lips will be Steve Irwin.