In Memoriam to Steve Irwin

By Maryland Wilson

Maryland Wilson, President of the Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc. and served from 1996-2003 on the NSW Kangaroo Management Advisory Committee.

Australia's beloved wildlife warrior is dead!.

He was our greatest ambassador for wildlife protection and we fear a future without his special Crikey! call to arms to join with him to help all of God's non human wild species.

He showed us how to love and respect the earth's wildlife, to nurture and care for them, to protect and/or buy back and restore their habitat and to do something about all of the above. We are united in our grief but we must accept this responsibility if we are to honour his name. It is up to every last one of us to make this commitment to continue his dream.

We send our love to Terri, Bindi, baby Bob - to Steve's Dad Bob, John and Wes and all the Zoo family and staff who would do anything for him and now must carry on in the face of this terrible tragedy. We empathise and we sympathise ~ please know that we feel your pain.

Steve said " It's embarrassing that we eat our wildlife. Do you think the Americans would eat the bald eagle? I'm here to tell you it's not right. I'm a wildlife warrior and I'll fight.fight to the death for our wildlife." Well he did fight to the death for our wildlife and we feel an emptiness, a hurt deep in our souls that stays with us as we realise he is gone. We feel helpless and we shed tears because the pain is so real and the void he has left to fill is so great.

Steve stated in Melbourne's Herald Sun when asked about kangaroos: "Yeah. I think it's an absolute disaster that Australia, the government, allowed kangaroo culling." Steve had one simple message. "Treat wildlife with respect. Do not buy use or eat wildlife products" We deeply mourn his passing. There will never be another Steve Irwin as he was one of a kind.they say that no one is indispensable but this

Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin and Pat O'Brien

Maryland Wilson
President
Australian Wildlife Protection Council

247 Flinders Lane
Melbourne Australia 3000

Website: www.awpc.org.au
Email: kangaroo@peninsula.hotkey.net.au
Phone: 03 9650 8326
Fax: 03 9650 3689