2007/01: Is Steve Irwin a suitable figure to view as an Australian national hero?

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2007/01: Is Steve Irwin a suitable figure to view as an Australian national hero?

What they said ...
'He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live'
Steve Irwin's daughter, Bindi Irwin

'It comes as no shock at all that Steve Irwin should die provoking a dangerous animal. He made a career out of antagonizing frightened wild animals, which is a very dangerous message to send to young children'
Dan Mathews, a spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

The issue at a glance
On September 4, 2006, Steve Irwin, Australian conservationist, zoo keeper and film- and documentary-maker was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray barb whilst snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef, off Port Douglas in Queensland.
Irwin was in the area filming a documentary to be called 'The Ocean's Deadliest'.
Amid the statements of grief and regret from within Australia and around the world, there were also those who voiced criticism of Steve Irwin's approach to wildlife and the nature of his public image.
Expatriate Australian academic and feminist, Germaine Greer, claimed that rather than a hero, Irwin was a national embarrassment, while animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) spoke out against the conservationist attitudes represented by the 'wildlife warrior' movement of which Irwin was probably the most prominent representative.
Many commentators within Australia and elsewhere then rallied to support Irwin's conservationist credentials and the value of the work he had performed.
The debate surrounding Steve Irwin's persona and legacy seems likely to continue.

Background
A biography of Steve Irwin
(The following is an edited version of information contained in The Times On-line's Irwin profile. The original can be read at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2342450,00.html)
Stephen Irwin was born in Melbourne in 1962. When he was eight the Irwin family moved to Queensland, where they started the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast. Irwin was involved from an early age helping to look after the reptiles. He went on to become prominent in the Queensland government's rogue crocodile relocation programme. Many of the crocodiles were relocated to the family's park, which was expanded in 1987.
In 1991 Irwin took over management of the park, renaming it Australia Zoo, and the following year married Terri, who had been a visitor to the park. They went on a crocodile-trapping honeymoon in northern Australia, which became the first episode of 'The Crocodile Hunter' series.
Ten one-hour episodes were made over the following three years, and more than 50 in total. Irwin was typically to be seen crawling towards wild crocodiles, snakes, goannas and spiders, among many other animals.
The popularity of Irwin's programmes boosted business in reptile parks around Australia. Conscious of the educational impact he could have, he frequently reminded his public that many of the animals - including 17 of the 23 crocodile species - were rare or endangered. He created International Crocodile Rescue and the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation - which later became an independent charity and was renamed Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.
As an ambassador for conservation he was invited to become the face of the Australian Customs quarantine publicity campaign, part of the effort to keep animal and plant diseases out of Australia. He and his slogan "Quarantine matters! Don't muck with it!" brought about a 25 per cent increase in the number of people volunteering information about potential breaches; it was the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service's most successful campaign. He was named Tourism Export of the Year in 2004.
Australia Zoo was voted Queensland's top tourist attraction in 2002. Its success was helped by Irwin's appearances in the Eddie Murphy film Dr Dolittle 2 and another feature film, 'The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course' (2002), which won the best family feature film award for a comedy film at the Young Artist Awards.
In 2004, during a public show at his zoo, Irwin fed a chicken to a crocodile while holding his baby son Bob in his other arm a meter away. This caused outrage and prompted the Queensland government to ban children and untrained adults from entering crocodile enclosures. Irwin vigorously defended himself, saying that the child was in no danger, and that it equated to other children learning to swim.
Then, in June 2004, Irwin was said to have breached an Australian law prohibiting people from getting too close to Antarctic wildlife in filming whales, penguins and seals. In response to the outcry a special edition of Crocodile Hunter, entitled Crocodiles & Controversy, was made to explain both incidents.
Appearances on Larry King Live (2004) and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2006) helped Irwin win back support, and he had just signed a deal with Warner Brothers and IMAX in America to make an IMAX film next year. He was filming an underwater documentary Ocean's Deadliest on the Great Barrier Reef, when he died.
Irwin owned land in Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the United States.
Irwin's death in a stingray attack is thought to be only the second known case in Australia. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

Internet information
The On-line encyclopedia, Wikipedia, has a detailed entry treating Steve Irwin's biography, his celebrity, his conservation work and the various controversies that have surrounded him. The entry goes beyond Irwin's death and outlines the reactions there have been to the man and his work since then.
It can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin

The ABC's Internet site has a section given over to the news of Steve Irwin's death. It has valuable links to video and other information on Steve Irwin. The page can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1732439.htm

On September 4, 2006, the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, issued a media release outlining Steve Irwin's contributions to preserving the Australian environment and popularising environmentalism. The text of this media release can be found at http://www.pm.gov.au/News/media_releases/media_Release2114.html

On September 4, 2006, the federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, issued a media release expressing his regret at Steve Irwin's death and his admiration for his work. The text of this media release can be found at http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/fa099_06.html

On September 4, 2006, the federal Minister for Environment and Heritage, Ian Campbell, issued a media release also expressing his regret at Steve Irwin's death and praising him for his contributions toward protecting the environment in Australia. The text of this media release can be found at http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/2006/mr04sept206.html

On September 5, 2006, the British newspaper, The Guardian, gave an account of conflicting responses to Steve Irwin's death, especially among expatriate Australians living in Britain. The report, written by Patrick Barkham and titled, 'It's like a part of Australia has died' can be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/australia/story/0,,1865085,00.html

On September 7, the online commentary site, Online Opinion, published the viewpoint of Australian author, commentator and ethicist, Leslie Cannold. The piece adopts a positive attitude to Irwin's work. It is titled, 'Steve Irwin - why we admired a boy who wouldn't grow up' and had been first published the day before in The Age. The comment can be found at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4889

Germaine Greer's critical comments about Steve Irwin were originally published in the British newspaper 'The Guardian' on September 5, 2006. Edited versions of Dr Greer's comments were then published in many Australian newspapers, the most complete being in The Sydney Morning Herald. The text of Dr Greer's opinion piece for The Guardian can be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/australia/story/0,,1865124,00.html

Dr Greer reiterated her remarks regarding Steve Irwin in an interview with Channel Nine's 'A Current Affair' on September 7, 2006. A partial transcript of Dr Greer's interview can be found at http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=127478

On September 8, 2006, Dr Clive Hamilton, the director of the Australia Institute, defended a number of Germaine Greer's claims and had some interesting observations to make about what lies behind reactions to Steve Irwin in Australia. The full text of this article can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/death-becomes-an-excuse-to-savage-elites/2006/09/07/1157222262395.html

A justification of PETA's criticisms of 'wildlife warriors', including Steve Irwin, can be found at http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-wildlifewarriors.asp
The opinion piece is titled 'Steve Irwin: not a true "wildlife warrior"'

Critical remarks made by PETA spokesperson Dan Mathews about Steve Irwin, comparing him unfavourably with French marine environmentalist, Jacques Cousteau, can be found at http://www.tmz.com/2006/09/11/croc-hunter-gets-no-tears-from-peta/

Marine conservationist Jean-Michel Cousteau, while regretting Steve Irwin's death, has been critical of Irwin's approach to wildlife. Some of Cousteau's comments can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/09/20/1158431752163.html?from=top5

In September 2003, the ABC's Australian Story, produced a program titled 'What Lies Beneath' which gave details of Steve Irwin's life up to that point and his attitudes to wildlife conservation. A full transcript of the program can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2003/s949278.htm

In October 2003 Steve Irwin gave an interview to Andrew Denton on the ABC's 'Enough Rope'. In the interview Irwin talked about his life to that point and his approach to wildlife. A full transcript of the interview can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s960998.htm

Zoo Australia's home page, which includes details of its conservation, rehabitation and animal rehabilitation programs can by found at http://www.crocodilehunter.com/australia_zoo/index.html

Arguments against viewing Steve Irwin as a national hero
1. The image of Australia and of the Australian male presented by Steve Irwin is an anachronism
There have been a number of public commentators who have suggested that the image of Australia and the Australian male promoted by Steve Irwin has little or no contemporary relevance. A report published in the British newspaper, The Guardian, after Steve Irwin's death stated, 'With his catchphrases "Crikey" and "Look at that beaut!" Irwin acknowledged that some Australians saw him as an anachronism.'
Irwin was quoted as saying, 'And yet back here in my own country, some people find me a little bit embarrassing. They kind of cringe 'cause I'm coming out with "Crikey" and "Look at this beauty".'
The point was made at greater length by Leslie Cannold a researcher, writer, commentator and medical ethicist. Cannold, though clearly an admirer of Steve Irwin, does not see him as representative of contemporary Australians. In an opinion piece published in The Age on September 6, 2006, Cannold wrote, 'Irwin never claimed to represent Australia or Australians overseas, or to in any way summarise how we think or who we are. The reality, which he knew better than anyone, was that he was about as far from the quintessential Australian as you could get: a bush dweller and conservationist in a land of confirmed suburbanites indifferent to their ever-expanding environmental footprints; a warp-speed extrovert whose chosen adverbs of degree - absolutely, extremely, really - contrasted tellingly with the preference of his compatriots for somewhat, rather and "a bit".'

2. Steve Irwin promoted an inappropriate attitude to animals in their natural habitats
There have been those who have claimed that Steve Irwin promoted an intrusive, if not aggressive, approach toward animals in the wild. It has further been claimed that this was an inappropriate message to give, especially to Irwin's many young fans.
Dan Mathews, a spokesperson for the international animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), announced after Steve Irwin's death, 'It comes as no shock at all that Steve Irwin should die provoking a dangerous animal. He made a career out of antagonizing frightened wild animals, which is a very dangerous message to send to young children ... If you compare him with a responsible conservationist like Jacques Cousteau, he looks like a cheap reality TV star.'
Academic and feminist, Germaine Greer, has said of Steve Irwin, '[He] never seemed to understand was that animals need space. There was no habitat, no matter how fragile or finely balanced, that Irwin hesitated to barge into, trumpeting his wonder and amazement to the skies. There was not an animal he was not prepared to manhandle. Every creature he brandished at the camera was in distress.
The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin, but probably not before a whole generation of kids in shorts seven sizes too small has learned to shout in the ears of animals with hearing ten times more acute than theirs, determined to become millionaire animal-loving zoo-owners in their turn.'
Critics have claimed that the hands-on approach Irwin took toward wildlife was hazardous for the animals and for any human being who chose to emulate him. Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of marine explorer Jacque Cousteau and an marine environmentalist in his own right, has said that Steve Irwin would 'interfere with nature, jump on animals, grab them, hold them, and have this very, very spectacular, dramatic way of presenting things. Of course, it goes very well on television. It sells, it appeals to a lot people, but I think it's very misleading. You don't touch nature, you just look at it. And that's why I'm still alive. I've been diving for over 61 years - a lot more years than he's been alive - and I don't mess with nature.'

3. Steve Irwin's public persona embarrassed many Australians
There are those who have claimed that Steve Irwin was out of touch with the attitudes of many Australians and that his widely publicised persona and mode of dealing with wildlife was an embarrassment to those Australians who did not endorse his behaviour.
Academic and feminist, Germaine Greer, has stated, 'As far as I can see, quite a few Australians have been embarrassed by Steve Irwin - lots - millions possibly ... I find the whole Steve Irwin phenomenon [embarrassing] - and I'm not the only person who did.' Dr Greer also stated that the exaggerated view Steve Irwin presented of the hazards associated with living in Australia was a source of embarrassment and irritation for many Australians. She said, 'Why does Australia set itself up to be made into this hell-hole? I'm sick and tired of it - it's absolutely unfair.'
Leslie Cannold is a researcher, writer, commentator and medical ethicist. Though obviously an admirer of Steve Irwin, she supports the view that many Australians found him embarrassing. In an article first published in The Age on September 6, 2006, three days after Irwin's death, Cannold wrote, 'I think what stymies us is ... a fear of the unpredictable and potentially uncomfortable social situations that could result if people drop roles and abandon lines. Wild, larger-than-life characters such as Irwin - hyper-extroverts - are unpredictable; you never know what they might say or do. They could ask you for something you don't want to give, or beg conflict by saying something you don't want to hear. They must be subdued through ridicule or marginalisation, or frozen out completely to manage our collective fear of the awkward moment.'
Since Steve Irwin's death, the British newspaper, The Guardian, has printed the attitudes of a number of young Australians now living in London. Milo Laing, 27, the manager of an Australian-themed bar on Shaftesbury Avenue was reported to have said, 'We're all a bit embarrassed by him. He puts that image of Australia to the world - that larrikin attitude - and we're not all like that.'

4. Steve Irwin's popularity was largely an American phenomena
It has been claimed that Steve Irwin's celebrity was largely an American phenomenon. He achieved fame from the television program 'The Crocodile Hunter', an internationally-broadcast wildlife documentary series co-hosted with his American-born wife Terri Irwin. The footage of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of 'The Crocodile Hunter'.
The series debuted on Australian television screens in 1996, and in the following year was shown on North American television. 'The Crocodile Hunter' became hugely successful in the United States and the United Kingdom.
By 1999, Irwin had become very popular in the United States, making his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He went on to appear on Larry King Live and The Oprah Winfrey Show. He was invited to a farewell dinner held at the White House at the end of Bill Clinton's presidency. When President George Bush visited Canberra, Irwin was invited to the reception and arrived in his customary khaki shorts and shirt. He also achieved the status reserved for the best-loved figures across the United States when he appeared as a cartoon character in The Simpsons.
There are those who have claimed that Steve Irwin's persona was far more attractive to international, especially American, audiences than it was within his own country. After his death the Australian Minister for Foreign affairs, Alexander Downer, noted, 'Always the showman, Steve made a significant contribution to raising the profile of Australia internationally, particularly in the United States.' Critics of Steve Irwin suggest that such an emphasis does not make him an appropriate national hero within this country.

5. Steve Irwin saw himself as unremarkable and would not have wished to be regarded as a hero or an icon
Many of those who valued Steve Irwin's life have suggested that what was significant about him was his ordinariness, that is, that he was typical of many Australians. They have also argued that he would have been extremely uncomfortable with conspicuous public adulation.
Steve Irwin's father, Bob Irwin, when declining a state funeral on behalf of his son, claimed, 'He's an ordinary guy, and he wants to be remembered as an ordinary bloke.'
Steve Irwin's wife, Terri, has also stressed that her husband was essentially a humble made who did not want a great deal of attention made after his death.
Terri Irwin has indicated that Steve had a strong wish for privacy after his death. 'He lived life so big that he just wanted some personal privacy at that point and I gave him that,' Mrs Irwin said.
'There's just a handful of people who will ever know [where Steve Irwin is buried or if he were cremated]. I am going to give him that. That was his wish. Humility, I don't think he wanted it to be a big deal.'

Arguments in favour of viewing Steve Irwin as a national hero
1. Steve Irwin promoted positive attitudes toward wildlife
It has been claimed that Steve Irwin's internationally televised documentaries did a great deal to promote positive attitudes toward wildlife.
In an obituary published in The Sydney Morning Herald on September 11, 2006, it was stated, 'he brought an awareness of wildlife to living rooms throughout the world and imbued in his listeners a respect for all creatures, even those they had been taught to revile.'
Senator Ian Campbell, Australia's federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage said of Irwin in a media release shortly after the environmentalist's death, 'While the world knew him as the "Crocodile Hunter" and as a colourful, quintessential Australian character, Steve Irwin was driven by an enormous and deeply held commitment to the environment and specifically Australia's unique wildlife.
He was so successful because he believed passionately in his life's work - the protection and conservation of our planet and its creatures and the promotion of our nation's natural wonders.
He used his profile to promote that cause and made a great personal investment in it as the owner and manager of the world-renowned Australia Zoo. Steve also championed conservation through his own television series, Animal Planet documentaries and established the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation and International Crocodile Rescue...
He was a great environmentalist ... Steve's passion for protecting Australian wildlife was infectious because of his incredible enthusiasm, energy, commitment and love for his life's work. He inspired millions of people across Australia and throughout the world to take an interest in the environment and to take practical action.'

2. Steve Irwin gave generously to protect natural habitats and assisted conservation efforts
Steve Irwin has claimed that most of the money he earned was spent on wildlife. He lived in a modest bungalow and spent millions buying areas of wilderness for parks. He had conservation projects in Fiji, Vanuatu and the United States, and was continually buying tracts of land to reinstate endangered fauna. It is estimated that he had purchased more than 24,300ha of conservation property in Australia alone. He also hoped to buy a Queensland island to restore a couple of endangered species, including Sumatran tigers.
Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, incorporating the Australian Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Unit, performs valuable conservation work preserving injured wildlife. It collects sick, injured and orphaned koalas and other wildlife, and provides care and rehabilitation before releasing them back into the wild.
The unit includes a veterinary facility with an intensive care room and laboratory, and separate holding facilities for males and females, and diseased and non-diseased koalas. There is also an orphan enclosure designed specifically to allow hand-raised koalas to develop climbing skills and for less contact with human carers before being released back into the bush.
The Australian Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Unit has full-time veterinarians as well as a Hospital Manager, veterinary nurses and volunteers to provide first-class care for sick, injured and orphaned animals.
The hospital receives over 70 wildlife emergency phone calls a day. It frequently receives up to 30 different species a day - including koalas, kangaroos, emus, echidnas, snakes, lizards, turtles and birds. It currently has over 30 koalas undergoing treatment. Approximately 70% of patients are victims of car accidents or domestic pet attacks. The Hospital's emergency hotline number is 1300 369 652 and is available to members of the public. Rescue vehicles and vet staff are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The hospital also undertakes research into koala diseases, migration patterns and wildlife health management, and is consulting on land clearing.
Supporters of Steve Irwin's wildlife and conservation efforts have noted that his work was scientifically recognised with Irwin publishing a scientific paper on native fauna. His family had a three-decade relationship with the Queensland Museum, while his Australia Zoo attracts almost one million visitors a year and employs more than 200 people.

3. Steve Irwin's actions were unlikely to encourage others to take foolish risks
Defenders of Steve Irwin have argued that his more risky behaviours are not likely to be emulated by other people, including children. Mr Fred Ackerman, the president of the Victorian Principals Association has claimed that anyone calling Irwin a bad influence on children had little idea of how they learn.
Mr Ackerman has stated, 'For someone to say that, they have an insufficient understanding of the sophisticated way in which even little kids can view the world around them.'
Mr Ackerman said there was no doubt children learned by example but they understood Irwin was such a rarity, and his behaviour so extraordinary, that they linked him more to inimitable figures such as Santa Claus than a real person. He added, 'It's different and special and unique, and they live in awe of it, but they don't attempt to model their behaviour on it.'

4. Steve Irwin represented an aspect of the Australian persona which many Australians value
Before and after Steve Irwin's death there have been many who have claimed that Steve Irwin represented an aspect of the Australian national character that many Australians admired and sought to emulate.
At the memorial service conducted for Irwin his friend, actor Russell Crowe, sent a videoed message which included the following remarks. 'He was the Australian we all aspire to be. He held an absolute belief that caring for the richness of our country, meaning specifically the riches of our fauna, was the highest priority we should have. And, over time, we might just see how right he was. He was and remains, the ultimate wildlife warrior. He touched my heart. I believed in him. I'll miss him.'
Dr Anthony Lambert, a lecturer in cultural studies at Macquarie University has claimed that Irwin was particularly important to Australians of Anglo-Celtic heritage in a post-9/11 world.
Dr Lambert has argued that in an age of terror and uncertainty, 'the white male in the bush', who was also a larrikin, re-emerged as an important figure. 'We have a strong cultural memory of that kind of person,' Dr Lambert concluded.
Dr Lambert also stated that Irwin's willingness to interact with animals that could be dangerous also allowed his audience to enjoy a vicarious relationship with the Australian environment and nature. 'By doing this, Irwin became a bridge between the European and indigenous populations. He did things white people didn't do,' said Dr Lambert, 'for us and on our behalf.'
With less sympathy, but with a similar view of Irwin's symbolic importance, an Australian expatriate now living in London, Kelly Broad, has been reported in The Guardian as stating 'Modern Australia exists in a cultural vacuum. It clings to ideas of sun, sea and sand as its cultural identifiers. Someone like Steve Irwin is the embodiment of everything that many Australians think Australia is about. They love someone who is down-to-earth and rugged and bravely stupid.'

5. Steve Irwin was an international ambassador for Australia
There are those who have argued that Steve Irwin's high international profile helped to make him a national hero in the sense that he acted as an ambassador for Australia.
On September 7, 2006, the Rev Fred Nile, MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, gave the following tribute to Steve Irwin in the New South Wales State Parliament, 'Steve Irwin was exceptional in his role as ambassador for the animal world. He was also a great ambassador for Australia and certainly upheld our reputation wherever he went. One of the amazing aspects following his tragic and unexpected death was the expressions of sympathy and condolence from all around the world. That is quite unusual for an Australian; it is usual for a prominent Australian to be recognised by Australians, but Steve Irwin was an Australian ambassador to the world. Condolences and expressions of sympathy have come from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Asia and Europe. That proves what an outstanding individual Steve Irwin was.'
A similar point was made on September 4, 2006, by the leader of the Australian Labor Party, Kim Beazley. Mr Beazley stated of Steve Irwin, '[He was] a great ambassador for Australian larrikin values, and ...his death will be noted around the world. I recollect the US President saying ...he was the Australian he recognised from what he had seen on his own television services ...many people around the globe identify him with Australia.'

Further implications
It is far too early to say what Steve Irwin's legacy may be. However, it is difficult not to agree with Dr Clive Hamilton, the executive director of the Australia Institute, that reactions to Steve Irwin's death reveal the cultural cringe is still alive and well in Australia. Hamilton suggests this is in evidence because of our apparent willingness to fall about praising fellow Australians, like Irwin, only after they have found success overseas, especially within the United States.
Australians' cultural cringe may also account for our embarrassment about conspicuous displays of broad ockerdom. It may partially explain Dr Greer's discomfort with Steve Irwin and the relative lack of popularity of Irwin's programs within Australia compared to their huge success in other countries.
The broader question of the value of the brand of conservationism preached by Irwin remains to be resolved. PETA objects to gung-ho environmentalism which, it claims, shows a lack of respect for the natural world and a tendency to reduce it to a sideshow in which animals are little more than live exhibits.
While this view clearly has some validity, Irwin's professed aim was to be popular, in the sense that he wanted to attract people's attention. Irwin claimed that unless people felt attracted to wild animals they were not going to care what happened to them. This seems a reasonable position to put. It would also appear that Irwin attracted a wider and different audience than more conservative television conservationists such as Jacque Cousteau or Sir Richard Attenborough.

Newspaper items used in the compilation of this issue outline
The Australian:
September 8, page 5, news item by Andrew Fraser, Peter Lalor, `Irwin basher Greer all ego, says rainforest neighbour'.
September 7, page 12, comment (on Germaine Greer remarks) by John Birmingham, `Expat's feral attack reflects elitist conceit'.
September 7, page 1, news item by Kevin Meade, `Irwins decline offer on funeral'.
September 5, page 11, analysis by Peter Lalor and Michael Bodey, `Committed to lore of nature'.
September 5, page 12, comment (with cartoon) by Barry Cohen, `Thanks due to a wild character'.
September 13, page 3, news item by H Townsend, `Croc Hunter fans may have slashed stingrays'.
September 9, page 8, news item by Sexton and Klan, `Holdings show passion before buck'.

The Age:
September 8, page 5, news item by Ben Doherty, `Private funeral for "an ordinary bloke"'.
September 9, Insight section, page 9, comment by Tracee Hutchison, `So what's wrong with Greer's comments?'.
September 9, Insight section, page 7, analysis by Simon Mann, `Planet Irwin'.
September 7, page 15, comment by Alan Attwood, `The manner of death can change forever our view of a life'.
September 7, page 4, news items by Ben Doherty et al, `Father rejects state funeral for "ordinary bloke" son'.
September 7, page 4, news item by Katherine Kizilos, `Rudd joins chorus: stick a sock in it, Greer'.
September 6, page 16, obituary (photo), `Khaki "wildlife warrior" did it all his way'.
September 6, page 14, editorial, `A life writ large, a death writ in water' (with letters on same page, incl, `A larrikin who made us laugh - and think / A poor role model').
September 6, page 15, comment by Leslie Cannold, `Why we admired a boy who wouldn't grow up'.
September 6, page 15, comment by Germaine Greer, `Spare a thought for the animals'.

The Herald-Sun:
September 7, page 7, news item, `(Germaine) Greer slams Irwin mourners as "idiots"'
September 7, page 20, letter, `Crikey, Germaine, you're off the planet'
September 6, page 6, news item by Buttler and Rose, `Outrage over Greer pot shots at Irwin'.
September 6, page 19, cartoon.
September 8, page 21, comment by Andrew Bolt, `Crikey, it's Germs'.
September 8, page 20, editorial (on Greer comments), `Going for the jugular'.

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