Steve's Grinder

[skyring]

Steve's Grinder,
originally uploaded by skyring.

A couple of years ago I left a book at the entrance to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. I took a couple of photographs, then walked back to the car. On the pavement in the car park I found a pepper grinder, just a plain glass jar of peppercorns, such as you'd buy in any supermarket.

Obviously it had fallen out of somebody's picnic basket as they loaded it into their car, and now, a few minutes before closing time, they were long gone.

Still, it looked clean and fresh, so I picked it up.

Over the years, it has become the stuff of legend in the Skyring household. We're obviously pretty thin on legends, but we tell the story, suitably embellished, to guests, and conjure up images of Steve and his crew sitting forlornly around his camp table, mourning their lost pepper grinder, and swearing vengeance as they contemplate their unspiced croc steaks.

It's a heady vision, the mighty wildlife cuddler, vowing a solemn oath under the outback stars to hunt down the people who stole his pepper grinder, last seen driving away from the scene of the crime in a car with Canberra numberplates, giggling.

This afternoon DD and DS walked in, and their faces told me something serious had happened. "Steve Irwin's dead," DD announced, "he was stabbed through the heart by a stingray."

My jaw dropped open, it sounded so bizarre, something you'd see in a newspaper cartoon, one in not very good taste, but it was true, and his death has been the lead item on the news, complete with footage from Parliament House of the Prime Minister passing over a note to the Opposition Leader.

Kerri came home a little while later, and I was treated to a repeat of what I must have looked like - she said "You're joking!", but a glance at our faces told the truth.

But life goes on. Steve wasn't much more than an occasional visitor to our television screens, usually on the Commonwealth Government quarantine service ads - "This little critter", he'd say, holding out a tiny dot on the end of his finger, "can chew through a silo of wheat in no time at all!"

"Honey soy chicken kebabs for dinner tonight," I told Kerri. "What shall we have with them? Cous-cous, rice, pasta?"

From behind me came a single word from my irrepressible daughter.

"Pepper!"

So long, Steve. A colourful Australian and a wonderful entertainer.

Comments

[dubnordie.livejournal.com]

Of all the ways he could have gone (crocodiles the most favoured I suppose), bet Stingrays weren't high on the list.

Reactions over here are pretty much the same as over there

[miketroll.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's terrible news. Puts a dampener on my plans to visit that zoo in a few weeks from now. Steve was a wonderful guy.

[wombles.livejournal.com]

Read this elsewhere and thought I'd share....

"There is a little bit of Crikey in all of us, if we live our own passions, we can continue his spirit."

Even Phil who couldn't stand him was sad to hear the news, Phil always went on about hating him (the kids have the Wiggles and Steve dvd, which became very annoying after 150 times) and I always called him "your mate Steve" just to annoy Phil :) )

Jess (my 9 year old) keeps saying "I saw Steve washing his boat when I was 4 and now he's gone"

[aleonblue.livejournal.com]

I remember (somwhere!?!) reading about your release at the Australian Zoo. So you have something fun to remember him by. I'm sure he would have liked that. RIP Steve Irwin

[abitstormyout]

A lovely, personal tribute. You always know what to say, Pete.

RIP Steve.

[annulla.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing the legend of the pepper grinder.

[onyerbike.livejournal.com]

Whenever I think of visiting Australia, a visit to Australia Zoo is always on the list. I used to watch "Crocodile Hunter" on the Discovery Channel, and learned a lot about wildlife that I never would have learned otherwise. When I visited the Detroit Zoo a few years ago, I was able to tell my friend with some authority how the Western Hognose snake will fake being a cobra to deter predators by flattening its neck and hissing, but if that doesn't work, it will try playing dead. That info wasn't on the info card beside the display, and when my friend questioned how I knew that, the response was "From 'Crocodile Hunter', of course!"

He had some missteps along the way (feeding crocs with his son in his arms), but he was a dedicated conservationist, and a genuine animal lover, and his enthusiasm for his work shone through everything he did.

Somehow, being killed by a stingray seems like such an ignoble way to go.

He'll be missed.

[alives.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful story skyring!

We will all miss Steve Irwin.

Vickie

[wirigerie.livejournal.com]

I never liked the guy - thought he was a complete idiot. I cringe when I think of foriengers thinking Aussies are like him.
However I did not wish him dead. All I can say is at least he died whilst doing something he loved.

[bookczuk.livejournal.com]

Nicely said, my friend. Pass the pepper, please.