I know it'll be old news when I tell you that the ever-famous croc hunter is dead already. To be frank with you, I was never really interested in him. I was never interested with the environment, besides the fact that it's being slowly ruined by people who don't give a damn. I knew a croc hunter existed, but I didn't know he was Steve. I didn't know that he had 2 kids and a wife. Also, I didn't know that he was a wonderful person.
I never appreciated him until he was dead. The story starts one Saturday afternoon, when my little sister Chiara's watching Animal Planet. Of course, I went balls and I asked why the hell she was watching that, when Nicklodeon was available at the time. She claimed that the show was interesting. What choice do I have? I sat down. It was the last episode of the The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and it talked about Sui, Steve's dog for a long time. Sui was terribly sick (I think she had cancer) and she might die anytime soon. Crikey. I really can't recall everything that happened, but if there's one thing that I could remember, it's that that episode made me cry. He really did care for animals. He was one of them, and I don't think he could have died a better way. I'm not saying that his death is a good thing, I'm saying is, I think he would rather a death caused by his own. A death among his own.
I never forgot that episode, and when I talk about it, I do get misty-eyed.
But the story doesn't even end there. Last night, I was watching ET, unable to sleep. There weren't any good shows, so I just switched to ETC. There was this feature about a public service at Australia Zoo, which was held last September 20. There were messags from Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz (How did her blonde hair turn brownish..brunette-ish?), Justin Timberlake, Kevin Costner, Larry King and Russell Crowe. But what touched me most was what little Bindi Sue, his daughter, said. With all poise I could never summon, with all guts and confidence for her daddy, she said in front of 5,500 people:
My Daddy was my hero – he was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all he was fun.
I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. He built a hospital to help animals and be bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.
He took me and my brother and my Mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.
I don’t want Daddy’s passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.
I have the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life and now it’s our turn to help Daddy.
I honestly don't think I could do that. 5,500 people. But she was there, standing. All for her daddy. I can't help crying. One is because I can never afford to show much love to my father after everything. Only my mom, the Almighty One in Blue and I know how resentment there is inside. Actually, nowadays, I feel weird when fathers and daughters are mentioned. Sometimes, I think I'm super nuts. But even before we drift off to another topic, yes, I was very very touched. And I never imagined that Steve affected so many lives. So many people. He made so many people happy. He made so many people smile. That's what matters.
"Crikey mate, that's a big croc!"