Tribute to a TCA Hero
TCA favorite and 'crocodile hunter' Steve Irwin died this morning in a freak scuba-diving accident when he suffered a blow to the chest from a sting ray. Steve's 'in-your-face' attitude personified that intangible streak that runs through every TCA rider. We are therefore honoured to posthumously award Steve Irwin full membership to the Titchfield Cycling Association; bring it on Steve! Respect is due and paid in full.
Labels: Tribute
posted by TCA @ 8:20 am
8 comments
8 Comments:
Maximum respect to him, a stout yomen indeed and a sad loss.
I will light the kelly kettle in his honour tonight - full burn.
B.B
he was a complete idiot. and frankly it was a matter of time before this occured.
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I used to think along similar lines to Simon, but one day I saw a piece of film I swear was supposed to be edited out of the final show. In the scene, Steve and his father discussed the likely path of a large croc they had been assigned to capture. Steve spoke quietly, respectfully, and with great insight.
Yes, usually he appeared an idiot, but I believe his loud and boisterous manner on screen was a part of the show he put on. Even thinking of him as obnoxious and crazy - no one surely can deny the absolute passion he had for the world he lived in and the creatures he shared this world with.
The stingray must have been an awful way to die, but I suspect he would rather have gone out doing something he loved than toothless, senseless and incontinent in a home somewhere.
I can see your point Simon, he did have it coming, but sometimes it takes characters like the Crocodile Hunter to open our eyes to what we take for granted. You and I and the members of the TCA are caring and adventurous enough that perhaps we didn't need his help to appreciate the world around us, but there are plenty more out there who did and do.
Kudos to the Crocodile Hunter.
JLS
Steve Irwin represented one extreme of the conservation spectrum. He was a protectionist, i.e. promoted conservation measures that were applicable to the conservation of a target species. On the other end you have the "ecosystem" or "biodiversty" approach where the management of an area is planned to maximise the number of all species present, even if it means that some might be reduced in overall numbers.
Neither approach is necessarily perfectly right; and neither is perfectly wrong. It maybe that a blend is optimal. Steve's legacy is drawing attention to the NEED for conservation and it is hard to argue that he has failed in this mission globally. I did not agree with him holding is child in front of a crocodile - that was irresponsible.
Simon
Not sore that he tends to promote a certain Aussie stereotype are you...?
Here at the TCA we see through this and believe Steve was genuinely enthusiastic about the outdoor world, the environment and wildlife. He may occasionally have been misguiding in the way he expressed his zest for life, but we feel that on the whole he has done good work to encourage a positive attitude to nature while providing excellent entertainment.
We do not endorse your opinion and think your "matter of time" comment is simply flippant - there has never been as recorded incident of death from a sting-ray puncture wound, this was simply a freak accident.
We think that (another TCA favorite) David Bellamy sums it up when he says "The legacy he's left is people knowing and understanding that we must make room in the world for all the animals, whether we're frightened of them or not, and use the areas we've got which are still full of native animals to restitch the world back into working order..."
TCA
I do appologise. My comments were said in haste (rough day in the office/treatment etc).
I read about the conservation he did. i.e. buying land in 3rd world countries to protect wildlife from the loggers and developers. So I take back what I said. He was in fact v. clever.
Where can I leave a comment about Real Ale? I have a great pub to report.
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