Steve Irwin’s son Robert was only two when his dad passed away, but has ensured he remembers the conservationist’s legacy since then.
Robert Irwin is following his father Steve’s “incredible example”.
The conservationist died in 2006, aged 44, after being pierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray barb while snorkelling in Queensland, Australia.
His son Robert was only two when Steve passed away, but has ensured he remembers his dad’s legacy since then.
Speaking to Australia’s Stellar magazine, Robert said: “He lived at this level that was 100 per cent. He only got 44 years to live, like, 10 lifetimes, really – what an incredible example for me to follow.
“Time is fleeting. I don’t know if I’ve got 20 years, 80 years. No-one knows. So you might as well just do it all, and do it now, and have fun.”
Robert is about to make history as the youngest-ever host of Australia’s Logie awards, and also hosts US TV show Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.
But throughout his career, the 22-year-old has done his best to remember that everything leads back to Australia Zoo, which his family founded in 1991.
He added: “Wherever I go, all roads lead to Australia Zoo, they all lead back home — that’s where it all stems from, truly. This legacy that Dad created, it’s crazy to say, but I think it’s just getting started.”
“He’s not here to spread those messages, but now it’s my turn [and] my sister, my little niece, Grace, she’s coming up quick,. It’s the next generation’s turn to keep that going, and that’s a real privilege.”
Elsewhere, Robert said in an interview on the Something to Talk About podcast that he’s fed up with the media “villainizing” his mum Terri.
He recalled a moment when he was 16 when he was photographed looking upset while getting off a flight, after his beloved family pet – a chicken called Piggy – had died.
He said: “I got off the plane and there was a bunch of cameras taking photos of me. I was absolutely cut up. I looked obviously very sad and then the reports come out: ‘Oh, there’s a family rift between Robert and his sister,’ or ‘Robert’s mum is doing this.’
“They always villainize my mum for some reason… Don’t start creating some sort of family drama just because my pet chicken died. That’s the only thing that sort of gets a little bit frustrating.”
Robert Irwin following dad Steve’s ‘incredible example’
