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Steve and Terri Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) launch WPAA's first book! We had the launch of our new fundraising book "Kangaroos, our Gentle Aussie Icons" at Australia Zoo on Monday June 13 2005. We started off with a very pleasant morning tea for 30 or so invited guests. I gave a little talk about the book, and the importance of fundraising efforts for our campaigns. Nicole from the Zoo spoke about the need to protect our native animals and the potential for wildlife watching tourism. We were advised that although Terri couldn’t get to the morning tea, she would be in the Australiana Shop to sign purchased copies of the kangaroo book after lunch. When the time came for the signing, unexpectedly both Steve and Terri arrived! Steve shook hands with me, and wanted to buy a book. Then he realised he didn't have any money on him, so he asked Terri to pay for it, which she did, and he asked me to sign the book especially for him! Talk about Wow! So we three sat there and signed books that people had purchased. I had seen this sort of appearance at the Zoo before, but this was the first time I had been closeup and involved. There must have been 4 or 5 thousand visitors at the Zoo, and it appeared they were all trying to get into the shop at once to see Steve and Terri.They talked to the kids as they brought up their books to be signed, asking them where they came from, and chatting with them. It seemed as though thousands of digital camera flashes were going off, as proud Mums and Dads took photos continually. Kids were invited to stand beside us, so they could get photos of them with all of us. Many were from overseas, and the kangaroo book will be their most prized and talked about possession for many years. The gathering quickly became bigger as the word spread that Steve and Terri were in the shop. It’s a huge shop, but the 30 or so security and staff had trouble controlling the crush, and eventually the shop doors had to be closed to allow those inside to be able to have their book signed. Crowds outside jostled to take photos through the glass windows. Now I know why they don’t make appearances very often, Steve and Terri were so popular that crowd control is very difficult. Eventually the last book was signed and then, surrounded by Security and Staff, they disappeared as quickly as they had arrived, and everything returned to normal. They are truly superstars, consummate ambassadors for wildlife, and absolutely our most active and well known Wildlife Warriors. All in all it was a fantastic day and even though Steve has sadly passed away we thank them all for their commitment and support. Thanks Steve, thanks Terri! And thanks too, Nicole, Sally, and the rest of the Zoo Staff! Pat
O’Brien (Author of Kangaroos: Our Gentle Aussie
Icons)
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