http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1732957.htm
Last Update: Tuesday, September 5, 2006. 8:17am (AEST)
Discovery announces Steve Irwin 'Crikey' fund tribute
US-based television company Discovery Communications (DCI) says it will
establish a fund in honour of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, to support
wildlife conservation.
Billy Campbell, president for Discovery Networks in the US, says the
fund will allow people from across the globe to make contributions in
Irwin's honour to support wildlife protection, education and
conservation.
"DCI is looking at the creation of the Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter
Fund, which we'll affectionately call 'The Crikey Fund' to honour
Steve's passion and exuberance for conservation and the animal
kingdom," he said.
He says the company also plans to rename a garden at its headquarters
for Irwin, help establish a fund to educate his children, Bindi and
Bob, and broadcast a marathon showing of his programs.
"The fund, in addition to contributions by DCI, will also aid Steve's
Australia Zoo in Beewah, Australia as well as educational support for
Bindi and Bob Irwin.
"He'll always be a part of Discovery,"
Mr Campbell says Irwin graced the airwaves since October 1996 and was
essential in building Animal Planet into a global brand.
"To honour Steve and the enormous contribution he made to the world and
to our company, DCI will rename the garden space in front of
Discovery's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, the 'Steve
Irwin Memorial Sensory Garden'," he said.
Irwin died earlier yesterday aged 44 after being stabbed in the chest
by a stingray off the coast in far north Queensland in Australia.
He was on a filming expedition for Discovery's Animal Planet network.
Discovery says in a statement that Irwin helped bring the channel to
worldwide attention.
"His show was one of the first true breakout hits, not only for Animal
Planet, but for our company," Annie Howell said, a spokeswoman for the
parent company, Discovery Communications.
Irwin's program was among the initial offerings on the fledgling Animal
Planet network when it was launched in 1996, Maureen Smith says,
general manager for Animal Planet.
US ratings spiked and the company realised it had a hit.
"He became part of pop culture very quickly," Ms Smith said.
Irwin leaves behind several uncompleted projects, including the one he
was working on at the time of his death, Ms Smith says.
However, he and his production partner John Stainton have a trove of
material that has not been aired, she says.
She says Irwin also had several programs in post-production, including
two travel shows.
Irwin's existing series will continue to air for some time, Ms Smith
also says.
- ABC/Reuters
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