PETITION URGES STEVE IRWIN FOR BANKNOTE HONOR

A petition to get the face of one of Australia’s most favourite sons on a banknote has gathered more than 21,000 signatures in just a few days.

While the Bank of England this week unveiled Sir Winston Churchill on the new plastic £5 note, there is a growing clamour for the late ‘Crocodile Hunter’, Steve Irwin, to feature on a bill.

The petition, started by Kyle Ryan, calls on people to recognise the “all time greatest Australian bloke”. It coincides with the 10th anniversary of Irwin’s death at the age of 44 after he was stung by a stingray during a break in filming for a new documentary series.

"With a list a mile long of all the good Steve had accomplished in our world let’s show our appreciation to a great true blue Australian by putting Stephen ‘Steve’ Irwin on our country’s currency.”

Irwin has already appeared on a 2009 series of Australian dollar coins commemorating prominent citizens. And the head of the Royal Australian Mint, Ross McDiarmid, has urged those behind the petition to submit a formal, written proposal.

Irwin’s widow, Terri, and their children Bindi and Bob, have yet to comment on the idea.

The Crocodile Hunter TV show made an international star of Irwin. He and his wife toured Australia and beyond highlighting threatened species and habitats. His infectious presenting style, trademark khaki shirt and shorts and regular expressions of “Crikey!”, endeared him to millions.

To read the complete article, see:
Crikey! Petition To Get Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin On Australian Banknote Goes Past 21,000 Signatures (https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/crikey-petition-to-get-crocodile-hunter-steve-105117093.html)

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