September 2006
Joan Small - About Me
Steve Irwin and Sir Robert Baden-Powell
Croc and Brock's Farewell - A Tribute Poem
Steve Irwin and Peter Brock Quotes
What Can we learn from Irwin & Brock?

Raw Energy and Enthusiasm
A Tribute to Steve Irwin and Peter Brock

On everybody's minds this month is the untimely death of two of Australia's heroes, Steve Irwin and Peter Brock.

It is uncanny that their birthday's were four days apart - February 22nd for Steve and February 26th for Peter Brock, and they died 4 days apart also - on September 4th and 8th.

There were other similarities too.

Steve Irwin was killed by a 2.5m stingray off the coast of Port Douglas in far north Queensland, where he was filming for his daughter Bindi's TV series. He was swimming above the stingray when it speared him with its poison barb. He was only 44.

It is said that Steve Irwin created a kind of cultural cringe amongst Australians. My belief is that many people find it hard to handle raw energy and enthusiasm of the type Steve displayed. Some people feel less when in the presence of such open honesty and joy of living - and in Steve's case his enjoyment of 'all things living'.

But Steve Irwin has carried on the tradition of the larger than life Australian Character, and as such has been adopted by America. He did much to promote our country in the USA and elsewhere beyond our island. His death was a shock that has been compared with the deaths of JFK, John Lennon, and Princess Diana.

Steve Irwin was born on Robert Baden-Powell's birthday, February 22nd. Sir Robert was another man who loved the khaki, as he founded the Boy Scout movement which celebrates the great outdoors.

Baden-Powell married Olave, also born on February 22nd, and she became Chief Guide. Members of the world wide Scouting and Guiding movements celebrate February 22nd as 'Thinking Day'. Perhaps on that day, we can also think of Steve Irwin and what he has done for the natural environment.

Peter Brock was killed on September 8th when his Daytona Coupe spun out of control soon after the start of the Targa West rally near Perth and slammed side-on into a tree. He was 61.

Peter Perfect's record nine victories in V8 supercar racing at Bathurst earned him the title of 'King of the Mountain'. Although he retired from full-time racing in 1997 he returned in 2003 to win the Bathurst 24-hour race.

Croc and Brock’s Farewell

They stood inside the garden in Australia Zoo that day
The most beautiful of gardens where the crocodiles all play.
They had come in many thousands, looking on with tears in eye.
As the heroes of the moment both descended from the sky.

In the clouds they saw the image of Steve Irwin with his croc.
And beside him in his race car was a youthful Peter Brock.
Dressed in racing gear resplendent, Peter Perfect to a T.
And they heard Steve blurt out ‘Crikey, have you come to visit me?’

‘I remember I was swimming with the fish upon the reef.
My surroundings were amazing, such a scene defied belief.
We had cameras and were filming for my gorgeous Bindi child.
For her show, she wanted images of creatures swimming wild.’

‘Then a sting ray flew towards me with his wings outspread and wide.
I was mesmerized with magic as I came up to his side.
Then I swam above him slowly, just to get a better view.
But he must have been quite startled. That was the last I knew.’

‘Though I’m the brave Croc Hunter, I am jelly fish inside.
I am Bob and Bindy’s daddy, and the day I died I cried.
For the parting took more courage than my wrestling with the crocs,
Catching snakes and spiders hiding in the crevasses and rocks.’

‘Now I’m here with Peter Perfect, not with Terri and the kids,
And I sure will miss them badly – they’re the greatest “billy lids”.
I will stay beside them always, though they won’t know I am there.
As they grow up and they prosper they will know that I still care.’

‘I was born near Brocky’s birthday, February 22,
Four days before his big day, quite coincidental too,
As I died four days before him in a freak of fate quite strange.
If I’d wanted a companion no-one better I’d arrange.’

‘For Brock’s a national hero. Always striving for the best,
He was called “King of the Mountain”; he was faster than the rest.
With nine victories at Bathurst his Brock Special was his brand,
And his name will be remembered through our great Australian land.’

‘And like me, the King was having fun the day he left the earth,
At a rally in his coupe somewhere not too far from Perth,
When he slid across the wet road, and he failed to miss a tree.
I was watching from my cloud and saw him drifting up to me.’

‘Oh Crikey Brock, and welcome. It is not so bad up here.
You’ll be pleased to know we’ll never age, and I’ve brought Aussie beer.
We can keep an eye on all, so that they do just what they ought,
Looking after all the animals and racing motor sport.’

‘It was time to draw our number, on September 4 and 8.
Now St Peter is awaiting at the shining pearly gate.
And I bet we’re both admitted to the heavenly realm above,
As there’s thousands in this garden who are showing us their love.’

© Joan Small Sept 2006
http://www.joansmall.com/joansmallpoetry.htm -----------------------------------Return to Top

• Crikey means gee whiz, wow!
• I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message.
• Where I live if someone gives you a hug it's from the heart.
• You know, I'm Australian, and we have got the worst sense of humor. We are cruel to each other.
• I am optimistic globally. So many scientists are working frantically on the reparation of our planet.

• I'd rather be a quiet example rather than try to brow beat anyone into anything.
• Being raised on a farm one automatically cares for all life and the balance of nature.
• Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like hell.
• I committed myself to motor-racing.
• I don't feel any different than I did 20 years ago.
• It was never significant to me what others thought - that's their business.
• Once you start losing your enthusiasm and motivation, everything suffers and certainly your ability to withstand the rigours of motorsport suffers with it.
• When I write an article I'm aiming to motivate people, to get them to look at things a little positively, instead of as though they're a victim of life.
• Yes, I take great care with my health, I watch all aspects of my life that contribute to my abilities to operate at my highest levels.

On Enjoying a Variety of Activities:

• I enjoy painting.
• I enjoyed car design I did during the 80's with all those Commodores.
• I enjoy very much working with disadvantaged youth, and just with people.
• I enjoy football.
• I have a farm, and I enjoy farm work, creating a new environment planting orchards, market gardens, a few animals to tend etc.
• I like a bit of Bob Sieger.

A Final Word
Retirement will become evident to me at the time.

Live your life to the full, every day - you never know when your number will be up.

• Follow your dream and be enthusiastic about what you do
• Look after your own health, and care for other living creatures
• Do your best every day, with what you have
• Ignore the negative thoughts and opinions of others
• Love your family, friends and associates
• Enjoy variety - of activities, pleasures and energy-boosters
• Be optimistic
• Contribute in whatever way you can to make the world a better place.

Just like the Crocodile Hunder and the King of the Mountain, you will leave a legacy when you depart.

Be Yourself!
If you are genuinely yourself, and you do what you love, then it doesn't matter what others think.

Be the Real Deal.

Writing is my love, and I am thrilled when others love my writing. But more than that is the pleasure I obtain when people are able to enjoy life more because of something I have written.

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I loved your book and gained a lot from it. Your ideas, beliefs and suggestions are in line with my beliefs and a few areas I'm currently working on for myself, so I found it incredibly helpful and beneficial.
Thank you for sharing so much of your personal life and experiences. I think this really helps the reader as we know that you're not all talk - you've actually been there; experienced that. Donna-Marie Coggins
www.theenergybook.com

At Toastmasters recently I had the privilege of 'Hosting a Panel' of three speakers on the subject of Energy for Life. They represented the stages: childhood to adulthood; young adult to retirement, and 'The Golden Years'. This was video-ed and a snippet will soon appear on my website www.theenergybook.com.

Here is a photo of a few brightly dressed members at our recent Toastmasters 'Loud Shirt Night'. Out motto is 'Have Fun While You Learn' - very energising.

That's me, second from the left.

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