Wristbands to honor the late ‘Crocodile Hunter’
Craig Fitzsimmons
WINONAN
Two Winona State students have created their own way to help others honor Steve Irwin, the late “Crocodile Hunter.”
Lindsey Derby and Emily King are selling rubber wristbands and will donate all of the profits to the Australia Zoo, which was started by Irwin and his family, said Derby, a sophomore at Winona State.
“It is definitely a great place for the money to go,” Derby said.
Derby was inspired to do this because she has been a fan of his since she was about 9 or 10 years old.
As a child, Derby drew a picture of Irwin and his wife, Terri. She sent the picture to them which they signed and returned to her.
Derby said another reason she wanted to do this was to show Irwin’s family how much he meant to her.
“I always thought it was amazing how he would put his life on the line,” Derby said. “Something came over me when I heard of his death, and I had to do something.”
“My mom was the one who called me and told me when he died and I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
Irwin left behind his wife, Terri and two children Bindi, 8, and Bob, 2, when he died after being stung by a stingray on Sept. 8, 2006.
Emily King, a teammate of Derby on the Winona State track team, has supported the cause but said, “At first I thought it was kind of weird.”
King said she didn’t have cable when she was growing up so she didn’t watch “The Crocodile Hunter” very often, but knew who he was.
The wristbands cost $2 and styles are available for adults and children.
The dark-green, adult wristbands have a larger circumference with “S. Irwin ’62-06” and “Passion/enthusiasm” printed on them, Derby said.
Passion and enthusiasm were what Irwin wanted to be remembered for, which is why they chose to have that printed, she said.
“Crikey,” a word Irwin made famous, and “Crocs rule” is printed on the lime green wristbands for the younger fans.
They have sold more than 400 wristbands and hope to continue selling the wristbands until the original 1,000 are sold.
Derby has sold several to members of the track team, but is not sure if other Winona State students have bought them also.
The wristbands can be purchased online at www.memoryofsteveirwin.com through a PayPal program.
Derby and King have had their story also published in The Winona Daily News and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.