• e-H11 HUAvisits Australia Zoo and memorial to Itwin S rudents participating in the Harding University in Australia program found themselves only hours away from a cragedy mat made news around meworld.The word ofSteve Irwin's untimely death affected millions across the globe, including the students Down Under. The students first heard of Irwin's death at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. "At first I thought it was a joke," junior AbbyStutzman said. "Since we were going to the Australia Zoo in a couple of weeks, I found it a Iinie [00 ironic that Steve Irwin had died while 1was in Auscralia. It was not until I asked one of the worke rs at Lone Pine about it before this nightmare became a reality. I thought Irwin was invincible." Since Irwin and the worker had a common interest, they had known each other well. The wo rker said he and his co-workers admired Irwin for the work he was doing to protect the wildlife. As the srudems boarded the bus back to Brisbane, the bus driver also spoke of Irwin's death. He informed the group that the Crocodile Hunter had been killed by a stingray in Batt Reef, a part of the Great Barrier Reef. When the students arrived at their apartmems, mOSt of them rushed to turn on the news. Almost every television station was broadcasting news of Irwin's death. "TheAustralia media kept me informed," sophomore Chesley Dickson said. "Due to the time difference, we were the first to know the latest information about Steve Irwin." ~ The group visited Irwin's Australia Zoo just weeks after his death. When they arrived, they saw the walls covered with flowers, poems and posters made by fans. "I saw so many difF'erem countries' flags; it was quite remarkable," junior Patrick Owens said. "just to see the amazing outpouring oflove and sympathy poured out through the thousands of fl owers and all the different flags that people would leave to represent their country's mourning is definitely something I will never forget." The gift shop inside the zoo was filled with Steve Irwin memorabilia, everything from stuffed animals to board games. "Emering the gift shop was a surreal experience," sophomore Anna justus said. "Everything had a picture ofSteve or his name or his family plastered on the front of it. I picked up a few items as a remembrance of my cultural experience." juStuSsaid because the students were not able [0 attend the memorial service for Irwin, many of them bought T-shirts and other memo rabilia to wear that day. -Kara Threm JuniorJacqueline Boen pets a kangaroo ::::::;;;;; Sept. IS at theAustralia Zoo in Queensland, Australia. The Australia Zoo was originally owned by Bob and Lyn Irwin,Steve's parents 1 when Steve took over ownership in 1991 made the zoo well known thanks to his Crocodile Hunter." -Courtesy iuli"Ad,m, fall overseas I
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