Rare News Desk
In 2006, Steve Irwin, star of Animal Planet’s “Crocodile Hunter,” passed away after being stabbed in the heart by a stingray’s tail.
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Now, 10 years after his death, a group of Australians is petitioning their government to put Irwin’s image on Australian currency.
The Change.org petition says, “It’s about time we payed [sic] our respects to the all time greatest Australian bloke, Steve Irwin.”
RELATED: Ten years later, Steve Irwin is still our favorite crocodile hunter
As of today, the petition has garnered 23,447 signatures — just 1,534 short of the petition’s goal of 25,000 signatures.
One of the founders of the petition, Kyle Ryan, told the BBC, “We started this petition because the newer generation barely knows who is representing our currency.”
RELATED: Nearly 10 years after Steve Irwin’s death, a letter to his parents has been discovered
Irwin’s face already appeared on a coin in 2009 in a currency series honoring special Australians, but the Australian government has acknowledged people’s love for Irwin and is not dismissing the idea put forth by the petition.
According to the BBC, the chief executive of the Royal Australian Mint said that the petition “highlighted the passion throughout a sub-section of the Australian community to recognise Mr. Irwin” and invited people to send in a formal proposal.
