Nearly 20,000 Aussies are in full support of one man’s cause: to put “all time greatest Australian bloke” Steve Irwin’s face on our currency, 10 years after his death rocked the nation.
“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,” Kyle Ryan wrote in his Change.org petition, which has had 19.762 signatures one week after it was started.
Fans have been vocal about why they think the wildlife warrior should be honoured in this way.
One person commented, “Steve was a Hero. He should be put on the $20 note, and while we’re at it, let’s change the name to dollarydoo’s.”
“Let’s put a real aussie hero on our money. It’s about time,” someone else said.
Could this be the future Australian currency’s design?
Jake Ryan, another campaign organiser, told News Corp, “We’re going to try and hold an event in the city (Melbourne) and get people to vote. We’re really serious about this.”
They might get what they’re fighting for after all, with the Royal Australian Mint responding to their petition and urging them to submit a written proposal.
CEO Ross MacDiarmid said, “This petition has further highlighted the passion throughout a sub-section of the Australian community to recognise Mr Irwin and we invite those who are leading the cause to familiarise themselves with our coin theme policy (as published on our website) and submit a written proposal to us directly for consideration.”
He also pointed out that the Royal Australian Mint already released a special commemorative coin in Irwin’s honour in 2009, but understands the community wants further recognition.
There’s no word yet on what Steve’s wife Terri and their kids Bindi and Bob think of this idea. We can’t imagine they’d be too opposed!
