Lisa Curry says Steve Irwin withdrew his Australian of the Year nomination after a media storm over him holding his infant son Robert while feeding a crocodile. The official records show Irwin was Queensland’s 2004 Australian of the Year, while Steve Waugh AO received the national award; they do not say the incident formally disqualified Irwin or determined the national result.
What moment did Lisa Curry describe?
In a 2022 interview with ABC News, Curry recalled that a young girl had nominated Irwin, saying she wanted him to win before a crocodile ate him. The transcript does not identify the girl. Curry then described the episode that brought public attention: “But then he held Robert while he was feeding a crocodile.”
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Curry said the ensuing coverage became an “absolute media circus,” and recalled, “And of course, the media just went stupid over that.” She linked the controversy to Irwin’s decision to withdraw his nomination. ABC News’ transcript of The Deep End interview with Lisa Curry was published on 28 April 2022.
What did Curry say happened to the nomination?
Curry recalled that Irwin withdrew his nomination after the media reaction. She said she thought he might be chosen the following year or the year after, but that did not happen because he died. In Curry’s words: “So unfortunately, Steve withdrew his nomination and we thought, that’s okay we could choose him the following year or the year after, which was not to be, because then tragically, he died.”
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This is Curry’s retrospective account, not an official explanation of the national judging decision. The ABC transcript does not give the date Irwin withdrew or include internal council deliberations, so it does not establish that the incident formally disqualified him or caused the national selection outcome.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the official award records say?
The National Australia Day Council distinguishes between the Queensland award and the national award. Its official record lists Irwin as Queensland Australian of the Year for 2004; the 2004 national recipients listing names Steve Waugh AO as the national Australian of the Year.
Rank #2
| Award record | Recipient | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland Australian of the Year, 2004 | Steve Irwin | National Australia Day Council profile |
| National Australian of the Year, 2004 | Steve Waugh AO | National Australia Day Council 2004 recipients listing |
So the precise account is that Curry believed the crocodile-feeding controversy preceded Irwin’s withdrawal and that he might have been selected in a later year. The official records establish his Queensland award and Waugh’s national award, but not that the incident was the documented reason Irwin did not receive the national title.
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