News

Queensland's tourism industry is honouring the memory of celebrity crocodile hunter Steve Irwin by naming an award after him.

The eco tourism category in the Queensland Tourism Awards will be renamed the Steve Irwin Award in time for the ceremony in Brisbane, Australia, this month (November), reports newspaper the Australian.

Irwin became famous the world over for his daring work in which he often put himself in life threatening situations for the sake of his wildlife television programme.

But it was the work he did away from the camera that won Irwin so many admirers among conservationists.

Australia Zoo was established by Irwin and his wife Terri and Queensland's tourism minister says his contribution to the country means he deserves to be immortalised in this way.

'This is our way of acknowledging the incredible contribution made by Steve Irwin to conservation around the world and to promoting tourism in Australia, and especially in Queensland,' said Margaret Keech.

'This is an important category that celebrates ecologically sustainable tourism, something that Steve endorsed and championed with an amazing spirit and energy.'

Steve Irwin's life was cut short when a stingray's barb pierced his chest while he dived off the coast of Queensland on 4 September 2006.

© Adfero Ltd