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Bindi Irwin

Bindi Sue Irwin (born July 24, 1998 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia) is the daughter of late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter) and Terri Irwin. .

Her first name comes from the name of her father's favourite female crocodile at the Australia Zoo, her middle name is from the family's dog Sui, Sue; in addition, Bindi is an Australian Aboriginal word that means little girl (according to her father.)

Career

Bindi is the presenter of a 26-part wildlife documentary kids show called Bindi the Jungle Girl, and also has a kid fitness DVD where she sings and dances with a troupe, known as the Crocmen (Bindi Kidfitness) and recently made an album called Trouble in the Jungle, a production of the Discovery Kids television network. Production of the show had been put on hold for a year. The series premiered in June 2007 on Discovery Kids. She also hosted a special about her father called My Daddy the Crocodile Hunter.

Additionally, she has appeared regularly in her father's television shows, including The Crocodile Hunter Diaries., and also appeared in the 2002 film The Wiggles: Wiggly Safari in a credited cast role. She began appearing on television shows as a public figure as early as age two.

In September 2006, Bindi Irwin appeared on the cover of the Australian magazine New Idea, the youngest person to have done so in the magazine's 104-year history.

In early January 2007, she appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. At that time, she was also scheduled for appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman and in attendance with Russell Crowe at a major dinner. She was promoting her new video, Bindi Kidfitness, and fulfilling her role as a newly-appointed "tourism ambassador" for Australia.

Bindi appeared on Larry King Live on January 11, 2007. She said that creative writing was her favourite subject and math is her least favourite. She also said that she enjoys being homeschooled because she and her teachers were such good friends.

At the 2007 Kids' Choice Awards, Bindi presented the award for 'Favorite Male Singer' which was won by Justin Timberlake. She also presented at the TV Week Logies Awards 2007, with help from Glenn Robbins for 'Most Outstanding Children's Show' which was won by The Upside Down Show.

In 2008 Bindi won a Daytime Emmy Award as Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series. At age nine, she now becomes the youngest performer ever to win a Daytime Emmy. The previous record holder was Camryn Grimes who won a Daytime Emmy as 'Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series' at age ten for The Young and the Restless.

Bindi commits 10% of her wage to Wildlife Warriors, the charity founded by her family in 2002.

After Steve Irwin's death

Bindi's father, Steve Irwin, was killed by a stingray on September 4, 2006 while setting up to shoot ocean reef footage for a show that would include segments with Bindi, because weather prevented him from filming footage for a different show. It has been reported by various international media that Bindi will continue her late father's conservation and television work. Steve Irwin had previously made it clear that he supported Bindi's rise to fame, claiming "I just want to be co-star to my daughter". Her family will continue the show by going on a tour in America, stopping at Los Angeles and New York. Bindi has a dog named Diamond and a rat named Candy

Statement at Steve Irwin's memorial service

In front of a crowd of 5000 and a worldwide television audience of more than 300 million viewers, Bindi read the following statement at her father's public memorial service on September 20 2006:

My daddy was my hero – he was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all he was fun. I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.
He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.
I don't want daddy's passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.
He has been the best daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life and now it’s our turn to help Daddy.

Bindi's speech received a standing ovation and was voted the television moment of the year, as chosen by readers of the Australia TV Week Reader Poll 2006. Bindi's speech received 43 percent of the votes from the poll.

Terri Irwin stated that, apart from some assistance with typing, Bindi had written the speech herself.