This is not only a tribute to Lyn Irwin, but also to my own mum. I choose Steve’s dedication from his book, cause it expresses my feelings. I really had to fight my tears back and say to myself be strong, cause Steve’s words just touched my heart. I miss my mum so much, I learned so much from you and wherever you are by now, I’m always thinking of you! You were always there for me, when I fell of a tree and I was bleeding (especially my left knee… ) or when we were lying in a tent listening to the sounds of a African night. I have to admit, that I was a bit scared to hear a group of lions on the right side anther group on the left, elephants to our head and hippos to our feet… after the scary stories that our safari mates always knew to tell just before going to sleep. J Crickey, they knew some very good ones… ;o)  We all were working just great together searching and finding all kinds of animals, we had a lot fun and I’ so happy, that I was able to be with you for nearly 16 years. Thanx a lot!!! I love you mum!

So here is Steve’s tribute to his mum, he’s just speaking out of my heart and my soul…

I’m dedicating this book, and my life, to my mum. I loved my mum more than anything in the world. She nurtured, protected, and loved me all my life. Lyn Irwin was a true “Australian Pioneer Woman”, dedicating her entire life to the rehabilitation and conservation of both the wildlife and her family. Every single day she worked and toiled to save injured and orphaned joeys while maintaining a happy healthy Irwin clan.

Oh gosh! I miss you, Mum. I miss you every minutes of every day, and the pain of losing you tears my heart out. But I’ll stay strong, I promise you I’ll stay strong-for it was you who taught me to be a “Wildlife Warrior.”

You worked with me for thirty-eight years to help me become the man I am today. You suckled me, changed my nappy, packed me off to school, blessed me with a career that is my whole life, cried with me when my pet snake died, belted me with your show when I was really naughty, fought for me, protected me, pushed me forward when the going got tough, and raised me to fight for the preservation of wildlife until the day I die.

I’ve adopted your strength, your passion and enthusiasm, your dedication and commitment, and will honor your presence by continuing to push forward as hard and fast as I possibly can, to ensure the survival of our precious wildlife, the wilderness, and in essence, the human race. For without fresh water, trees, animals, and ecosystems, the world we now know would not support human life, it would be an ugly, awful place. The spirit of Lynette Leslie Irwin, Lyn Irwin, my mum, lives forever. Every time you see aa sick, injured, orphaned animal, you’ll see Lyn. I love you, I miss you, I long to be reunited with you.

- Steve