The team from WD talk about losing an Aussie icon — Crocodile Hunter and wildlife warrior Steve Irwin...
Glen Williams, staff writer
Woman's Day was chosen as the only print medium to interview Terri Irwin just days after the death of Steve Irwin in September 2006.
I had met Steve on several occasions, and I couldn't believe I was now coming to talk to his beautiful wife about his death. Terri was absolutely devastated — completely grief-stricken.
It was only days after his death. I asked her if she and Steve had wanted more children. It hit a nerve, but in a positive way — she said it was something she and Steve had been arm-wrestling about at the time. They both decided they wanted more babies purely because Bindi and Bob are so wonderful.
She told me, "I know I am going to have fun again, because that's what Steve would have wanted." But she was just so completely devastated. She kept breaking down and yet she was so classy and giving with her answers. She showed a real dignity.
I find it hard not to cry during emotional interviews like this one, but I think it is important to be real in those moments — and if that's how you feel, then you do. I also have a strong faith and I prayed with Terri. That's what she wanted.
We went outside Australia Zoo to see the outpouring of grief from the rest of Australia. That was hard on her, but whenever she would get close to any of the animals it was like a feeling of peace came over her.
This was the case particularly with the elephants, which were Steve's favourite. She nestled into the elephants for a good 15 minutes, just talking to them and being comforted by them. They rallied around her in a really protective way. It was incredible to see.
She said being with animals is where she feels the most peace, and the closest to Steve. She said she feels him around her all the time — and because of her strong Christian faith, she says she knows she is going to see him again.
David Hahn, staff photographer
I was lucky enough to photograph baby Bob when he was born at the hospital. It was a Christmas cover for
Woman's Day with Terri and Steve and Bindi and baby Bob who was only a couple of days old.
Then just two years later it was strange to think we were waiting to see Terri to interview her just days after Steve's death. Barbara Walters did the story for America and Ray Martin did it for TV here and then Glen Williams and I did it for
Woman's Day.
Babs went first and then Ray the next day and I said to Glen, "There's no way she could do us after doing Ray's interview" because she was absolutely shattered. And she was just numb.
I remember the film crew took her out to the front of the zoo to see the outpouring of love from Australia and around the world, all those flowers and cards lined up outside the zoo, and Terri just lost it.
It was just amazing to see somebody in such raw pain, such a state of zombie-like raw pain. It was awfully sad. I really believe that was a true love story and especially to see her now, carrying on all his hard work.
I've seen Terri with Bindi many times and she is a great mother, she's very strong and she makes sure that Bindi and Bob are polite and say thank you and all that kind of stuff.
It's a strong family. It was rightly so that no one got to speak to Bindi, it was a good parental decision. The family's manager John Stainton has helped that family a lot too, he's been there since day one and I think he's a good man, I like him a lot.
I don't think Bindi's been overexposed thanks to him and Terri. I was surprised at the out-pouring of grief for Steve and even more so at the overseas reaction.
I can remember trying to ask Terri to cuddle the animals — when she was hugging a koala she was holding on to it with all her might and it was like she was hugging Steve almost — she needed to hold something and give it some love and get some unconditional love back.
I wanted a really strong image of her with this humungous snake wrapped around her and she held it up high. WDNZ used that image on their cover.
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