Off with his head: Aussies rallying for Steve Irwin to replace King Charles on new $1 coins
- Replies 32
He's the wildlife warrior who stole Australia's heart. But could he be the next thing you see on your $1 coins?
Aussies have renewed calls for the dearly beloved Croc Hunter to feature on legal tender instead of the new monarch after the federal government unveiled the first coins bearing King Charles III's face.
The dollar coin with the royal's profile is set to enter circulation before the holidays, while other coins will be released next year. But many Aussies reckon an Australian icon like Irwin deserves the honour over someone who's yet to step foot Down Under.
On Facebook, a picture of Steve with a coin caption has racked up hundreds of likes, with folks demanding he replace the King.
'An Australian icon on the next coin or not?' one user asked.
Irwin found worldwide fame through his wildlife documentaries and conservation efforts. Sadly, he passed away in 2006 after a freak accident involving a stingray. But his family has kept his legacy alive through ongoing work.
His passion for animals and larrikin personality made him a true-blue Aussie hero. He was the ultimate role model for many generations of kids and adults alike.
Back in 2016, over 20,000 Aussies signed a petition to get him on the $100 note, indicating clear support for the idea.
But should tradition trump popularity?
The renewed attention on the coins has many Aussies on social media expressing their support for the idea of featuring Irwin on the $1 coin.
For some, $1 isn’t enough, as one person commented: 'Coin? He should be on the $100 note. The man was a blessing to this earth.'
Another person chimed in, agreeing with the sentiment: 'Yeah, it was such a tragedy, but what a marvellous family he has to continue his legacy.'
On the other hand, some are suggesting alternative ideas for coin designs, ranging from fictional characters to native animals and even iconic foods.
One jokingly suggested, 'I completely support putting bin chickens on coins,' while others proposed featuring culinary delights like the pavlova, lamington, or the beloved Bunnings snag. There were even mentions of the State of Origin Maroons jersey.
Queensland politician Bob Katter expressed his support for the idea of featuring an unsung, homegrown Australian hero on the country's currency.
'Australians do not believe that any one individual is born superior to another. And now we're affirming this inequality by displaying a man who has done nothing for this country on our coin,' he said in disagreement with featuring King Charles.
Katter suggested several noteworthy individuals be considered, such as a soldier, a Kalkadoon warrior, visionary economist Sir Leo Hielscher, and engineer Dr John Bradfield.
However, it seems that Steve Irwin is still among the crowd-favourites at the moment.
Members, we'd like to hear your opinions on this. Do you think it's time to replace the image of a royal on the $1 coin with an iconic Australian figure, or do you believe that the royals should continue to be featured in the country's currency? Please share your thoughts and comments below.
Aussies have renewed calls for the dearly beloved Croc Hunter to feature on legal tender instead of the new monarch after the federal government unveiled the first coins bearing King Charles III's face.
The dollar coin with the royal's profile is set to enter circulation before the holidays, while other coins will be released next year. But many Aussies reckon an Australian icon like Irwin deserves the honour over someone who's yet to step foot Down Under.
On Facebook, a picture of Steve with a coin caption has racked up hundreds of likes, with folks demanding he replace the King.
'An Australian icon on the next coin or not?' one user asked.
Australians have renewed calls for wildlife warrior Steve Irwin to feature on coins instead of King Charles III. Credit: Facebook.
Irwin found worldwide fame through his wildlife documentaries and conservation efforts. Sadly, he passed away in 2006 after a freak accident involving a stingray. But his family has kept his legacy alive through ongoing work.
His passion for animals and larrikin personality made him a true-blue Aussie hero. He was the ultimate role model for many generations of kids and adults alike.
Back in 2016, over 20,000 Aussies signed a petition to get him on the $100 note, indicating clear support for the idea.
But should tradition trump popularity?
The renewed attention on the coins has many Aussies on social media expressing their support for the idea of featuring Irwin on the $1 coin.
For some, $1 isn’t enough, as one person commented: 'Coin? He should be on the $100 note. The man was a blessing to this earth.'
Another person chimed in, agreeing with the sentiment: 'Yeah, it was such a tragedy, but what a marvellous family he has to continue his legacy.'
On the other hand, some are suggesting alternative ideas for coin designs, ranging from fictional characters to native animals and even iconic foods.
One jokingly suggested, 'I completely support putting bin chickens on coins,' while others proposed featuring culinary delights like the pavlova, lamington, or the beloved Bunnings snag. There were even mentions of the State of Origin Maroons jersey.
Queensland politician Bob Katter expressed his support for the idea of featuring an unsung, homegrown Australian hero on the country's currency.
'Australians do not believe that any one individual is born superior to another. And now we're affirming this inequality by displaying a man who has done nothing for this country on our coin,' he said in disagreement with featuring King Charles.
Katter suggested several noteworthy individuals be considered, such as a soldier, a Kalkadoon warrior, visionary economist Sir Leo Hielscher, and engineer Dr John Bradfield.
However, it seems that Steve Irwin is still among the crowd-favourites at the moment.
Members, we'd like to hear your opinions on this. Do you think it's time to replace the image of a royal on the $1 coin with an iconic Australian figure, or do you believe that the royals should continue to be featured in the country's currency? Please share your thoughts and comments below.
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