STEVE IRWIN, ZOO SNARE WIN

News Source: Sunshine Coast Daily, page 15, Friday 24th September, 2004

Steve Irwin and his Australia Zoo last night received two major honours at the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards.

Mr Irwin took out the prestigious Premier of Queensland’s Special Award while the Zoo won the Tourism Award.

Announcing the winners in Brisbane, Premier Peter Beattie described the Sunshine Coast conservationist and television celebrity as “one of a kind”.

“His parents may have started out with a small reptile park at Beerwah in 1970 but Steve and his wife Terri Raines have really driven the export agenda and put Australia Zoo on the map for hundreds of thousands of international visitors to Queensland,” he said.

“Through the television series Crocodile Hunter, 500 million viewers worldwide are now better acquainted with the personable Irwins, Australia Zoo and the Sunshine Coast.”

The annual awards are designed to encourage companies to become exports and this year attracted 176 nominations.

Sunshine Coast company Oceanis Australia was also named as a finalist in the Tourism category.

Click here to check out some pictures from the night
Click here to check out the award