*This is to assist you, under no circumstance should you copy this or submit it as your own work.
*This essay was for Year 12 English 2A/2B
Crikey! , by Matthew V* prefer to remain anonymous.
Famous worldwide, Stephen Robert Irwin, know to many as Steve Irwin, or simply “The Crocodile Hunter”. He was born on the 22nd of February 1962 at Essendon, Victoria, Australia to Lyn and Bob Irwin and died after being fatally pierced in the chest by a sting ray, on the 4th of September 2006; he was 44 when he died. Irwin accomplished would wide fame from the television program “The Crocodile Hunter” an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series, co-hosted with his wife Terri Irwin. Steve and Terri also co-owned and operated the Australian Zoo originally founded by Steve’s parents; the Zoo is located in Beerwah, Queensland. Irwin to most was portrayed as a typical Australian, from his extremely strong Australian accent to his love of wildlife, as well as his short khaki shorts and catchphrase “Crikey!”. He is so well known that the way people stereotype Australians, are by imagining “The Crocodile Hunter”.
Irwin, his mother and father all shared a love for wildlife; his father was a wildlife expert and his mother a wildlife rehabilitator. Irwin moved to Queensland in 1970, where his parents opened the Beerwah reptile and Fauna Park, where Irwin grew up around crocodiles and other reptiles – he also spent his time helping his parents run the park. Irwin grew up loving all wildlife, in particular reptiles – his parent’s reptile park would have had a huge influence on this. Irwin caught his first venomous snake at the age of six; he was also very aware of animals that may be in danger, as he would often arrive late to school after convincing his mother to pull over, so that he could rescue a lizard that was crawling on the road. At the age of nine Irwin wrestled his first crocodile, with the supervision of his father. At this time he started helping his father with small troublesome crocodiles hanging around boat ramps. He did this by jumping on them in the water and wrestling them back into the boat. Irwin always had a six sense when it came to wildlife and he spent his life perfecting his talent. When Irwin graduated from Caloundra State High School in 1979 he moved to Northern Queensland, where he became a crocodile trapper, removing crocodiles from overpopulated areas where they we consider a threat. He did this free of charge, provided that he was allowed to keep them for the reptile park. Irwin soon started spending months living in remote areas far North Queensland catching crocodiles before they ended up shot by poaches. He worked with his dog Sui, developing his crocodile capturing methods that are now utilized by crocodile trappers around the world.
Irwin was one of those people that never really benefited too much from education, that is to say most of his experience, knowledge and techniques came from his enthusiastic participation, as well as a “six sense” when it comes to wildlife. However this doesn’t make Irwin think any different about education, bellow is a quote take from The Crocodile Hunter series:
“I've probably saved thousands of people's lives with my educational message on snake bites, how to get in around venomous anything. Yeah, I'm a thrill seeker, but crikey, education's the most important thing.” – Steve Irwin
This quote indicates that Irwin is pro-education, even though most of what he learnt was through practical participation. Irwin was educated at the Caloundra State High School in 1979 and he then furthered his education by studying part time at Darling Downs Institute of Animal Education and majored in herpetology as well as a Bachelor of Science degree.
Irwin was gifted with a huge number of traits that have allowed him to persevere further in his field of expertise. Motivated by his enthusiasm of wildlife, Irwin continued to support animals in need – he was infatuated by the beauty of animals and wanted to get his word around, to everyone in the world that the perseverance of wildlife is extremely important. This fact is one of the many reasons why Irwin is regarded as a strong Australian iconic figure. Irwin and his wife Terri, creators of The Crocodile Hunter series, made a choice and this choice was to always put the animals first, thus most of the money they made from the Crocodile Hunter series was put into Irwin’s wildlife park. This sends out a message to people that Irwin is prepared to do everything and anything for wildlife, even if it is giving up the most highly regarded thing amongst the majority humans, money. Thus people, who have an obsessive or greed towards money, regard Irwin as an iconic figure as he is able to spend money not on himself, but for the sole purpose of the preservation of wildlife. Not only does Irwin care for wildlife, but he would do anything and everything to find ways to improve animal’s habitat, as well as caring for them if they are in need. He also uses his television show to help people take better care of animals as well as educate them. This makes Irwin appeal to animal lovers and people in general and has helped make him an exceptional iconic figure.
Irwin has always been a crocodile trapper from the young age of nine when he first trapped a crocodile and since then he has developed his skills, dramatically. Irwin has accomplished some extremely amazing achievements, from managing his parent’s wildlife park to accomplishing worldwide fame from his and his wives TV show The Crocodile Hunter – this made Irwin an instant Australian icon, as many looked up to him and admired his work towards the preservation of wildlife, that he has dedicated his life to accomplishing. However before The Crocodile Hunter series, Irwin took over the managing the family wildlife park in 1991, at this location that he met Terri Rains, a visiting tourist from the United States. Irwin and Rains married on the 4th of June 1992, at the Methodist church where Terri’s grandmother used to attend. The honeymoon was spent filming the first scenes of the hit TV show The Crocodile Hunter, which was later broadcast in over 137 countries and reaching 500 million views. This in turn, made Irwin famous and an instant Australia/Worldwide icon as people watched what they deduced as a crazy Australian jumping on crocodiles, catching snakes and especially educating viewers about wildlife. People realized that despite the larrikinism and over the-top-top style, he was presenting a serious message to his many viewers.
Irwin’s spectacular rise to fame through his TV show The Crocodile Hunter presented him with worldwide fame. Irwin is truly a remarkable person who embraces wildlife as if it was part of his own family. His dedication to helping each and every creature, as well as educating viewers about wildlife, thus portraying the beauty of creatures – is one of the many reasons why Irwin is regarded as an Australian icon. Irwin also is known to do everything for the benefit of the animals, the animals always come first. He was very passionate about what he did and would have risked everything for the animals. His enthusiasm, courage and ability to keep on going, made him an Australian/Worldwide iconic figure that everyone knew and looked up to, for what he stood for.
Irwin has impacted society significantly and even though he has died, people still remember the enthusiastic, energetic Crocodile hunter, who did the craziest things that most people would refrain from doing. He has given a new aspect to wildlife; he’s shown the beauty that animals have. Irwin enjoys sharing his knowledge of the wild with children, adults and families – giving them a better understanding of wildlife and how to take care of it. This legacy now lives on in the form of his children, Bindi and Bob as they seek to continue the inspirational work of their father.
Kokoda Essay
*This is to assist you, under no circumstance should you copy this or submit it as your own work.
*This essay was for Year 12 English 2A/2B
Kokoda, by Matthew V* prefer to remain anonymous.
The film Kokoda directed by Alister Grieson portrays a ferocious World War II battle, between the Australian and Japanese soldiers, which commenced in July 1942 along the Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea. The Australians, who are defending against a definite Japanese invasion – America is in no position to help, as they have their eyes elsewhere. In Australia’s desperate attempt to prevent an invasion they swiftly send untrained, ill-equipped and some under aged soldiers known as choco soldiers to defend Port Moresby from Japanese ground troops whom are considered “unstoppable”, which the Australians soldiers quickly found to be the truth. The Australians soldiers are alone, weakened by lack of food, disease and harsh conditions – the Japanese outnumber them ten to one and fight ruthlessly to the end, with the help of newer and superior weapons, which the Australians lack. The Australians, against all odds, portray the following values; courage, mateship, endurance and sacrifice as they attempt to prevent the Japanese soldiers from advancing to Port Moresby and if captured, Australia. The Australians desperate attacks upon the advancing Japanese soldiers, attempting to prevent them from advancing as well as their bravery, are noted and stored in Australian’s history books. The values that the Australian solders possessed are portrayed through the film using filmic language such as; audio codes, close ups, lighting and camera angles.
One such value portrayed in the film Kokoda is courage which is utilized using audio codes to emphasize the Australian’s incredible courage. The Australians, against all odds, are seen to have a positive attitude towards this value throughout the film. The Australians are seen to show no fear in the face of the Japanese soldiers that outnumber them ten to one and who are known to be extremely ruthless and evil, from their other encounters on the Kokoda trail. However, the Australians are still prepared to fight and die for their country, in the hope that they and their children may have better lives in the future without Japanese rule. The fact that the Australian soldiers have shown courage in the face of danger is extremely rare and the film Kokoda portrays this by using filmic language such as the soundtrack which is used to portray the harshness that the Australians are about to face. The soundtrack is intended to create an atmosphere of remorse towards the Australian soldiers, as they march to what they know is most probably their certain death. This is like so many of their fellow soldiers who have lost their lives for this cause. This sad remorseful music is played before the first battle in the film as the Australians march to their already dug bunkers, to wait for the Japanese soldiers, to attempt to push through. This filmic language portrays to the viewers the Australian soldiers huge amount of courage, as they walk to what they know might be their death, however they continue walking for their family and their country’s freedom from a Japanese rule. Even with the thought of the Japanese outnumbering them ten to one, as well as the knowledge that the Japanese soldiers have had better training as well as weapons, the Australians are still prepared to fight and protect each other from harm’s way. The Australians are still optimistic to an extent, like when they receive mail at the beginning of the film; Bluie reads out the following scores for the AFL.
Bluie: “Richman 125 Colinwood 37 - cheers from the Australians”
This quote portrays typical Australian humour in the face of danger, which indicates furthermore their huge amount of courage they possess. This shows that they know what they are up against but still attempt to have a bit of fun and mess around a bit. It can be said that at that particular time in Australia these soldiers were extremely brave, also most of them were very young, some of them ranging from nineteen to twenty-one, twenty-one being the legal age to go to the army, as well as the fact that these soldiers volunteered for this as well as faked their age to get in – this indicates that they believed their homeland and way life was truly worth fighting and dying for. Thus the audio code portrays these soldiers with an extreme amount of courage facing the enemy as well as the fact that at this time most male adults were considered to have an obligation to join the army. This makes the viewer realize how courageous the Australian solders were and how they became part of the nations identity and history in one of Australia’s first major battles that was to decide the fate of Australia, for future generations of Australian citizens.
Another value portrayed in the film Kokoda is endurance, which is shown throughout the film using filmic language such as close ups of the forest and its contents. This filmic language helps intensify the extreme conditions that the Australians had to suffer and fight through. This helps portray the Australians as if they would do almost anything for their freedom, as well as protecting their families and friends from harms way. Endurance is further portrayed with close ups of bugs, earth, Australian’s dirty and torn uniform and their vast amount of injured soldiers. This technique symbolizes some of the harsh conditions as well as the sickness that the Australians would have had to endure, until relief soldiers are sent to replace them or the enemy is conquered. The Australians endurance of this environment can say a lot about them as they are seen to understand and accept their presence in this particular part of the world and on top of that, fighting the Japanese soldiers. These actions portray that the Australians are determined to finish what they started and hopefully return home, to their country. So they are willing to go to almost any length to defend their freedom. The value of endurance was considered to be an admired trait in that particular time in Australian, as well as the fact that the Australian soldiers seemed to posses it, because they knew that if they didn’t endure, there wouldn’t be an Australia to defend and millions would lose their lives to the conquering Japanese. Even when relief soldiers are sent the “choco soldiers” remain behind and continue to defend against the aggressive Japanese soldiers. This is an admirable quality that the Australians possess and continue to demonstrate throughout the film.
A third value portrayed in the film Kokoda is mateship and Grierson demonstrates this with the use of filmic techniques such as lighting. Mateship portrays how the Australians are always there for one another. One example of this is when Johno is determined go back for Burke, because he got left behind even though the others fear him dead – he then finds that Burke has been captured and watches and sobs silently behind bushes, as a Japanese soldier stabs him repeatedly with a bayonet. He knows that he cannot do anything for the captured soldier, his “mate” - but still stays, probably waiting for a moment to attempt to rescue him, even if he is dead. This example portrays how the Australians are prepared to risk their lives in an attempt to save their fellow friends. The use of filmic language such as lighting helps create an atmosphere of remorse and unknowing. As it was dark when Burke was captured this helps emphasize mateship as even though it’s dark, cold and wet Johno is still prepared to go back for Burke even if he was to get lost in the dark forest or even captured. This value known to Australians as mateship, is portrayed throughout the film as all the Australians seem to be there for one another and help each other out, if they are in need. Like when someone falls onto the ground because of exhaustion another soldier helps them on to their feet and utters words of encouragement to get him moving again. Also if a soldier is hurt another takes care of him, feeds him and gives him drinks. Another example of mateship that is portrayed in the film is when Johnno gets up to go to the toilet and an officer tells him he shouldn’t go anywhere without his weapon. This portrays how the officer is dedicated to keeping his soldiers on their toes in case of an enemy surprise attack. The value of mateship is one of most important values in that era as it is considered to be one of the most important traits that someone could possess. The value mateship is a quality that enabled the Australians to keep going – almost mythical quality in Australians identity. This value is still a large part of Australians everyday lives.
A fourth value portrayed in the film Kokoda is sacrifice and is portrayed throughout the film using filmic techniques such as camera angles. One such instance that this was used, is when the machine gunner stays behind so that the others can escape, a high angle shot is used to portray that he is overpowered by the oncoming Japanese soldiers. However, he still holds his ground so that he can protect his fellow friends from danger. The machine gunner is prepared to sacrifice his life for the preservation of his fellow soldiers. This action portrays a strong value that the Australian soldiers possess – the fact that they would die for one another. This value is and was thought of highly by the Australian society in that particular era and impacted the people whom the person died to save and allowed them to live on. All of the volunteering soldiers could have been said to have had this value as they went to Papua New Guinea to prevent the Japanese soldiers from taking Australia and the fact that they might die from doing so, therefore they sacrificed their lives to defend Australia. These volunteers or as they were know as, choco soldiers, gained a huge amount of respect as soon as they put their name down because of the fact that they were sacrificing themselves for the Australian society. When it was time for them to go home they stayed on and fought alongside the reinforcements and even though they had a choice to go home, they stayed and were prepared to sacrifice their lives for a second time to prevent an Australian invasion. This choice indicates a positive attitude towards the values as the Australians even after they had gone through this ordeal, are still prepared to defend their country from the Japanese soldiers. This was an extremely important value, practically at that time in Australia, when citizens knew what was at stake.
The Australian soldiers may have been outnumbered, but the fact that they demonstrate the following values of courage, mateship, endurance and sacrifice allowed them to decrease their deaths and better their chance at preventing the Japanese from advancing. The Australians were able to withstand the Japanese for just enough time for the Americans to end the war by nuking Japanese home soil, twice; even the first bomb didn’t stop them – this further gives an idea of what the Japanese were like and what the Australians went through but still they stood their ground and pushed forward as they laughed in the face of danger, they did everything and more to prevent the Japanese from moving forward. The Australians portrayed huge amounts of courage, mateship, endurance and sacrifice. They never abandoned their task until it was completed, even when they were replaced with reinforcements. It could be said that the war between the Japanese and the Australians in Kokoda allowed the world, as well as Australia to see what they were really made of and turned out that the Australians wouldn’t just roll over out of the way, but defend their country with their lives, thus portraying that Australia is something extremely valuable to them and worth fighting and dying for.