"Mate, it's easy," he told the crowd, of the flight to Australia . "You get on to Qantas, watch a few movies, sip a few Australian wines, have a slash, a sleep and you're there.

"When you arrive, the kangaroos will be jumping around as soon as you get out of the airport and you got to watch those drop bears, they fall straight out of the trees on to your head." There was uneasy laughter from the audience, which didn't get the language or the humour, and possibly took Irwin at his word.

Despite years of promotion there is comparatively little known about Australia among the general population in US. It's not uncommon to be asked what language Australians speak (and hearing Irwin at full throttle that's hardly surprising).

But Irwin, with his mangled strine, is front and centre of a new Australian-made logo campaign, designed to lift Australian exports to the US and internationally. Irwin will also feature in a new "visit Australia " marketing push, to be launched in the next two months by the federal Government's Australian tourism agency.

This is deja vu. Call it Crocodile Dundee mark II.

Tim Fischer, chairman of Tourism Australia , says Irwin fits the "need for a 21st version of the shrimp on the barbecue", referring to the successful 1980s tourism promotion using Paul Hogan - the brainchild of former federal Labor tourism minister John Brown. "We should never walk away from the unique dimensions of the Australian character," Fischer adds.

There's been plenty of navel gazing among image makers and trade representatives about how to brand Australia and they have questioned whether someone like Irwin is the right man for the job. The khaki-wearing, blond, white showman represents a stereotype that hardly reflects a multiracial society with a highly urbanised population. Some ask whether Australia shouldn't be pitching a more sophisticated image: of fine wines and food and clever financial engineering, Macquarie Bank style.

Ian Harrison, the chief executive of the Australian Made Campaign Ltd, the not-for-profit group that owns the Australian Made logo, which started under the Hawke government in 1986, admits he thought long and hard about the marketing implications of using Irwin. "The challenge for us is that we have a symbol that we are seeking to promote as a product symbol of Australia and what that means in different market segments," Harrison says.

But Harrison came to the realisation, like a lot of the 8000 successful Australian exporters to the US market, that so little is known about our products that branding it "Australian made" with someone as instantly recognisable as Irwin is paramount.

Irwin's television shows screen on the Discovery wildlife cable channel and he has been such a huge hit as the Crocodile Hunter he's more famous in the US than in Australia .

US advertising agencies who poll celebrities to decide whether to use them for product campaigns have consistently ranked Irwin in the top tier in America for "likeability" and "credibility", says Rachel Crowley, US spokesman for Tourism Australia . "He is extremely popular in America and he is such a recognisable Australian face."

But what about the finer things in Australia and our value-added products? "Look," says Harrison , "Steve probably doesn't get us down the path of being recognised as an advanced manufacturing economy but that will follow. We have to establish a presence in the marketplace first.

"The challenge is, we have to attract attention first and to get the assistance of someone like Steve is fantastic and it has worked brilliantly." The "next step" is to lock in another celebrity with a more sophisticated image, rumoured to be Olivia Newton John.

"There are people - not me - who get quite upset with campaigns that identify Australia with kangaroos, beaches and beer," says Robert Hunt, a San Francisco native who is married to an Australian and is a senior investment commissioner at the federal government's Invest Australia, an agency promoting trade and investment. "I used to be one of those people, but I'm not as upset by that any more. Anything that raises awareness of Australia is probably good."

Former Labor senator Stephen Loosley, chairman of the Committee for Sydney, a business lobby that promotes Sydney as an international commercial centre, says the US is a fragmented and diverse market but that "Steve occupies a particular niche" with an ability to get a message out.

There's no doubt that Irwin is an instantly recognisable Australian face in a crowded media and advertising scene in the US . Banner posters of Irwin, featuring the Australian Made logo, were displayed in specialist supermarkets in LA last week, where Australian food products were on show.

The Irwin ads also ran in the mass-circulation Los Angeles Times as part of a week-long Australian promotion known as G'day LA, now in its third year. It was started by John Olsen, the former South Australian premier and present Los Angeles consul-general. He plans to expand the concept to the east coast in his new role as consul-general in New York , starting in March.

G'Day LA attracts a host of Australian trade representatives and exporters, including Harrison who was talking to exporters last week, trying to rebuild the Australian Made logo franchise and increase the market for Australia 's products and potential.

The Australian Made Campaign company has about 1000 exporters who pay a fee for the right to use the kangaroo in the triangle. The venture has a fraught history, including a period of receivership when funding dried up after the Howard Government came to power in 1996. The program was relaunched in 1999.

Harrison 's enthusiasm for the Crocodile Hunter is no doubt helped by the fact that Irwin is giving his time and image to the Australian Made campaign for free. Irwin's only request was that the campaign contribute a donation, of any amount Harrison wishes, to Irwin's wildlife fund. Irwin has also been offering services gratis to Tourism Australia . "Steve's incredibly generous, he's great like that," adds Crowley .

Irwin was swamped by the media after his show. Hollywood fixture Tom Arnold (whose movie credits include Austin Powers and True Lies) ran up to Irwin with a camera crew and bear-hugged him like a long lost brother. "Oh, mate! How you doing?" said Irwin as Arnold collared him for a segment on the US TV series, The Best Damn Sports Show Period.

Despite the Howard Government's support for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan , Australia hasn't moved beyond novelty value in the US . Australian products are finding a niche but have a long way to go, says Kylie Hargreaves, Australia 's senior trade commissioner for Austrade in Los Angeles . "I was at an in-store promotion of Australian cheeses, and the Americans with me said: 'Oh my goodness, I didn't know Australia made cheese'."

Hargreaves, whose father Graeme was a trade commissioner in Singapore in the 1980s and who helped promote Australian apples and pears there, says Irwin is a perfect vehicle. She calls it guerilla marketing: using whatever message you can to be heard. "Outside the obvious areas of film and tourism, the US business and consumer markets have a very low level of awareness of Australian capabilities," she says. For Australian exporters, Australia 's landmark free trade agreement with the US was just the start, and certainly no guarantee of success.

"Competitor nations, industries and companies hold regular awareness-raising and marketing campaigns, often several times a year, so there is considerable competitive noise in the marketplace," Hargreaves says.

"So it's important to run a campaign that is instantly recognisable."

Hargreaves says a simple Australian-made branding campaign is also key - like the one Harrison has created - and warned parochial state-by-state branding campaigns are a waste of money in international markets.

"It would take far more advertising dollars to promote an image of West Australian seafood that would actually stick in consumers' minds, than it would to use something like the Steve Irwin Australian Made campaign to draw shoppers' attention to West Australian seafood on display.

"With this sort of approach, the Australian association is already very present in the minds of the consumer and we can then move on to trying to embed the second-level messaging that Australia is much more than travel and film stars."

That Irwin can guarantee media airtime should not be underestimated in a market the size of the US , says Hargreaves, where greater LA has a population the size of Australia 's. At last count, the US had 41,932 supermarkets against Australia 's 3775. There are 17,866 toy shops in the US ; Australia has 763. And there are 14,801 domestic airports to Australia 's 444.

Geoff Elliott is The Australian's Washington correspondent.

Hey, true blue… you won't have to go far this Australia Day to have the opportunity to check out an Aussie icon.

The legendary John Williamson will blow you away when he plays live in the Animal Planet Crocoseum at Australia Zoo.

You can check out this Aussie champ live in the Crocoseum at 10.30am, then stick around for all the wildlife action with SnakesLIVE, TigersLIVE and our amazing free-flight BirdsLIVE show. At 12 o'clock it's Croc O'clock! You little beauty!

Get your laughing gear around some traditional billy tea and damper and be a part of the fun and games to win some awesome prizes, including Crocodile Hunter gear!

All of this fair dinkum Aussie fun is just for the prize of admission! Gates open at 8:00am so get in early!

For more information, check out www.crocodilehunter.com

BEING true blue means being a dinki di genuine Aussie, according to singer John Williamson, the man who repopularised the term with his anthemic song, Hey True Blue.

Williamson, on the Coast to entertain Australia Day visitors to Australia Zoo today, said true blue is about being a lot of things, like fair, tolerant and considerate to your neighbours – but what it's not about is race and religion.

“The important thing to emphasise immediately is that it is an Australian concept that has absolutely nothing to do with race and religion,” he said.

“But it's about so many things that we all know are deeply Australian. Things like your word being your bind, and a handshake deal being a real deal. Being true blue is what all fair dinkum good people aspire to, but in many ways it has almost become an old-fashioned term these days.”

The singer, whose song True Blue became an Australian mega-seller, also said that no Australian can be true blue unless they have some affinity with or experience of the bush.

“To be really Australian you can't spend all your life in Darlinghurst. You have to get to know the country and you'll never get to be true blue if you've never had a relationship with nature and the bush.”

Williamson also said, tongue slightly in cheek, that having seen Uluru close also helps in becoming true blue. “But the most important thing about being true blue is being fair, and Australia is a very fair country despite all the crap about the Muslim and Christian thing.”

The singer has caught the spirit of conciliation that's sweeping Australia and said we could become more true blue if we listened and learned about our ancient land by relating to indigeous people. “We've got mobs of people who have been here for 40,000 years and there's a lot we can learn from them about what's really true blue about our land.”

The Coast's current world ironwoman champion, Kristy Munroe, doesn't reckon a love of the bush is necessarily true blue.

She reckons to be really true blue these days you've got to love the coast.

“I have lived here on the Coast all my life so to me being a true blue Australian is about being close to the beach,” she said.

“I think the outdoor way of life and the spirit of surf lifesaving is what being truly Australian all is about.”

FIVE hundred United States Navy crew members from the USS Ronald Reagan have descended on the Sunshine Coast and they are expected to inject as much as half a million dollars into the local economy.

The massive 344-metre long aircraft carrier docked in Brisbane on Monday afternoon and some of its 6000 crew have been granted shore leave until it sets sail from Australia on Friday.

Some sailors have it the nightclub strips at the Gold Coast and Brisbane , while others have opted for a more “wholesome” cultural experience here on our Coast.

A group of 65 officers traded their crisp uniform whites for casual civvies as they were put to work painting and planting at the Australian Wildlife Hospital , part of Australia Zoo.

And once the hard work was done, it was time to visit some of the Zoo's most famous residents.

“It was absolutely phenomenal,” parachute rigger Jeffrey De Groot said after getting up close and personal with a koala.

“It's a pleasure to come out and do things like this. I'd rather do something like this than go into town and have a few drinks. The climate and the accent are the big differences, sometimes you are a bit hard to understand.”

The USS Ronald Reagan is expected to leave Brisbane at about 2pm on Friday and will be off the coast of Caloundra by late afternoon.

A GLEAMING set of newly minted coins of Australian fauna and flora was no match for the real thing – Croc Hunter Steve Irwin and his menagerie – in Brisbane yesterday.

Irwin, his khaki-clad wife Terri and daughter Bindi launched the first 15 designs of The Perth Mint's latest collector coin program, Discover Australia .

The three-year, legal tender coin program, Australia 's most significant in more than 25 years, features 45 designs depicting iconic fauna, flora and landmarks.

Irwin described the coins as “a gift to the world”.

The Perth Mint is delighted to announce that Steve Irwin – the Crocodile Hunter – has agreed to officiate at the launch of Discover Australia, its superb new collector coin program.

Now just days away, the launch takes place on 24 January in Brisbane at Rooftop Terrace, Rydges South Bank Hotel.  The Mint is also pleased to announce that as Master of Ceremonies, Catriona Rowntree will be hosting the event.

Ed Harbuz, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Corporation, the operator of The Perth Mint, said the two popular identities were the perfect pair to launch the coin program.  “We are extremely pleased to have these colourful, exciting and unmistakably Australian personalities with us for this important day in Australian numismatics,” he said.

Anticipation surrounding Discover Australia has been building for several months, ever since the Mint revealed that it was developing a replacement collector program for the highly successful and internationally admired Proof Nugget, Kookaburra and Koala coin series.

 Hours of research and many discussions with collectors and dealers lie behind the Discover Australia concept, which portrays iconic Australia landmarks, flora and fauna on pure silver, platinum and gold proof coins.  Each release, subject to an extremely limited mintage, features a stunning reverse design, ensuring it will be recognised as a masterpiece in its own right.

Pre-released interest in Discover Australia intensified in December when the launch of a new website – www.discoveraustralia.org.au – provided more details about the three-year program.  At the same time, the Mint advised its collectors of the exclusive benefits of becoming a Foundation Subscriber for one or more of the spectacular annual or three-year Five-Coin Sets.

Those subscribing prior to 28 February 2006 qualify for free delivery of their coins (within Australia) and will automatically receive Certificates of Authenticity all bearing the same number.  Additionally, they will only have to pay the original issue price for each coin – a massive attraction for many as precious metal prices appear set to rise further.

Certain to become Australia’s most collectable coin program, Discover Australia has already inspired many collectors with its designs depicting important symbols of the nation.  “Like the Mint’s famous guests at the forthcoming launch, the coins constantly remind us of Australia’s stunning environment, unique natural world, and our enviable way of life,” Ed Harbuz said.

VISITORS to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo get up close and personal with the wildlife, especially the adrenalin-pumping crocodiles who bare their awesome teeth at feed time.

For the more sedate, visitors can also watch the playful tigers and catch the thrilling free-flight bird show in this remarkable sanctuary.

During an Australia Zoo adventure, patrons can have their own intimate animal experience such as feeding a giant tortoise, waddling with wombats, cuddling koalas or getting wrapped in a giant python.

They can also feed the beautiful Asian Elephants for free as a special treat.

Catch country star John Williamson performing live at Australia Zoo on Australia Day, January 26.

EVEN for elephants, rebuilding the villages of tsunami-ravaged Banda Aceh is dangerous work.

So dangerous that an Australian support base of "wildlife warriors" was formed to care for the elephants' veterinary needs – including special elephant boots to prevent injury as they helped to clear some of the horrific damage.

The Wildlife Warriors were initiated by Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast and supported by local businesses and individuals.

Using conveyer-belt rubber from a Buderim business, the team made and supplied the boots for the domesticated forestry work elephants to wear as they dragged bodies from the mud and debris and cleared paths through the hazardous rubble. Zoo staffer Trevor Neucom made a prototype for a local animal with a sore foot, then adapted it in different sizes for the tsunami team. Mr Neucom said the boots were attached to the elephants' ankles with a D-link chain.

Wildlife Warriors Worldwide Ltd yesterday recognised their local supporters against the fitting backdrop of Australia Zoo's own Asiatic elephants Sabu , Siam and Bimbo.

WWW Executive Manager Michael Hornby said while the world gave millions for the people devastated by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, modern technology had proved ineffective in the clean-up.

Australia Zoo Senior Veterinarian Jon Hanger said the Wildlife Warriors administered humanitarian aid and helped the elephants and other tsunami-affected wildlife.

IT doesn't get more true blue and dinky di than celebrating the most Aussie day of the year with two of our biggest bonza blokes: songsmith John Williamson and the Crocodile Hunter himself Steve Irwin at Australia Zoo!

On Thursday why not leave the bat, ball and beer at home, and head for the Crocoseum to check out John Williamson, performing live.

It's a coming together of two Australian icons, in a backyard full of drop-dead gorgeous Australian wildlife.

John said he was thrilled to be headed back to the Crocoseum after a successful Australia Day last year.

“Steve and I get on really well, we both feel very strongly about conservation and I really admire what Steve is doing for Australia ,” John said.

“And Australia Zoo is a great place to spend Australia Day, surrounded by so many of our most amazing creatures both native and not.”

John, whose favourite Aussie phrase is “fair dinkum” and favourite Aussie animals are the big Red Kangaroo and Wedge-tailed Eagle, said fans could expect a very Aussie show.

“It'll be me and Warren Williams, an Aboriginal man, at the Zoo performing all your favourite songs, plus some newer ones from my new album Chandelier of Stars,” he said. “It doesn't get much more Aussie than that.”

So round up the family, your friends and neighbours and head for the Crocoseum where you can sing along to Old Man Emu, Rip Rip Woodchip, Mallee Boy, Raining On The Rock, Waltzing Matilda, I'm Fair Dinkum and old favourite True Blue, then stay seated to check out another Aussie star when the Saltwater Crocodiles enter the Crocoseum.

Together with John's concert, there will be lamingtons, billy tea and damper, and lots of games to play. Go mad on the green and gold and get your face painted in the colours of our nation and celebrate all things Aussie at Australia Zoo this Australia Day!

It doesn't get more Australian than Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo – until you throw True Blue singer John Williamson in with the crocs as well. Elizabeth Innes reports.

“Hey true blue, is it me and you? Is it mum and dad? Is it a cockatoo?”

Whatever else there is, there's no question that John Williamson playing a concert at Australia Zoo this Australia Day is as true blue as you could hope to find. Yes, the man who's brought us Rip Rip Woodchip, Old Man Emu, Mallee Boy and Cootamunda Wattle is coming to the Coast to play his all-Australian tunes in Steve Irwin's backyard.

Two national icons are coming together to make it an unforgettable Australia Day right here on the Coast with Australia 's most amazing creatures as their backdrop. You can try to hold back the goosebumps but when you hear True Blue live from the man himself on Australia Day, it will be all but impossible.

After his performance, John will hand over to Australia Zoo's amazing residents and let the wildlife do the entertaining. Visitors will enjoy the SnakesLIVE show, TigersLIVE, the free-flight BirdsLIVE show and, at midday, it'll be Croc O'clock.

Australia Zoo will be awash with green and gold as all the kids, big and little, get their faces painted in Australia 's sporting colours. Lamingtons, billy tea and traditional damper will be the order of the day with heaps of games and prizes to add to all the fun. In the true blue Aussie spirit, you can enjoy all this extra fun for the standard prize of admission.

Australia Zoo, Glasshouse Mountains Tourist Drive , Beerwah. Phone 5436 2000. www.crocodilehunter.com . On Australia Day, Thursday 26 January John Williamson will perform at 10.30am in Australia Zoo's Crocoseum.

CROCODILE Hunter Steve Irwin has been injured while training for crocodile wrestling.

Irwin was limping and sporting a knee brace on his left leg while performing in Los Angeles yesterday for Australia Week.

Irwin told the American crowd he'd like to say he injured himself while fighting white sharks, but the truth was he'd torn some knee ligaments while in wrestling training.

“I was training and I had my bodyguard on the ground, he had me in a leg lock and so I leant back to hit him and I twisted one way and as he put the leg lock on and twisted the other way – he pulled it straight out… it really hurt,” Irwin said.

Irwin said he wrestled every day to keep fit for his work with crocodiles and the other animals he came across in his wildlife series.

He told yesterday's audience at Los Angeles UCLA university that his seven-year-old daughter Bindi was following him into world wildlife television after signing to host a regular Discovery Kids show on Australian animals.

Australia Week showcases Australian industry in the US and relies heavily on celebrities to promote their home country. This year's gala dinner featured the reunion of Grease stars Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.

CROCODILE hunter Steve Irwin has been injured while training for crocodile wrestling.

Irwin was limping and sporting a knee brace on his left leg while performing in Los Angeles yesterday for Australia Week.

Irwin told the American crowd he'd like to say he injured himself while fighting white sharks but the truth was he'd torn some knee ligaments while in wrestling training.

Also in Los Angeles , Hollywood 's A-list came out to watch a slice of Australian life in the heart of Tinseltown.

John Travolta, Hugh Jackman and Olivia Newton-John were among a crowd who ate pies, drank beer and watched a footy game between the Sydney Swans and the Kangaroos.

The match was the highlight of the Australia Week celebration G'Day LA.

THERE wasn't a water pistol in sight as Australia's Tinseltown elite, led by Hugh Jackman, Olivia Newton-John and Eric Bana, strode the red carpet at the G'day LA Penfolds Icon Gala Dinner.

A few honorary Australians such as John Travolta and his actress wife Kelly Preston also partied with 1380 others, who paid $US200 ($267) each for a three-course dinner by Sydney celebrity Neil Perry.

Last year's Penfold Ball was a 1200 seat sell-out, and next year it will be expanded to New York .

“It's always good to be at an Aussie event,” said Travolta, who once a year flies his family on his Qantas 707 with a stop in Australia .

But the superb Aussie lamb and seafood was not the only item the celebrities were talking about.

INXS told how they gave their new lead singer J.D. Fortune, a Canadian, a Vegemite initiation.

“You dip the prawns in Vegemite. It's delicious,” guitarist Tim Farriss laughed.

Some Aussie A-listers were not at this year's ball, including lovebirds Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, who politely declined invitations.

Kidman and Urban met at last year's ball and are now reportedly engaged and pregnant, although there has been no official confirmation of either.

Heather Ledger and Michelle Williams also did not make the gala, but there was plenty of talk on the red carpet about how rogue paparazzi sprayed the two Brokeback Mountain actors with water pistols at the film's Sydney premiere.

Jackman believes one of his old buddies was behind the incident.

“It was actually Eric Bana,” Jackman whispered.

It is the third time the Penfolds Ball has been held in Hollywood as part of the Australia Week festival, which promotes Australian tourism, business, film, fashion, food and wine.

This year Newton-John was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by her Grease co-star Travolta.

Other celebrities to walk the red carpet included Melissa George, Kimberley Joseph, Sophie Monk, Jesse Spencer, US soap star Lorenzo Lamas, Sara Wynter and Steve Irwin.

Some non-Hollywood types, including Rupert Murdoch, federal treasurer Peter Costello, former deputy leader Tim Fischer and astronaut Andy Thomas also attended.

The G'day LA festival continues tomorrow with an AFL match between the Sydney Swans and Kangaroos.

THE guest list was a who's who of Aussies who've made it in the US .

Hugh Jackman, Olivia Newton John and rock group INXS were last night honoured at an Australian Government dinner in Los Angeles .

Everyone from actors Eric Bana, Melissa George, Jesse Spencer and Kimberley Joseph through to crocodile hunter Steve Irwin and astronaut Andy Thomas were there to give them a big Aussie thumbs up.

Newly married Sarah Wynter turned up looking decidedly pregnant, bringing her equally gorgeous sister Rainie as her date.

John Travolta popped up, presumably because he owns a flying kangaroo and somewhere among all the glitz and glam our operative found Treasurer Peter Costello and former Deputy PM Tim Fischer.

The most notable no-shows were Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, whose love affair grew after meeting at the same event last year when both were honoured with awards.

Jackman, who received his award from mate Bana, was thrilled.

"I'm a little bit humbled and I'm thrilled. Australia will always be our home," Jackman said.

Newton John was presented with a lifetime achievement award by her old Grease buddy Travolta.

"We've always been there for each other through thick and thin no matter what," Travolta said.

A clearly delighted Newton John said she couldn't believe she was being honoured.

"I have a very special place for Australia . Australia is my heart's home," she said.

By Trent Dalton

Terri Irwin has been fighting for the cause of wildlife ever since she was a young girl. From looking after injured animals that her Dad would bring home from the highways, to picketing in court houses for the cause of cougars, caring for wildlife has always been her utmost priority.

Born in Eugene , Oregon , Terri Raines was the youngest of three girls. With a significant age gap between her and her sisters, Terri was left to her own devices on holidays, dividing her time between working alongside her father in his construction firm to running her backyard businesses.

Every summer Terri would set up her lemonade stand. But this was a lemonade stand with a twist, normally the seller would pick the lemons, make the lemonade and sell the lemonade for $1 on the street corner. No, this budding entrepreneur was too smart for that. Terri would organise people to pick the lemons, make the lemonade for her, and then she would sell the lemonade at a profit.

“I would always sell everything as a kid – I've always been a capitalist, unabashed capitalist, and I always tell Steve that if you want to save the world, then you have to charge more then $6 admission,” says Terri in her broad American accent.

In between Terri selling lemonade, mowing lawns and washing cars, the determined ten-year-old saved enough to buy a horse, bridle, saddle and a tone of hay.

Sitting in the board room at Beerwah's Australia Zoo, Terri recalls her childhood pony. The tale sparks her memory; she quickly ducks out of the room.

Returning in a matter of moments, Terri plonks an old wooden plaque on the table. It has four rusty horse shoes nailed to it, the name Terri Raines written down the bottom, and in the middle a black and white photo of a young girl with her trade mark fringe sitting on a pony.

Terri's eyes sparkle as she remembers the story behind the plaque.

“My mom made it for me, when I was just a little kid and these people cleaned their barn out and sent it to me,” says Terri. “And there I am, ten on my horse, they mailed this to me and wrote ‘thought you may like this ‘– isn't that great!”

Terri has an uncanny knack of grabbing people's attention when she speaks, whether she is addressing thousands of tourists in the Crocoseum at the Zoo or pitching to potential investors in the United States . It's the intensity of her voice - its energy, vibrancy and lilting American accent - that engrosses the listener.

This talent was harvested at a young age, when her mother taught the scriptures. Terri would enter public speaking competitions in churches throughout the state, where she would memories ten Bible verses and recite them to a panel of judges.

“I learnt that you had to deliver it with meaning and if you did that then you would win,” says Terri. “You would learn how to talk to people and that was a huge tremendous blessing.”

At twenty, Terri brought the family's construction firm and she traded partying and dating boys for learning the finer details of running a business. She clearly has a head for things once deemed “men's work”.

“I am one of the few women that can read a map and remember the first time I changed a tyre in front of Steve. I just jumped out and went to change the tyre and he was standing there, and I thought, I must have been doing it wrong, and I go ‘what?' and he says ‘you're the first chick I've ever seen change a tyre'. It was funny, it was really cute,” chuckles Terri.

Driven by a desire to save native wildlife, at twenty-two Terri establishment Cougar Country, a rehabilitation center for native animals, while still running the family business and working as a veterinary.

Terri emphasis that there are three essential approaches to conservation: habitat protection, species protection and caring for the individual animal.

“With Cougar Country I wasn't making the kind of money that I could make a contribution that would make a substantial difference to habitat or endangered species breeding program, but I could make a difference to the individual animal,” says Terri.

With these principles in place, word began to spread and Terri was traveling across the country rescuing baboons in Pennsylvania and saving cougars form the pet trade. The rehabilitation center was treating up to 300 animals a year.

“I remember I could budget $100 a month in groceries- I was thin back then – and if I had a choice I would sit down at the end of the day with $5 and I could either feed myself or my cougar – I would feed my cougar,” says Terri.

Strong parallels can be drawn between the previous Cougar Country and the existing Australia wildlife hospital, a non-profit organization aimed at rehabilitating native wildlife.

Both Steve and Terri's undying passion and commitment to conservation led to the establishment of the hospital to rescue and rehabilitate native wildlife in the south east region. The hospital has already treated up to 5000 animals since its opening in March 2004.

They have also purchased 34,800ha of land. This are is divided up between 101ha in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, 1396ha at Iron Bark Station and 33,588ha at West Bore in the southwest region of Queensland . Steve and Terri have purchased this land in a bid to protect koala habitats and safeguard against land clearing.

It's amazing to think that this formidable partnership may never have existed if Terri hadn't known the dating game so well. She followed the universal rule amongst all women – never ring first.

After meeting the knock-about Australian block – who was 29, still living with his parents and sporting a pair of tight King Gee shorts at a croc demonstration, Terri decided to revisit the zoo over the weekend. Typical Australian hospitality prevailed and Terri was put to work mowing lawns, raking at the zoo and cleaning out the enclosures.

“We just totally hit it off; we had so much in common with the wildlife work, our passion and our goals, we had this great weekend and he put me up at the Glasshouse Mountains Motel. He was very chivalrous,” says Terri.

Exchanging numbers, Terri returned to Eugene , Oregon where she resumed her busy working life. A month passed and Terri still hadn't heard from the larrikin Australian.

“I never called him, and a month later he called, and this Australian voice came over the phone ‘G'day – I just want to let you know I can't stand it. I'm coming over in November – I will be there in two weeks and I am staying for 10 days', “says Terri.

Leaning across the table and looking me straight in the eyes, Terri says with a hushed voice: “I am telling you – don't call, no matter what, don't call – it worked brilliantly.”

Since that fateful phone call more than thirty years ago, Terri the exceptional businesswoman that she is has played an instrumental role in developing Australia Zoo as an award winning tourist destination and building Steve Irwin into an internationally recognized personality.

The crocodile Hunter phenomenon all started with Terri visiting her parents in the United States and tying in an appointment in Washington DC to meet with a woman called Maureen at The Discovery Channel.

“I took the tape in and said “This has done really well in Australia ', and I said “Here is the show',” says Terri. “Maureen said ‘here is the problem, wildlife documentaries are 80% animals and 20% presenters. So you see David Attenborough, it's the lifecycle and it's only got David through bits of it, and it's fantastic and I'm a total David Attenborough fan, but its mostly of the animals'.

“And she said, ‘this is not documentary style, it's 80 per cent Steve in it, and 20 per cent just animals. It will never work'.”

Fortunately, Terri was granted a second meeting with a panel of executives from Discovery. Terri laughs as she remembers being scared to death, with nothing to wear except an eighties power suit with bad shoulder pads.

“I told them ‘I know what everyone says, but if you just try it, it will be phenomenal, I kid you not… what is so appealing to Australians will be twice as appealing to Americans, because we don't have all this stuff'.”

She returned home to Australia without knowing whether she had been successful or not. Terri and Steve found out a few days later that Steve was to be launched on a relatively new channel called Animal Planet.

And the Crocodile Hunter was born.

Speaking with Terri is a delight – she is so animated and vigorous, sporadically jumping out of her chair to tell stories of her adventures with Steve, catching fierce snakes in Central Queensland and jumping crocs in the Northern Territory .

She speaks with passion, enthusiasm and energy for the things that matter most in her life – the protection of wildlife on all levels, her home, Australia Zoo, her children Bindi and Robert and of course, Steve.

When asked what the future holds for the young Irwin family, Terri responds with a smooth sense of confidence: “It's entirely up to how destiny steers us.”