$1m plus pension for Bob Irwin

From SMH online: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/1m-plus-pension-for-bob-irwin/2008/04/10/1207420560520.html

$1m plus pension for Bob Irwin


April 10, 2008 - 2:12PM

Bob Irwin, the founder of Australia Zoo and father of late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin will receive an annual pension of nearly $100,000 plus a $1 million package, after splitting from the popular tourist attraction.

Mr Irwin, 68, recently ended his role with Australia Zoo, which he founded on Queensland's Sunshine Coast 36 years ago, and which his son made into an international drawcard before his death in 2006.

Mr Irwin and his wife, Judy, plan to continue their conservation work on a property near Kingaroy, north of Brisbane.

In his first interview since the split, Mr Irwin told the ABC's Australian Story program this week he had become a disruptive influence at the zoo.

However, there has been speculation he was upset with the career of his granddaughter, nine-year-old Bindi, and the commercial direction of the zoo.

Steve's widow Terri plans to turn it into an international tourist mecca comparable to Disneyland.

In a statement released today, Australia Zoo said Mr Irwin would receive a retirement package worth more than $1 million and a pension.

"Australia Zoo, under instruction from Terri Irwin, will continue to provide financial assistance to Bob with a retirement package worth over $1 million, plus an ongoing annual pension of $99,840 per year," the statement said.

The $1 million package includes the purchase of Mr Irwin's 632-hectare property near Kingaroy, and the construction of a new home, a car each for him and his wife plus a bulldozer and other equipment.

The retirement package was agreed in January, the zoo said.

Steve and Terri Irwin were unable to afford the $300,000 Mr Irwin and his first wife, Lyn, offered them for ownership of the zoo in 1992, and so an agreement was reached to pay the two a wage for the remainder of their lives.

I'm on his side.

(Those damn Americans)

caimanhunter wrote:

I'm on his side.

(Those damn Americans)

LOL! I think greed is what its called, I know I shouldnt be saying it, but Im really glad Steve is not around to see his conservation efforts go the commercial route.

I couldn't of put it any finer Bogga.

I don't think she could have gotten away with it while Steve was alive. He was all for making cash, but in the interest of conservation. It wasn't until after he died that she started bumping heads with Pops and going that commercialism over conservationism route.

Yep that's right Bam, think it's so sad too.

shes turned out to be a big disappointment

Hasn't she just! It's a damn shame.

Reptile Rescue Den wrote:

Hasn't she just! It's a damn shame.

To have (or be able to use) just a portion of that money on my little operation...................

I know exactly what you mean there love.