Left image via craighill.net / right image via @charlesrockhill / Twitter / article image via Justin Sullivan/Getty Images //

It’s been 16 years since the beloved croc hunter was taken from us…

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, calls to give the $5 note a makeover have been growing, and Aussie icon Steve Irwin has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the replacement. Fans of the animal whisperer have gone so far as having started a petition to get the ball rolling, with almost 1400 people having already having jumped on board.

It might sound a bit far fetched for Irwin to land on the note, but according to the Reserve Bank of Australia, “banknotes offer an opportunity to honour Australians who have made important contributions to the nation”, and no one is going to argue that he didn’t do just that in his 44 years.

It’s a point that the petition doubles down on, with the description reading, “There is no one more vital to Australian culture and identity than Steve Irwin. Steve is beloved by all and has become synonymous with the Australian values we hold so dearly. He epitomised the spirit of mateship; he deeply loved Australian wildlife, worked hard towards conservation and education, but perhaps most importantly he’s just a good bloke.”

Unfortunately, it appears the newly crowned King Charles is set to replace his mother on the note, but just going off the recent petition, it appears that the Aussie public is ready for a homegrown hero to take the reigns, as opposed to another member of the Royal Family. Be sure to sign the petition here, and revisit some of Irwin’s greatest moments below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvDi_O8fgCY