Yeah, I’m a thrill seeker, but crikey, education’s the most important thing.

The line juxtaposes Irwin’s public persona—an adrenaline-driven wildlife presenter—with a clear statement of values: education matters more than spectacle. Read as a defense of his high-energy style, it suggests that risk-taking and showmanship were, in his view, in service of teaching: getting audiences close enough (emotionally and visually) to care about animals, habitats, and conservation. The colloquial “crikey” reinforces authenticity and the Australian voice that made him relatable, while the pivot to “the most important thing” frames learning as the ethical core beneath the thrills.