Crickey! Sylvania Township girl's video wins Australia trip to see Bindi

Jordan Baugh, who wants to be a zookeeper when she grows up, is eager to see koalas and crocodiles in Australia.

A St. Joseph second-grader's video production has won her a trip for four to Australia.

Sylvania Township resident Jordan Baugh, 7, and her mother, Ellen, produced a two-minute film for the Australia Zoo's Dreams Come True at the Australia Zoo - FREE Trip video contest.

The film Jordan and Flat Steve Dreams won the grand prize, including round-trip airfare and a ticket to the 10th birthday party of Bindi Irwin, the Emmy-winning star of the Discovery Kids' show Bindi The Jungle Girl and daughter of late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. The Australian TV show host died in September, 2006, from a stingray barb that pierced his chest.

The party is next Thursday in the zoo's Animal Planet Crocoseum.

Jordan's video follows her on a dream sequence as she attempts to reach the Australia Zoo by horseback, firetruck, motorcycle, semitruck, and by mail - in an oversized package. The video ends when she awakes dressed in Irwin-esque attire and exclaims, "Crickey! How did I get into these khakis?"

The video took about three hours to create, thanks to Mrs. Baugh's background at WTVG Channel 13.

"I used to be an on-air personality, so I think she might get some of that [talent] from me," Mrs. Baugh said.

Jordan's video was selected out of 150 entries. It will be aired to a crowd of about 6,000 people at Bindi's birthday party in the Crocoseum.

The grand prize is valued at about $10,000, according to officials from the Australia Zoo.

For a birthday present, Jordan and Mrs. Baugh plan to present Bindi with an oversized check for about $2,000 to support Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization founded by Steve and Terri Irwin.

Jordan and Mrs. Baugh mounted a donation drive, seeking support from local businesses and veterinarians to raise the money.

Jordan and her mother are devoted wildlife conservationists. Mrs. Baugh leads the wildlife conservation club "Backyard Greenies" at Ohio Virtual Academy, where she is a teacher. The family subscribes to the Australia Zoo magazine.

Jordan wants to be a zookeeper when she grows up.

They are planning a whale-watching excursion and visits to the Great Barrier Reef and a koala refuge.

"We're very excited," Mrs. Baugh said. "We have a passion for wildlife and we can share that."

Jordan, her mother, brother, and a family friend will depart Sunday, returning Aug. 1.

Jordan said she is excited to see koalas, crocodiles, and dolphins. She's also looking forward to meeting Bindi.

"I love her," she said.

Contact Angie Schmitt at:

aschmitt@theblade.com

or 419-724-6104.