Thousands Gather To Say Farewell To 'Crocodile Hunter'

[seafan]

Thousands Gather To Say Farewell To 'Crocodile Hunter'

6:29 am PDT September 20, 2006

BEERWAH, Australia -- Friends and fans, including Hollywood stars and Australia's prime minister, said farewell to "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin on Wednesday at a memorial service that veered from poignant tributes to belly laughs.
Irwin's 8-year-old daughter, Bindi, hailed him "my hero." His father, Bob, asked people to end their grieving. And fans were invited to laugh at his television antics one more time.

snip

Irwin, 44, died Sept. 4 when a stringray's barb pierced his chest while he filmed a TV show on the Great Barrier Reef. His family held a private funeral service for him Sept. 9 at the family-owned park, Australia Zoo.
As expected, there was one empty seat at Steve Irwin's personal stadium - symbolically set aside for the late conservationist himself. On the stage sat Irwin's widow, Terri, and their two children, Bindi, and Bob, 2 - all dressed in Irwin's favorite khaki. It was their first public appearance since Irwin's death.

"Please do not grieve for Steve, he's at peace now," Bob Irwin said. "Grieve for the animals. They have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I."
Bindi told the crowd at the ceremony that "my Daddy was my hero."
"He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things. But most of all he was fun," she said.

snip

At the end of the ceremony, Irwin's utility vehicle, packed with camping gear and his favorite surfboard, was driven from the stadium - through an honor guard of Australia Zoo employees.
After the truck left the stadium, a group of employees spelled out Irwin's catchword "Crikey" in yellow flowers on the ground.

As part of the public memorial titled "He Changed Our World," actress Cameron Diaz said in a video presentation that Irwin was incredibly popular in the United States.
"America just flipped for him," said Diaz. "Every kid was in love with the idea of being him."
Actor Kevin Costner said in the video that Irwin was "fearless ... He let us see who he was. That is being brave in today's society."

snip

Rest in peace, Steve Irwin.

You were loved.

[Subdivisions]

1. I saw Bindi's tribute to her father earlier on the

Sydney Herald site. It brought me to tears.

Rest well, Steve-O!

[upi402]

2. media distraction

[SledDriver]

5. From what?

Tom Cruise's baby's pictures in Vanity Fair as a top news story is a media distraction.
Anna Nicole Smith's son dying as a top news story is a media distraction.

This was a one hour broadcast on Animal Planet. Not much in the way of current political events being preempted there...

[upi402]

6. it's on the news a lot i hear

maybe i'm wrong

[SledDriver]

10. Maybe you should watch an episode or two.

Maybe you'll learn something.

[upi402]

20. You're right, I know I would

Perhaps there's a dynamic that you could be a little more acutely aware of as well. The media uses this type of thing all the time to distract from urgent issues that actually affect the very lives of people.
:pals:

[Cerridwen]

8. Then don't be distracted.

Why make 3 posts about being distracted rather than ignoring the distraction and return to solving the world's problems?

Why contribute to the distraction?


edit to add: and don't forget to click the little "hide thread" thingy to further aid you in your focus.

[SledDriver]

3. I watched it. Very moving.

RIP Steve-o. Good on ya', mate!

[upi402]

7. many more tragic deaths every hour

media hype got ya?

[SledDriver]

9. I've been a fan since the beginning...

unlike some people who post insensitive comments on a topic they have little if any knowledge of at all. You know the kind, don't you?

[Subdivisions]

12. Look! Needless death is not lost on the members of this board!

If you want to start a thread about something else, then do so. This thread is about Steve Irwin.

[upi402]

19. I was commenting on the topic and you don't like the comment

sorry you want me to not comment

he was on tv and white

you relate to that

no problem, he was a great guy and I really felt for him and especially his kids

he was a devoted dad

many many were, but were non-white and silent and powerless

that's what i'm saying and you will not shut me up

:hi:

[zalinda]

4. Why is it the good die young and

we're stuck with the fossils in the Bush cabal?

zalinda

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. The bu$h cabal are just too mean and evil to die.

[ms liberty]

11. Poor Terry - she looks awful, just devastated and no wonder...

Of course I feel bad for the kids, and I know it's got to be hard for them. But Terry and Bob are the ones who really understand. His dad's lost his best friend, and Terry's lost her best friend and partner. I can only imagine how hard this must be for them.

Thanks for posting this story. I didn't see the memorial on Animal Planet and was curious how it went.

May all the Gods and Goddesses bless them with the healing and comfort they need now, and watch over them in the future.

Thank you Steve. We will all miss you.

[wicket]

14. Amen

:hug:

[Dulcinea]

15. They're the ones I feel for.

Steve Irwin is at peace. The survivors are the ones who must go on.

Bindi looks just like her dad, doesn't she?

My 6-year-old neighbor is just devastated....he watched "Crocodile Hunter" every day & wants to be just like Steve Irwin when he grows up.

[CatWoman]

17. I watched some of it last night

and bawled like a baby.

[earth mom]

16. Seeing Terry so heartbroken holding her kids so close just

breaks my heart. We've lost a great one-no doubt about it. :cry:

FYI-I found this forum over at Animal Planet for anyone who wants to post a tribute to Steve:
http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/1401993295

[Elwood P Dowd]

18. Bindi's speech

"My Daddy was my hero - he was always there for me when I needed him.

"He listened to me and taught me so many things but most of all he was fun.

"I know that daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did.

"He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.

"He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.

"I don't want daddy's passion to ever end.

"I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.

"I have the best daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day.
"When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals.

"Daddy made this place his whole life and now it's our turn to help daddy."

[seafan]

21. Pix from the memorial service

"I have the best daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day," said Irwin's eight-year-old daughter Bindi. "When I see a crocodile, I will always think of him."


Aboriginal performers made a traditional call in honour of Irwin, and said: "We and our land are crying for you".


Zoo keepers brought animals along to watch the service, which was held at Irwin's Crocoseum stadium in Queensland.



Irwin was dubbed "the Crocodile Hunter", so it was only fitting that some of the zoo's reptiles turned out for the memorial, much to the consternation of the koalas.



Zoo workers staged a guard of honour around Irwin's truck, which was loaded with the naturalist's personal belongings, including his "swag" (bed roll).



Australian musician John Williamson sang Irwin's favourite song, True Blue, as part of the service.


All photos from BBC