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 Entertainment | September 2006 
"Crocoseum" Farewell for Croc Hunter Irwin
 Paul Tait - Newswire
| | A Spotted Reef Stingrey (Taeniura Lymma). An Australian government minister has urged grief-stricken fans of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin not to hunt down stingrays in a misguided attempt to avenge his death. (AFP/Tarik Tinazay) |
Thousands of Australians will be able to farewell "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin at a public memorial to be held at the "Crocoseum" in his beloved Australia Zoo, the TV naturalist's wife said on Wednesday.
"I cannot see how a memorial service would work in any place other than the Crocoseum which he built here at the zoo and of which he was so proud," U.S.-born Terri Irwin said in a statement, her first public comments since his death on Sept 4.
Irwin, whose "Crocodile Hunter" documentaries were watched by more than 200 million people around the world, died when the serrated barb from the tail of a normally placid stingray pierced his heart while he was diving off northeast Australia.
His death prompted an extraordinary outpouring of grief in Australia and around the world, with Internet sites clogged as fans sought news about the man they had watched wrestle some of the world's most dangerous animals.
Terri Irwin thanked them for their "overwhelming outpouring of love."
The memorial next Wednesday will be broadcast live around Australia, as well as in the United States and throughout Asia.
Tickets will be available for 5,500 people, with those wanting to attend the memorial service asked to make a donation to Irwin's Wildlife Warriors conservation fund, Terri Irwin said.
Large screens will be set up in Brisbane and near Irwin's Zoo on the Sunshine Coast in tropical Queensland state so that those unable to get places in the zoo can watch.
Irwin's family and friends held a private funeral service, which included stories told around, a campfire at the zoo last weekend.
Close friends had said a Brisbane football stadium was being considered as a possible venue for the public memorial but Terri Irwin said the zoo was the only suitable place.
The "Crocoseum" arena is the centerpiece of the Australia Zoo, where Irwin fed live crocodiles in pools surrounded by snakes, birds and the other native Australian wildlife.
Australia was rocked by the loss of two of its dearest icons last week. Renowned racing driver Peter Brock was killed in a race accident near Perth on Friday, further plunging the nation into grief.
Irwin's family, which turned down the offer of a state funeral, chose next Wednesday for the service so that it would not clash with Brock's state funeral on Tuesday.
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin Killed by Stingray
thatsweird.net
There was worldwide shock last week over the death of Australian naturalist and wildlife filmmaker Steve Irwin.
The man known as the 'Crocodile Hunter' died after his chest was punctured by a stingray barb while diving off Australia's northeast coast.
Leading the tributes from around the world was Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who said he was shocked and distressed at the death.
"Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son. He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people, particularly to children, and it's such a terrible loss," said the Prime Minister.
The 44-year-old colourful personality was filming a documentary about the Great Barrier Reef when tragedy struck.
According to friend and colleague John Stainton Irwin swam too close to the ray while he was diving off his boat Croc One near Batt Reef, northeast of Port Douglas.
"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," Mr Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time, told news media.
Mr Irwin won a global television following for his dare-devil antics which saw him go face-to-face with deadly creatures such as crocodiles and poisonous snakes on camera.
He was known for uttering the word "Crikey" when confronted with a particularly deadly animal.
His showmanship and fearless approach help bring wildlife to a younger audience.
But he also triggered outrage and criticism in 2004 when he held up his then one-month-old baby while feeding a snapping crocodile at his Australian zoo.
He is survived by his American wife Terri, their daughter Bindi Sue, eight, and two-year-old son Bob. |
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