Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Steve Irwin - Memorial

from ABC today:
The memorial included tributes from international celebrities, family friends and colleagues, as thousands attended the hour-long public memorial. The crowd rose to their feet as John Williamson performed his trademark tune, 'True Blue', while Australia Zoo staff spelt out the Irwin's catchcry, "Crikey", in flowers.

Hero
Bindi delivered the most heartfelt message of the memorial, describing her father as the best in the world."My daddy was my hero. He was always there for me when I needed him," she said. "He listened to me and he 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 that everybody would love wildlife like he did." She vowed to carry on his legacy.

The tributes flowed from around the world from a list of celebrities, including Hugh Jackman. "Steve's not here with us in body, but in spirit he'll always be here," he said.

Kevin Costner said: "I think where he was most fearless was he let us see who he was."
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I watched it on TV from 9 a.m. till 10 a.m. a Memorial planned for television with numerous film segments of Steve Irwin, as large as life, as energetic and exuberant as ever, and some great Australian songs. Lots of irony too, as the poor guy had died but there was no real sense that an awful thing had happened. His charming little daughter spoke so fluently, now that was amazing.

I did not like the CRIKEY written in yellow flowers - that was .. well, a bit off because Crikey is a euphemism for a religious figure!

The finale though was moving - with a guy packing up the ute with Steve's camping equipment and driving the ute out of the amphitheatre. I always reckon that the most moving part of a funeral is when the coffin is lifted up by sons and brothers and friends. Now, there was no coffin here as the family had completed that ritual a week ago. But the ute moving out slowly with many guys in khaki bush clothes as a guard of honour, well that was very fine.
W.

3 Comments:

Blogger Um Naief said...

i saw something on tv lastnight where his little girl was reading something to him. it was terribly touching.. but i only caught the tail end. i really liked this guy.

11:20 PM  
Blogger Peceli and Wendy's Blog said...

That would be his daughter. She read in an amazing confident manner, lovely script, perfectly read. But it's if the death didn't happen.
But apparently the crowd of 5000 were touched - and they say that 200 million people saw the Memorial Service on TV. That's a lot for a zoo-keeper!
W.

11:40 PM  
Blogger The Moody Minstrel said...

He's a zoo keeper who made no secret of both his great love for and respect of nature and his intense Ozziness. That made him an icon all over the world and a source of pride to the Land Down Under.

(STILL upset I had to cancel my visit to the Australia Zoo while I was in the area...)

8:29 AM  

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