THE AUSTRALIAN (Sydney) 17 September 06 Millions to watch farewell (Lou Robson)
Millions around the world are expected to bid a tearful farewell to Steve Irwin when they tune in to Wednesday's memorial service at his beloved Australia Zoo.
Irwin's widow Terri and eight-year-old daughter Bindi are understood to be preparing to address the service at the zoo's Crocoseum amphitheatre at Beerwah on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
However, organisers of the service yesterday said that they would know only on the day if the Crocodile Hunter's grieving family would be "up to" speaking.
Starting at 9am, the service will be televised around Australia by the three commercial networks, as well as ABC TV. Local ABC Radio will also broadcast the service which is expected to last about an hour.
The live TV coverage is being fed to associated networks throughout the world, including America, Asia and the UK. Animal Planet will televise the service on its international channel.
In other preparations for the massive public farewell for the renowned conservationist:
Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Peter Beattie have accepted invitations to attend.
The Queensland Education Department has given the go-ahead for 488,000 students in more than 1270 schools to watch, or listen, to the service.
Brisbane City Council bus drivers will wear khaki uniforms for the day.
Aussie singing icon John Williamson will sing up to three tribute songs at the service.
Irwin, 44, who was killed by a stingray barb while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef almost a fortnight ago, was buried in a private funeral at Australia Zoo last weekend.
Crocodile Hunter fans desperate to pay their respects to Irwin queued for up to 25 hours to get their hands on some of the 3000 free tickets offered to the public for the service.
People even camped overnight at Australia Zoo, but the ticket supply ran out in 15 minutes, leaving some ticketless and in tears.
Mr Howard and Mr Beattie are among a handful of VIPs attending the service.
Both gladly accepted an invitation but Irwin's close friend and business manager John Stainton said the farewell would not be a "celebrity deal".
"All of Steve's family as well as the public, a lot of friends and all Australia Zoo staff will be there - that will make up the bulk of it," he said.
Apart from the 5500 people expected to fill the Crocoseum, thousands more are likely to cram into the zoo's car park to watch a big-screen simulcast.
Irwin's friend and best-selling country singer John Williamson confirmed he would perform his hit True Blue, and possibly A Bushman Can't Survive On City Lights and Old Man Emu.
Williamson told The Sunday Mail that while his songs would be heard by millions, they would be performed especially for Terri, Bindi and two-year-old Bob Irwin. "I'll be singing for them. I understand there will be millions of viewers around Australia and the world but my words will be for the family," Williamson said.
The singer admitted it would be hard to hold back tears but vowed to do his best to farewell "a true Australian legend".
"I met Steve for the first time on Australia Day a few years ago and it was like a mutual admiration society," Williamson said.
"I loved everything he was doing and apparently he had a few of my CDs in his collection. We hit it off."
Brisbane City Council bus drivers are preparing to wear khaki uniforms on Wednesday.
Transport committee chairwoman Victoria Newton said: "Council was more than happy to support the drivers' desire to show their respect to Steve Irwin.
"This is a small, yet public gesture that shows council's acknowledgment of this great Australian and Queenslander."
An Education Queensland spokesman said that it would be up to individual schools, in consultation with their school community, to make the decision whether students were able to watch the memorial service on television.
"The department recognises the significant influence Steve Irwin had on thousands of Queensland school children," the spokesman said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20425613-5006786,00.html
DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS (India) 17 September 06 Kerala's croc centre to be named after Steve Irwin
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The state-run crocodile breeding centre in Kerala will be named after the legendary Australian crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin, who recently met with a tragic end in a sting ray attack.
According to Kerala Forest Minister Benoy Viswam, the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Neyyar would be dedicated to the memory of Irwin, who had made valuable contribution for wildlife conservation.
The government had also drawn up a plan to renovate the Centre by bringing in better facilities, Viswam said. The announcement on dedicating the facility to Irwin would be made during the Wildlife Week celebrations next month, he added.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1053619
