MX
Irwin's True Blue all too much
By Inga Gilchrist
Steve Irwin's father Bob said he held his emotions in check
until John Williamson sung True Blue at today's memorial service for his son.
Bob Irwin said Williamson's song, which he modified to
include references to his son and Australia Zoo, was Steve's favourite.
``I was coping fairly well until John sang that song and
then I fell apart,'' he said after the service.
``If our roles had been reversed Steve would have fallen
apart as well because he really loved that song.''
Steve Irwin's folksy service today at Australia Zoo was
among the most-watched funerals in Australian TV, an analyst said.
But its global audience did not reach the scale of the
momentous funerals of recent TV history.
Irwin's memory drew an estimated global TV audience of 300
million a figure swelled by his legion of cable fans in the
The telecast was dwarfed almost tenfold, however, by the
funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
The broadcast also trails audience figures for the funerals
of Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II and the Queen Mother.
Show business commentator Peter Ford said Irwin's fan-power
would probably outstrip audiences who tuned in for the 1997 funeral of rocker
Michael Hutchence.
``I would think Irwin would be bigger,'' he said, ``and also
timing-wise, Hutchence was in the afternoon and
Irwin's played out better for American TV.''
Irwin's unique legacy was well-served by the down-to-earth
TV tribute, Ford said.
``Today's service was done very respectfully and I think it
was staged so well without it becoming a variety show,'' he said.
``Steve was such a wonderful media player that it was very
appropriate that the event was staged so well for TV.''
He said Irwin broke new ground by taking cable fame into the
mainstream.
``He was very much a product of cable-TV and pay-TV in
``Not many other people have become household names just
through cable-TV.
``Certainly in terms of uniqueness he was a one-off and in
show business that's the ultimate compliment,'' Ford said.
``Anyone who attempts to copy the act will be condemned,''
he said.
WHAT THEY SAID
Bindi Irwin
I had 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."
Russell Crowe
Your passing has suspended reality for all of us. It was far
too soon. People all over this planet have been grieving. We've lost a friend,
we've lost a champion and we'll take some time to adjust to that.''
Cameron Diaz
"Every kid would love the idea of being able to be
him."
Kevin Costner
"Where he was bravest was he let us see who he was and
that's being brave in today's society."
Australia Zoo director Wes Mannion
"With Steve around I felt I could do anything."
Steve's father Bob Irwin
"Please don't grieve for Steve, he is at peace now. But
I would like you to grieve for the animals. They have lost the best friend they
ever had and so have I."
Hugh Jackman
"Steve Irwin showed us we can live like warriors and we
can make the world a better place."
David Wenham
"He was rough, but he was real."
Prime Minister John Howard
"In everything he did he was direct and he was genuine
and oh-so-Australian, but that's what we love about him."
Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell
"In changing the way we all think he changed the way we
act and that's the single greatest gift he has given us all."
GLOBAL GRIEF
Large TV audiences
Princess Diana
Mother Teresa
Pope John Paul II April 8, 2005 2 billion
The Queen Mother
Steve Irwin