The Gold Coast Bulletin
Not just crocs crying
All ready for Irwin's goodbye
By by Christine Flatley
FLAGS will fly at half mast today when
More than 5000 people are expected to make their way to
Australia Zoo at Beerwah on the
Among them will be bush poet Rupert McCall and his daughter
Ella, 6, who have been invited as VIPs.
McCall's poem The Crocodiles Are Crying, written two weeks
ago about the death of Irwin and the impact it had on Ella, will be read out
during the service.
McCall told The Bulletin this week he had been informed this
could be done by movie stars David Wenham or Russell Crowe.
Ella had been the inspiration for the poem, weeping when she
arrived home from school with the news of Irwin's death and telling her parents
the crocodiles were crying too.
Irwin, 44, died on September 4 after a stingray's barb
pierced his chest while he was filming a documentary off the coast of
His death has sparked a massive outpouring of grief around
the world, but nowhere has the loss been felt more strongly than at his
spiritual home, Australia Zoo, where a steady stream of fans still continues to
place tributes around the entrance.
At the request of Irwin's widow, Terri, the zoo became the
site for the memorial service, to be held in the zoo's Crocoseum
from
The service will be broadcast live on TV by the ABC, Channel
9, NBN, Seven and Prime.
Fans travelled great distances and
waited in line for up to 25 hours to secure the 3000 public tickets that were
given away last Friday.
The remaining 2500 tickets have been given to zoo suppliers,
contractors and friends of the family, as well as VIP guests including Premier
Peter Beattie and Prime Minister John Howard.
John Williamson will perform True Blue in honour of his good mate, and Terri and daughter Bindi have indicated they will speak publicly at the
ceremony if they are able.
The Crocoseum will be filled to
capacity, with most media outlets refused entry to make room for mourners, but
one seat in the amphitheatre will remain empty throughout the service.
``There will be one seat alongside the family for Steve
because he loved the Crocoseum. He built it,'' said
Irwin's manager John Stainton.
``His Australia Zoo cap that he always wore watching all the
shows with his daughter will be on the seat.''
Those fans who missed out on tickets will be able to watch
the service live on TV or can travel to various venues across the state to
watch it on specially erected big screens.
Members of the public attending the service have been urged
to leave plenty of time for travel as anybody not seated inside the Crocoseum at
Backpacks, large bags, cameras, recording devices and
strollers will not be allowed inside the Crocoseum.
Extra security staff have been hired to patrol the zoo
car parks.
Organisers have stressed there
will be no tickets available on the day, nor will there be any big screen for
public viewing outside the zoo.
Anyone travelling to the
Queensland Rail will provide free transport for ticketholders travelling to the
Two extra Citytrain services will
leave Central station for Beerwah station at