The Advertiser

THU 21 SEP 2006

You beauty, darlin' - Bindi's vow to follow the Irwin dream

By GLENIS GREEN, SUNSHINE COAST

AS one of the world's greatest stars was farewelled in an emotional memorial yesterday, another's shone as Steve Irwin's eight-year-old daughter Bindi took centre-stage to pay tribute to ``the best Daddy in the whole world''.

The crowd of 5500 fans, family, friends, celebrities and politicians, including Prime Minister John Howard, erupted into applause as the khaki-clad little girl stood dwarfed by the giant posters of her famous father.

Calling the Crocodile Hunter ``my Daddy'', a brave Bindi told up to 300 million viewers around the world he was their hero, and hers.

As her confident, heartfelt words rang out, mother Terri Irwin - too distraught to give a public eulogy - fought back tears as she cuddled son Bob, 2, on her knee.

Bindi's words were the first from any member of the Irwin family, apart from father Robert Irwin, since the wildlife warrior's sudden death 17 days ago, when he was pierced through the heart by a stingray barb while filming on the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Irwin even predicted after yesterday morning's hour-long live telecast memorial at Beerwah's Australia Zoo Crocoseum, that Bindi would be ``the next Crocodile Hunter''.

``She was marvellous, absolutely marvellous, but then Bindi always is,'' he said.

Using a finger to follow the words she had written, Bindi said whenever she saw a crocodile, she would think of her father.

``I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did,'' she said.

``My Daddy was my hero.'' Bindi said she knew her father had ``an important job . . . he was working to change the world so that everyone would love wildlife like he did''.

Irwin's best friend and business manager John Stainton said that Bindi had written every word of her speech and had insisted on reading it ``because she was scared that she would forget something''.

Looking shattered by her husband's tragic death and never taking off dark sunglasses, Terri managed to sit through what was clearly a deeply personal experience as the crowd laughed and cried at a beautifully scripted snapshot of Irwin's life on screen, in song and poetry and in speeches.

She later confided to friends and family she thought the memorial was ``extremely good . . . something Steve would have been proud of''.

Mr Stainton said the day had simply been too emotional for Terri to speak. ``It was just better for her to . . . I can't say enjoy it, but endure it,'' Mr Stainton said.

Friend and zoo director Wes Mannion, whom Irwin once saved from a crocodile's jaws, said his mate would have been ``so proud'' of Bindi's composure and strength.

``I mean Steve and Bindi were incredibly close . . . and he would have been going `yeah, you beauty darlin','' Mr Mannion said.

Tears were seen throughout the crowd, with the first of the speakers, Russell Crowe from New York, appearing choked up as he told his mate that he had been headline news in the Big Apple.

John Williamson played Irwin's favourite song, True Blue, while actor David Wenham, who worked with Irwin on his only feature-length film, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, read a Rupert McCall poem.

Crowe, Williams and Wenham were among a host of celebrities and politicians who paid tribute, including Cameron Diaz, Larry King and Hugh Jackman. Irwin's father and lifelong hero, Robert, made a plea to the world not to grieve for Steve.

``Grieve for the animals,'' he said. ``The animals have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I.''

The memorial was played out beneath a perfect blue sky while Irwin fans clapped, cheered, laughed and cried alongside some of the country and state's key political figures and entertainment stars.

Security fencing was decorated with signed khaki shirts, flags and flowers while Irwin's mud-splattered ute took pride of place alongside his swag and crocodile-catching gear.

The tributes also flowed amid frequent standing ovations as Irwin's life and loves unfolded on film on the Crocoseum's giant screen in a salute lovingly prepared by Mr Stainton.

Even the animals got in on the act - with staff conducting a parade of parrots, wombats, koalas, snakes and lizards climaxing in the arrival of Irwin's three ``favourite girls'' - elephants Siam, Sabu and Bimbo.

Black cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets swooped around the stadium as teary staff placed golden flowers to form the word ``Crikey'' as Irwin's ute was packed and driven away for the last time.