Wednesday September 20, 05:05 PM
Bindi shines at Irwin's memorial service
Bindi pays tribute to her hero, her dad
Steve Irwin's little girl won the hearts of a nation and gave her grieving family hope for the future when she starred at her father's memorial service.
Eight-year-old Bindi Irwin told a worldwide television audience of hundreds of millions of people: "I have the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day."
And she made it clear it's her ambition to follow in the footsteps of the Crocodile Hunter, declaring:"I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end.
"I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did."
More than 5,000 people filled the Crocoseum at Australia Zoo on Wednesday to farewell the TV naturalist, killed on September 4 by a stingray barb to the heart.
The TV showman, 44, died on the Great Barrier Reef while gathering footage for Bindi's upcoming wildlife documentary series.
It was his daughter who stood out from among a host of Hollywood stars, musicians, conservationists and politicians, as tributes poured in from around the world for Irwin.
As her distraught mother Terri and little brother Bob, two, looked on, Bindi strode to a stage in front of a photo of her father and confidently delivered a eulogy she had penned herself.
"My Daddy was my hero - he was always there for me when I needed him," she said, tracing the words on the paper with a finger.
"He listened to me and taught me so many things but most of all he was fun.
"When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals.
"Daddy made this place his whole life and now it's our turn to help Daddy."
The thousands of Irwin fans erupted into a standing ovation for the little girl and after the hour-long service, Bindi's grandfather Bob Irwin and her father's close friend, Wes Mannion, said her father would have been proud of her.
"He would have been going 'yeah, you little beauty darling'," said Mannion, Australia Zoo's director.
Bob Irwin said Bindi could follow in her father's footsteps as a TV wildlife warrior.
"I think she will be, yes," he said.
Those who attended the Crocoseum and hundreds of millions of TV viewers worldwide were urged by actor Russell Crowe to remember Steve Irwin in a joyful, not mournful, way.
Many cried, but at times there was cheering and applause during the tightly choreographed service.
Among the VIP guests was an empty seat which bore Irwin's favourite Australia Zoo hat.
Next to it was a teary Terri, who sat with toddler son Bob on her lap, too upset to speak.
The event began and ended with videotaped messages from Irwin's friend Crowe, speaking from New York.
"We have all lost a friend we have lost a champion and we are going to take some time to adjust to that," he said.
Prime Minister John Howard paid tribute to a genuine and authentic Australian who loved his family and his country.
"And as we share this celebration and we honour this life can I say to you Terri, and the rest of your family, there are 20 million pairs of Australian arms reaching out to embrace you this morning."
Bob Irwin senior choked back tears as he briefly thanked well-wishers for their letters and gifts on behalf of the family, including Steve's sisters Mandy and Joy.
"Please don't grieve for Steve - he's at peace now," he said.
"But I would like you to grieve for the animals - the animals have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I."
Stars including Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Hugh Jackman, Kevin Costner and American talkshow host Larry King paid tribute in video presentations.
"Every kid was in love with the idea of being able to be him," Diaz said.
Jackman said everyone should become a wildlife warrior like Irwin.
"Whether it's for the wilderness, whether it's for the animals, his family, whether it's for just the planet, or just life in itself, Steve showed us that we can live like warriors, and we can make the world a better place," he said.
The crowd was shown amusing footage of Irwin falling out of boats, getting bitten by crocodiles and lizards, messing up his lines and being chased by cassowaries.
They were also shown clips of his journey "from the outback to Hollywood" and footage of him speaking about the death of his mother Lyn in a road crash in 2000.
Introducing footage of Irwin, producer John Stainton said his best mate was "a true, fair dinkum Aussie".
"Today I want to share with you the way he changed my life forever," he said.
"From the time we first met we clicked. The khaki-clad wildlife warrior and the city slicker became the best of friends over 20 odd years, and they were odd."
Australian country music star John Williamson sang True Blue, the Crocodile Hunter's favourite song, twice during the event, tweaking the lyrics for the finale.
"True blue, is it me and you... is it Steve Irwin too?" Williamson sang, as Irwin's truck, packed with his surfboard, bedroll and equipment, was driven away by crocodile keeper Brian Coulter.
Nearby, yellow flowers laid on the ground spelt out "Crikey".
Farewell Steve
Mighty
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