Steve Irwin (crocodile hunter) dies..........

[Planogirl]

Oh Nutsy, how sad all of this is! This should be a time when all who care should mourn together and not a time to be divided.

I don't understand why the memorial couldn't have been held in a larger venue either. One thing that seemed consistent about Steve is how he always cared and I would guess that he would care about others' feelings even now. Why is the smaller venue such a better place for a public ceremony?

I guess that I don't get it either.

 

[momrek06]

Steve Irwin's Memorial Service to Air on Animal Planet Tuesday, September 19th From 9-10 PM ET/PT

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I am going to put on the Marathon NOW and plan to watch the Memorial!

 

[PenskeSth1]

I am so glad that animal planet is going to broadcast it at 9 p.m.

Now I can still attend DS's cub scout meeting

I feel so bad for Terri and the heavy load that has been placed upon her shoulders. I remember when Dale Earnhardt(Nascar) passed away and how crazy that whole thing became. DH and I both wished we could of went to his memorial service. Alas we watched it on TV and cried like babies. We still felt we could show our support through different charities.

I understand the people of Australia wanting the memorial to be in a bigger place where everyone can come and pay their respects.(because Steve was one of your own) In the same sense, I understand Terri wanting to keep the public memorial small and at the zoo where she is in her comfort zone.

My heart aches for Terri and all those that were close to Steve. I cannot imagine what they are feeling right now. Their minds have got to be reeling trying to make all the right decisions.

I finally got to see the episode with Sui when she passed away.

 

[Nutsy]

Thousands more are expected to cram into a zoo car park to watch the service on large-screen televisions.


There is to be no screen in the car park now.

I'm not commenting any more on anything said here.


try getting your info from www.news.com.au

 

[Nutsy]

One very last thought...

You folk in the US have your 9/11 memorial...... ok, so you may not attend, but how would it be if that were for families and big shots only? Would any of you be happy with that? It's a public memorial correct?


Just think about it.... not only did Americans die in 9/11 and yes we all watched it on tv... when something is in another county you accept and appreciate what tv is able to show.

However, in the case of Steve... it was only the very last minute that the venue was changed from one where there would be ample seating to one wtih limited seating.

It was never said it would be held at the Zoo until the very last. Back to before the private funeral it was to be at Suncorp Stadium..... then they were told they couldn't have it due to football grand final season. There were 2 other venues they were looking at, then next we hear is that it's to be at the Zoo.

Like I've said.. the zoo is not the problem.. it's the lack of seating and 3,000 is a very small number... there are more people than that living in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Yes it was Terri's right to decide where it was to be held... but please remember too that it was HER deciison to have herself and Bindi talk at the service. I feel sorry for Steve's Dad who has been fronting the media all the way through on Terri's behalf and he's going to be talking at the memorial as well.

Knowing the kind of person Steve was.... he was not a President.. loved by some and hated by others....he was loved by the nation and millions more around the world.. you folk in the US embraced him and held him dear.

Steve was one of a kind... he put Australia and Queensland on the map, he did a lot more for this country than any Prime Minister has ever done... he embraced the public and they in turn embraced him. He was a person who you felt you knew even if you didn't.

I never actually met Steve.. but we did visit the zoo on two occasions and got very close to Steve and Terri on a couple of occasions. Getting that close really makes you feel you know him...seeing him in the Crocosuem from a distance and seeing him up close and personal is wow.

Words cannot explain just how I feel. It's just so sad

 

[kdibattista]

Why doesn't the "public" then put on their own memorial? If a 9/11 memorial was being planned by the families then no I would not expect much.

The family is never going to please everybody and it's truly the last thing that they should be worrying about.

 

[bamajill]

One very last thought...

You folk in the US have your 9/11 memorial...... ok, so you may not attend, but how would it be if that were for families and big shots only? Would any of you be happy with that? It's a public memorial correct?


Just think about it.... not only did Americans die in 9/11 and yes we all watched it on tv... when something is in another county you accept and appreciate what tv is able to show.

However, in the case of Steve... it was only the very last minute that the venue was changed from one where there would be ample seating to one wtih limited seating.

It was never said it would be held at the Zoo until the very last. Back to before the private funeral it was to be at Suncorp Stadium..... then they were told they couldn't have it due to football grand final season. There were 2 other venues they were looking at, then next we hear is that it's to be at the Zoo.

Like I've said.. the zoo is not the problem.. it's the lack of seating and 3,000 is a very small number... there are more people than that living in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Yes it was Terri's right to decide where it was to be held... but please remember too that it was HER deciison to have herself and Bindi talk at the service. I feel sorry for Steve's Dad who has been fronting the media all the way through on Terri's behalf and he's going to be talking at the memorial as well.

Knowing the kind of person Steve was.... he was not a President.. loved by some and hated by others....he was loved by the nation and millions more around the world.. you folk in the US embraced him and held him dear.

Steve was one of a kind... he put Australia and Queensland on the map, he did a lot more for this country than any Prime Minister has ever done... he embraced the public and they in turn embraced him. He was a person who you felt you knew even if you didn't.

I never actually met Steve.. but we did visit the zoo on two occasions and got very close to Steve and Terri on a couple of occasions. Getting that close really makes you feel you know him...seeing him in the Crocosuem from a distance and seeing him up close and personal is wow.

Words cannot explain just how I feel. It's just so sad

I'm sorry, but haven't you guys been discussing this for almost a week? Why are you acting like this is coming out of left field?
For goodness sake, let his family do what they feel is right. This is not about you! If you feel a connection to him, watch it on tv like the rest of us.

 

[judi]

POLICE have urged mourners who do not have a ticket to the Steve Irwin memorial service on Wednesday to stay at home and watch it on television.

About 5000 people are expected to cram into Australia Zoo's Crocoseum at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast for the one-hour morning ceremony.

Organisers appreciate the huge number of fans who want to pay their respects, but have asked that those without tickets stay away as traffic in the area is expected to be intense.

All major television networks will broadcast the service live to air.

Australia Zoo spokesman Peter Lang said there would not be any large screen televisions in the zoo's car park.

Those with tickets have been asked to share transport as there are only 2500 car park spaces available at Australia Zoo. A police spokesman encouraged ticket-holders to plan their trip and leave plenty of time to arrive at the zoo well before the 9am starting time.

"We ask that local traffic and those who don't need to travel on the Glasshouse Mountains Road make alternative arrangements during the peak times of 7am to 11am (AEST)," a police spokesman said.

 

[judi]

My heart goes out to Terri, she has the weight of the world on her shoulders right now. According to another article, Terri and Bindi may not speak at the memorial, that will be decided that morning. I also think Terri had a pretty good idea of what Steve would and would not have wanted.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I've been watching the Crocs Rule tribute to Steve all day, and I've been so touched by how many celebrities took the time to remember Steve. Some of them made me cry! I'm really impressed with Animal Planet that they devoted an entire day to this- that gives them major brownie points in my book!

I really appreciate that Terri is holding a memorial service, and that they're letting us in on it through TV. I never even met Steve, and I'm still in mourning two weeks later, so I can only imagine what this loss is like for his family. The fact that they're doing a public service so that we can have some kind of closure says a lot about them.

 

[sha_lyn]

Thank you Judi. It sounds like it might have been at the suggestion of the police to not have the big screen TV since they are encouraging anyone without tickets to not come.

Yep big old selfish Terri, how dare she cooperate with the authorities when we all know that the fans are what matter the most. Much more than Steve's wife, son, daughter or father.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

They just had a clip of a friend of Steve's on, and I thought his quote summed things up so well-

"We'll never stop missing Steve, but we'll never stop smiling when we think about him, either."

 

[CheshireVal]

For goodness sake, let his family do what they feel is right. This is not about you! If you feel a connection to him, watch it on tv like the rest of us.

Exactly. I just don't understand. They could hold the memorial service in a stadium with a capacity of 50,000 and there would still be people who would not be able to attend.

What should happen, then? A "memorial service" tour of Australia? Shouldn't Melbourne (specifically Ferntree Gully) have a service since that's where Steve lived when he was a small child? What about the people of Perth and Darwin-- should Terri tour there with Bindi and Bob so that all of Australia could mourn "in person?"

Give the family a break. It's a memorial service, not a Rolling Stones tour. Despite what they are trying to pass it off as, it's not going to be a tremendously happy event. It's going to be sad. Just be glad that it will be televised and that many people across the world will be able to see it and participate in that small way.

 

[Buckalew11]

Wow, this thread has turned in an odd way. I'll just hope it is because of the grief and sadness that fans of Steve's near and far are feeling.

I think it is wonderful that they are televising it for most all the world to see. I think it will help us.

As for Terri's fans and image--wow...that was a bit much. To lose fans because of a decision like this is just unbelievable. How quickly people may turn on one another for such starnge reasons! To hurt her image? Yikes! She is a grieving widow who owes us NOTHING.

I know he was loved by many but it wasn't always so. I distinctly remember a time when he was not loved so much by people in that country (& probably here also). I suppose he proved himself or something to win so many over. I just hope that no matter how many people can attend his service and how many have to watch on TV, that we will keep his memory alive by giving to what he loved so much and lived for and that we continue o support his wife and family. They have a rough road ahead. God Bless them.

 

[lclark0621]

Irwin memorial 'won't be a circus'

STEVE Irwin's manager says he is concerned the public memorial service for the Crocodile Hunter could turn into a circus.

Irwin, 44, died on September 4 when a stingray's barb pierced his chest while he was diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

The TV naturalist's family and friends held a private funeral for him at his Australia Zoo last Saturday week.

Millions of people around the world are expected to watch live television coverage of the hour-long memorial service for Irwin at his family's wildlife park, north of Brisbane, on Wednesday.

More than 5000 people will attend the service from 9am (AEST) at Australia Zoo's Crocoseum, the venue for live crocodile shows.

Irwin's business manager and close friend John Stainton said today details of the service are being kept under wraps.

"I really don't want to make a publicity spectacle out of who is going to be doing anything or who is going to be appearing and turn it into a circus," he said.

"It's not a circus big top thing and it's been hard enough just getting it together without having to use publicity to make it work, it doesn't need it."

Mr Stainton said Irwin's widow Terri would attend but she may be too upset to play an active role.

"I don't want to put her through any stress at all, Steve wouldn't want that," he said.

A decision on whether Mrs Irwin or the couple's eight-year-old daughter Bindi speak will be made on the day of the service.

"There's no pressure on anybody," Mr Stainton said.

"It's very loose at the moment. I just want it to happen and everyone to enjoy it and that's it."

Among the VIP guests will be Prime Minister John Howard and Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

There are expected to be video tributes from celebrities including Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe.

Three thousand tickets were handed out free to Irwin fans who queued at three venues last Friday.

The service will be televised nationwide by the ABC and the Nine and Seven networks.

Venues at Southbank Piazza in Brisbane, as well as three venues on the Sunshine Coast, one in Cairns and one at Port Douglas - near where Irwin died - will offer live broadcasts of the service.

 

[lclark0621]

On Sept 13, this was a qoute in an article:

Steve Irwin's widow Terri said in a statement that although larger venues had been suggested, she believed the croc hunter would have wanted it at Australia Zoo.

"I cannot see how a memorial service would work in any other place other than the Crocoseum which he built here at the zoo and of which he was so proud," Mrs Irwin said.

"I would therefore ask that everyone please bear with me in this wish and help me to make this happen."

In her first public comments since her husband's death, Mrs Irwin described Steve as her "soul mate".

She thanked the community for their "overwhelming outpouring of love, support and prayers".

How can anyone deny her this? How can her image be tarnished because she is doing what is best for her family & what she really thinks HER husband would have wanted?

She is a grieving widow, the children have lost their father. And she has asked for everyone to "help make this happen".

I think everyone needs to understand & respect her decission.

Sure, some will be dissappointed they cant attend. But, she owes the public nothing when it comes to a memorial. She is not stoping anyone else from having a memorial for her husband. However the memorial SHE is holding for HER husband, will be at the best location for her & her children.

If others want to attend a memorial for him, have a memorial for him. I dont think anyone would stop that.

People, BELOVED people, die all the time. Not everyone who 'loves' someone is able to attend a memorial for them. In a situation like this, people are being given an opportunity to watch the memorial on tv. And that is more then most get when someone famous & loved by many dies.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Haven't seen this posted here yet- it looks like the documentary Steve was working on will be completed-

Humankind is ocean's deadliest, Irwin told colleague
by Simon Mann
September 7, 2006

PHILIPPE COUSTEAU, a grandson of the legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, was on board Steve Irwin's boat at the time of the Australian's freakish death, it emerged yesterday.

Mr Cousteau has promised to complete the film on which the two men were collaborating.

Mr Cousteau, 26, whose father died in an air crash before he was born, said it would be difficult to complete the documentary, The Ocean's Deadliest, without Irwin. The work was profiling some of the world's most dangerous sea creatures.

But Mr Cousteau, who is head of the conservation group EarthEcho International, said the work would be completed as a tribute to Irwin, who died on Monday aged 44.

"It's going to be very difficult to finish, not just for me but for this incredible [film] crew," he told CNN's Larry King. "Steve and I spoke at length about why he does his work and [agreed] that by far and away humankind is the deadliest creature in the ocean.

"If we can help bring that message through this program and help [people] understand that all these animals have an important place in the world. then I think he [would] be proud of that."

Irwin's manager and long-time friend, John Stainton, said he too was committed to completing the project. "[Philippe] will help take up the slack and eventually we'll get it finished and out to the public as a tribute to Steve's final documentary on Earth," he said on the same program, during which he broke down and sobbed.

Mr Stainton said he expected the graphic footage of the stingray attack on Irwin would be destroyed. It is in the hands of Queensland authorities.

"I would never want that to get out. It should be destroyed … It's awful. I saw it but I never want to see it again."

He said Irwin's wife, Terri, might not be ready to speak publicly for some weeks.

Mr Stainton accompanied Irwin's body from Cairns to the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday. "The fact that we finally got him home and the family saw the casket last night, it was like a full stop.

"Until you actually see that, it's [like] a dream - it's not happening. But it is, and it has, and it's done."

Mr Cousteau, one of two children left fatherless when Philippe Cousteau senior died in the air crash in 1979, said he had been haunted by the fact that Irwin's children had been left fatherless by tragedy.

 

[lclark0621]

Terri may be too upset to speak

STEVE Irwin's widow, Terri, may be too upset to speak at the memorial service for the Crocodile Hunter, his manager said today.

Mrs Irwin, the couple's eight-year-old daughter Bindi and Steve's father, Bob, are due to address the service at the family's Australia Zoo, north of Brisbane, on Wednesday.

But Mr Irwin's manager, John Stainton, said while Mrs Irwin will attend, she may not play an active role in the public tribute, to be held from 9am (AEST) in the zoo's Crocoseum.

Mr Stainton said a final decision on Mrs Irwin and Bindi's role would not be made until just before the event.

"It's up to the day and how they are feeling because this is entirely their decision," he told the Sunshine Coast Daily newspaper.

"I don't think Terri will be up to it, but that is just my opinion, and we're hoping that Bindi might say a few words."

Mr Irwin, 44, died on September 4 when a stingray's barb pierced his chest while he was diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

Millions are expected to watch the hour-long memorial service live on television, while 5500 people will see it in person at the Crocoseum.

Among the VIP guests will be Prime Minister John Howard and Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

There are expected to be video tributes from celebrities, including Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe.

 

[crazee4mickey]

Thank you Nutsy for all that you have posted and for keeping everyone up to date.
I do understand what you are saying and the disappointment the people and fans of Australia, let alone all over the world, must be feeling by not being given an oppurtunity to mourn together and remember the great things Steve Irwin contributed to the world.

 

[Nutsy]

Let me say this and don't flame me for it.


I DID NOT attack Terri. What I was trying to do, that you didn't want to hear was to explain things that are happening and how with the venue being changed from one that was central and easy to access to the Zoo.

I really think if you've never been to the zoo in peak periods then you really have no idea what it's like, so how can you comment on it. Yeah I can see you are going to flame me again.. go ahead.

The zoo carpark holds something like 1,500 vehicles, the locals who live in the area are being asked to stay off Glasshouse Mtns Rd and find an alternate route to work etc tomorrow morning.

But I guess that is attacking Terri, by telling it like it is.

In all honesty and I do respect the family decision even tho most of you seem to think I don't. All this could have been avoided had they not declined the offer of a State Funeral. The public would have been out lining the streets to say their farewell as the hearse went by. The public were promised a memorial service in Brisbane, due to the massive outpouring of grief by the public and the constant vigil of mourners up at the zoo.. people have travelled from far and wide to the zoo since Steve passed away leaving all sorts of tributes.