Irwin to have private funeral

2006-09-07 10:27

Beerwah - "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin's family has decided on a private funeral for the popular television star to be held within a week. The public will have its chance at a memorial service within two weeks, with thousands expected to attend.

The 44-year-old Irwin died on Monday after being killed by a stingray on the Great Barrier Reef.

In a short statement on Thursday, Bob Irwin said family and "closest friends" would attend the private service, confirming that the "generous government offer" of a state funeral had been turned down.

No details were given on the possible location for a public memorial, although the Irwin family's 25-hectare Australia Zoo and a 52 000-seat sports stadium in the nearby state capital of Brisbane have been mentioned.

'Ordinary bloke'

The elder Irwin said on Wednesday his son would not have wanted a formal state funeral because "he's an ordinary guy, and he wants to be remembered as an ordinary bloke".

Australian Prime Minister John Howard had said a state funeral would be appropriate for Irwin because he was so well loved and because of his services to the country as an unofficial tourism ambassador.

Donations

Since Irwin's death, several hundred thousand dollars in online donations from the United States alone have poured into one of Irwin's wildlife charities. But the head of one of Irwin's conservation groups said on Thursday he is worried what will happen to the million-dollar charitable organisation after the peak in interest surrounding Irwin's death recedes.

The head of Wildlife Warriors estimated that nearly a half million dollars in pledges had come into the group from around the world since Irwin's death.

"But it's not just about the dollars," Wildlife Warriors head Michael Hornby told The Associated Press.

"They represent the number of people who are now getting involved. That was a big thing for Steve. He wanted to get the ordinary person, everyday people, involved ... it is coming to fruition."

Condolences

Irwin's body is at a funeral home at Caloundra, about 20km from Australia Zoo, the reptile theme park that Bob Irwin started in 1970 and which has been a focal point of grieving for thousands of well-wishers.

While Terri Irwin, Steve Irwin's American-born wife, and two children, Bindi, 8, and Bob, 2, remained secluded at their home near the zoo, more than a thousand fans again showed up on Thursday to add to the ever-growing assortment of flowers, flags, candles, cartoons drawn by children and dozens of khaki shirts, all signed by mourners in lieu of a condolence book.

After security officials roped off the area, Bob Irwin and several members of his family took a brief, private tour of the memorial on Thursday, reading notes from well-wishers.

- AP