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Bindi emerges as croc princess
20/09/2006 14:15 - (SA)
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| Terri Irwin, wife of Steve Irwin, with daughter Bindi and son Bob, at the memorial service for her husband at Australia Zoo. (Dave Hunt, AP) |
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Brisbane - It was a wrenching day for an eight-year-old, but reptile wrangler Steve Irwin's daughter Bindi emerged from his memorial service as the new crown princess of the Crocodile Hunter's kingdom.
With her devastated mother Terri reduced to tears throughout Wednesday's emotional service at Irwin's Australia Zoo, Bindi became the star of the saddest show on earth as she took the podium to eulogise her dad before a global TV audience of up to 300 million people.
"My Daddy was my hero," she told the in-house crowd of more than 5 000 people, including Australia's prime minister, who cheered and gave her a standing ovation as she rose to speak with ultra-confident poise.
Carry on his work
The apple of Irwin's eye went on to confirm speculation that she wants to carry on the wildlife conservation work of her father, who was killed by a stingray at the age of 44 two weeks ago.
"I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end.
"I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did," the little girl said.
Working on her own TV series
Bindi, the Irwins' first born, is no stranger to the high-flying world of her celebrity dad, whose famous pals - from Oscar-winner Russell Crowe to pop star Justin Timberlake - delivered recorded tributes at his public memorial.
She appeared on episodes of his television series and he was helping her produce her own 26-episode show for the Discovery Channel - which launched her dad's programme - on the day he was killed.
After the fast-paced, made-for-television memorial service, Irwin's manager John Stainton said the filming of Bindi's new show, set to debut in the United States early next year, would resume after being halted following Irwin's September 4 death.
"Seven episodes are already completed and we're going to resume production in two weeks," he told reporters, as Steve Irwin's father Bob nodded when asked whether his granddaughter would become the next "Crocodile Hunter".
Follow in her dad's footsteps
Bob Irwin, who started his son's beloved Australia Zoo in 1970, said he was proud of his granddaughter's staggeringly courageous performance at the memorial but not surprised.
"Bindi's had lots of media experience and all of us expected to be proud of Bindi because she does so well, and she did so well today," he said. "Very, very well."
Family friend Stainton, who will continue working with Bindi, said after Irwin's death that he had no doubt she would follow in the footsteps of her famous father "like the true wildlife warrior that she is".
'I will miss him every day'
Bindi summed up her view of her dad to the delight of the emotionally-charged crowd in the zoo's "Crocoseum."
"I have the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day," she said, smiling.
"When I see a crocodile, I will always think of him."
- AFP
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