STEVE IRWIN HAD PRIVITE FUNERAL SATURDAY 9-9-2006

Australia's Crocodile Hunter gets private funeral
Sun Sep 10, 2006 5:46 AM BST
SYDNEY (Reuters) - A private funeral service was held for Australian TV naturalist Steve Irwin on Saturday and he will be buried at his family's zoo in the northern state of Queensland, local media reported.

Irwin's father, Bob Irwin, had declined a government offer for a state funeral for his son.

Irwin, known as the "Crocodile Hunter" after his popular TV documentaries which aired around the world, was killed six days ago by a stingray barb to the chest while diving on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

After the funeral service his body was taken to his family's Australia Zoo wildlife park, where he is expected to be buried, local media reported on Sunday.

Irwin, 44, had flirted with death many times in his "Crocodile Hunter" documentaries, seen by 200 million people, wrestling with some of the world's most dangerous creatures.

News of Irwin's death clogged Internet news sites and drew tributes from around the world. Prime Minister John Howard interrupted parliament to pay tribute to him, saying he was distressed by the loss of a remarkable Australian.

A public memorial service that is likely to draw thousands of mourners was expected to take place later this month.

Another article on the private funeral.

Monday September 11, 02:48 PM

Memorial service for Irwin next week

Steve Irwin's widow and his two children are expected to make their first public appearance since his death at a special memorial service next week.

Mr Irwin, 44, died last Monday after he was pierced in the chest by a stingray's barb while filming a documentary off the far north Queensland coast.

A private funeral service was held at Australia Zoo on Saturday, attended by his family and closest friends.

His best friend, Australia Zoo director Wes Mannion, said on Monday a memorial service would be held next Tuesday or Wednesday, with Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium a likely venue.

Mr Mannion said there were few details worked out yet about the memorial service but he hoped it would be fun.

"It's got to be exciting and fun because that's the sort of man he was - he was just 100mph," he said.

Mr Irwin's father, Bob Irwin, said the private weekend service had been held around a campfire with everyone telling their favourite stories of Steve, the way he would have wanted it.

He said Steve had always loved "having a yarn" around the campfire.

"It was what he would have wanted and it put some final closure to his life," Bob Irwin said.

Steve Irwin's friend and manager, John Stainton, said the memorial service would be a "celebration" and they had already received calls from some of Mr Irwin's entertainer friends volunteering their time.

"Steve would not have wanted us to have everyone around crying and saying how sad it was," he said.

But he said it was not going to be a "television event".

Instead it would be "balanced" and something Mr Irwin himself would have enjoyed.

Mr Stainton said it was expected Steve's widow, Terri, and children, Bindi, 8, and Bob, 2, would attend and draw strength from the public support.

Mr Mannion, whom Steve Irwin once saved from a crocodile attack at Australia Zoo, said there would be no replacing the original Crocodile Hunter.

"I don't think you can ever fill that void," he said.

"No, I won't be (the next) Steve. No-one can be.

"I'll remember Steve as my best mate ... He was like my big brother; he was my hero."

Mr Mannion said there had been 10 million hits on the Australia Zoo website since Mr Irwin's death.