What Father would not be proud - Bindi Irwin?

[davidpretorius]

Well, this ranks as one of the best things I have ever seen.

I know my 6 year old daughter understands death and does get upset with the thought of losing parents.

For an 8 yr old girl to stand up and speak the way she did was simply fantastic. Straight from her heart, her language.

A beautiful moment for humanity for mine. If there is such a place as heaven, then Steve Irwin would have looked down, shed a tear, but can now rest in piece that he has helped raise a beautiful human being!

Congrats Bindi!!!! You are a legend!

[Omaroo]

She's an amazingly talented young girl. She is already more articulate than 90% of the population - and at 8 years old.

Go Bindy - you're going to go far.

[janoskiss]

Amazing indeed! You can watch the video here, following one of the links under "Related Video: A tribute to the Crocodile Hunter":
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1745095.htm
Bindy's speech starts at 2min 57sec into the stream.

[Dennis]

We watched the entire memorial and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It is just quite extraordinary, how this wonderful man managed to reach out and touch so many lives, on such a global scale, through just being who he was; a great bloke with a burning passion for conservation. I truly hope that Bindi can carry on his work, yet be as true to her self as Steve was to him self.

Cheers

Dennis

[matt]

It was very moving.

I'm not even a father, but watching Bindi I fully felt the pride that a father must feel.

I work in the media and have had the pleasure and the privilege of meeting young people who you just knew were going on to something very special in their lives...

Bindi has all the hallmarks of such a person.

She's too young at the moment to fully appreciate the gravity of the moment she found herself in this morning. The joy... the sadness... the celebration of life and thanks for someone like her Dad and the part she played on this day.

But she will ....

And we'll all delight in watching her grow into the woman she will eventually become

[davidpretorius]

i have just heard it again on the radio, god it lifts the spirits!!!

well done to John Howard's speach as well, no doubt someone writes them, but the words were very good.

[acropolite]

I saw bits of it on the nightly news, very moving, a fitting tribute to a great ozzie.

[GrahamL]

Its often said kids have a capacity to deal with loss that adults just can't grasp ..RIP steve irwin .. gone but never forgotten

[h0ughy]

brought a tear to the eye to see the bravery and the love she has for her dad. Anyone would have been proud of her, and well spoken too!

[Striker]

I watched the whole ceremony.....brought a tear to my eye plus more....very moving.

That Bindi is going to be one very popular girl.

[jjjnettie]

A beautiful memorial service.
Bindi's part went beyond her well read speech. Did you see her in the background helping her poor mother. Supporting her with whispered words and snuggling close when things got too much.
Such a strong and brave little soul.
I've been weeping all day.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I really hope that Bindi isn't being pushed too fast or too hard .... she seemed just a little bit too composed for an 8 year old girl who has just lost her idol/father in such a tragic way. She needs time to process this all, and time to BE an 8 year old. But she did a very very fine job of standing in front of thousands and reading her tribute.

I had a day off today and actually watched the ceremony twice .. once on the nationwide 4 channel spread at 9am (and I'm not ashamed to say I shed a couple of tears), and again on 10's 5pm coverage (again, tears) .. then both chanels 7 and 9 devoted the first 12 minutes of their regular 30 minute news broadcast to it ...... I watched the lot.

After John Howard, Kim Beazely (only 1 seat separated them) and Peter Beattie (Qld Premier) the list of other famous "unofficial" visitors was impressive .... Costa Tzu (the boxer), Mal Meninga and Alfie Langer (both Qld State of Origin Rugby League legends of many years for our deep southern & western, ie League Challenged, counterparts ;) ), Laurie Lawrence (Olympic, etc, swim coach) who was weeping openly on the way out and made a beautiful comment about Steve, which I'll post if I can get the wording right. There were plenty of others too, most remained fairly invisible to the cameras.

Another person on the way out of the Crocoseum said: It takes a special person to leave giant footprints on the world (or words very near to that).

Touching stuff, all of it. They've made it clear (via Wes Mannions statement afterward the ceremonies) that Australia Zoo WILL continue - and Steve's huge grinning face is not going away, or coming down off any of those larger than life signs any time soon.

My best wishes to Terri, Bindi & little Bob, Steve's father Big Bob, Steve's sister (feel terrible that I forget her name now) .... and to Steve's mates and associates Wes and John Stainton, and all the staff at the zoo.

They all have some very big boots and khaki shirts to fill .. I wish them all well.

[johnno]

Indeed, a brilliant little Kid,
Who Quite obviously loved her Dad,As did his entire family,friends,and people who didn't even know him.

I am not ashamed to admit,the whole thing has brought many a tear to my eyes also.
Whether you liked him,or not,(I liked him,but, he did irritate me at times),you would be a hard person,NOT to feel touched by,the tributes he EARNED.

I allways feel so sad,and sorry for the poor family,and friends left behind,regardless of who it is.

Yes,I am a bit of a softie,I also make NO apologies,for it.

Regards.
John

[Blue Fire]

Very moving! It's apparent that the Irwins subscribe(d) to "Teach your children well." All too often, it seems, that passion is left out of science. But Steve certainly brought passion to his field, embedded it within every aspect, and made it meaningful and intimately relevant to boot! He obviously gave Bindi a headstart, and I've no doubt that she and her family will carry on admirably.

[iceman]

I heard this morning that both Ray Martin and Barbara Walters will interview Terri and Bindi on the weekend, with both interviews going to air (in Aus + US) next wednesday.

[ballaratdragons]

I love her name. 'Bindi'.

One of my old Aboriginal mates in Melbourne had a famous Boxing Dad (Australian Champion Featherweight 1958), and his name was 'Bindi'. It is an Aboriginal word that means 'Thorn'. Some Aboriginal languages also translate it to 'Little Thorn'.

I hope she is a 'thorn' in the side of people who don't give a stuff about the environment and animals.