Posted on 09/04/2006 7:19:21 PM PDT by Pyro7480
Irwin family offered state funeral
STEVE Irwin will get a state funeral if that's what his family wants, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says.
The 44-year-old media personality and environmentalist died yesterday when a stingray barb punctured his heart while he was filming a nature documentary off the coast of Port Douglas in north Queensland....
Asked if his government would honour Irwin with a state funeral, Mr Beattie replied: "We will honour Steve Irwin in whatever way his family wants."
But first it was important to let his wife Terry and two young children, who recently returned to Queensland from Tasmania, deal with the tragedy, he said.
"Our first thoughts have to be with Terry and the children and I don't want to say or do anything that will make their grief worse because they are a wonderful family," Mr Beattie said....
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Steve Irwin was "intimate" with every species he loved, and that includes all of them. It's a wonder that no croc or viper got him. He died among friends, doing what he loved. We should be so fortunate.
We're watching a whole series of interviews on Animal Planet... the one that is on now covers the birth of his daughter, and we're doing a lot of laughing through tears. What a wacky guy.
I'm a little relieved to hear that my mother and I aren't the only ones crying over a television personality! We celebrated my son's birthday today and he made sure that everyone took a moment to think about "Steve".
My kid has always has a passion for reptiles. Just last month I found a snake while I was cleaning up the yard. I pointed it out to him, then went about my business. A few minutes later I glanced back and he had the snake by the tail, just like Steve taught him. Thanks to Irwin, I've overcome my squeamishness and we now have a python that I get to feed occasionally. Plans are in the works to build my son a "reptile wall" in his room that should house about half-a-dozen critters.
Yes, Steve Irwin helped me to overcome my fear of many animals and that has greatly enriched our lives. The nature of his death won't change that.
State. Australia has states, not provinces (that's Canada).
Ah, my error.
I having a feeling his funeral will be a bigger event for Australia than the funeral of Michael Hutchence.
On Animal Planet Just went thru the birth of his second child in the delivery room with him cutting the cord and assisting in the delivery.
What a tear jerker this program is going to be!
If I hadn't been on Freerepublic I wouldn't have known about it. Thanks for posting.
True, but Diana Spencer was still a slut.
Oh, good grief. People loved her. And people love Steve Irwin. That takes some doing to have that kind of magic.
Pissed me off to see the sappy limeys cry over that b-tch. Pissed me off even MORE to see moronic Yanks crying over that overrated slut.
I wouldn't be opposed to US giving lady Thatcher a state funeral if the Brits won't!
Is she dead?
Disgusting comment.
Do people remember an Animal planet ( or Discovery channel)
episode where Steve Irwin does a training session with the US delta force in a forest?
The Delta Force guys liked him and enjoyed the training.
Steve Irwin is a true Aussie treasure, many Americans loved him.
Salute to a true legend, RIP Steve.
I saw a special on Animal Planet some time ago, and in it, they said the Irukandji is the most dangerous sea creature off the Australian coast, more so than the Great White.
As someone who knew the Princess, I assure you she was not.
Don't believe all the tabloid spin.
Yes, it was mentioned on another link that I read through here. When you look at his background ... his family wasn't wealthy and lived in a trailer and all he accomplished ... HARD WORK and guts ... it also typically goes with that of a conservative.
#51 highlights his admiration for the U.S. fighting the war with Japan. I'll look around for the link for you.
Oh, really? http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=824002006
It's more unusual in Britain than it is here, where every President has the option of one if he chooses it. Churchill was the last non-royal one; I remember watching every impressive moment of it on television.
"Prime Minister John Howard, who hand-picked Irwin to attend a gala barbecue to honor President Bush when he visited in 2003, said he was "shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death."
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2006/09/04/irwin_hum.html
I saw a small part of that last night on the Animal Planet tribute. I had never seen that before, he spoke of feeling the ghosts of the troops killed there.........it was quite moving as only Steve could do. I also hope they re air that.
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