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PRIME Minister John Howard was among a string of political leaders, singers, actors, entertainers, academics and friends who have delivered tributes at the memorial service for Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin today. More than 5000 people crowded into the zoo’s Crocoseum on the Sunshine Coast, and another 300 million fans worldwide watched the service. "My fellow Australians, we gather in this special place that Steve created to celebrate the life of a remarkable man and remarkable Australian," Mr Howard said. "Steve Irwin touched the hearts of Australians and touched the hearts of millions around the world in a very special way....

STEVE Irwin's daughter Bindi has told a packed memorial service that her dad was her hero and she did not want her father's passion for wildlife to ever end. The little girl told mourners at Australia Zoo - and an international television and internet audience in excess of 300 million - that "my Daddy was my hero". "He was always there for me when I needed him", Bindi said. "(But) most of all he was fun". "I know Dad had an important jo - he was working to change the world so we everyone would love wildlife like he did",...

A SPARE seat will be left beside Steve Irwin's widow and children tomorrow, as a special way to remember the Crocodile Hunter during his memorial service. Irwin's manager and long-time friend John Stainton has refused to reveal too many details about the service, but he has confirmed there will be a spare seat for Irwin beside his wife Terri and their children, Bindi and Bob. "There will be one seat alongside of the family for Steve because he loved the Crocoseum, he built it," Mr Stainton said. "His Australia Zoo cap that he always wore watching all the shows with...

TICKETS to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's memorial have been snapped up in just 15 minutes, leaving hundreds empty-handed. Irwin fans camped overnight outside several ticketing outlets in Queensland overnight for free tickets to Wednesday's memorial service. Three thousand tickets were snapped up at Australia Zoo and ticket outlets at Maroochydore and Brisbane. At the front of the queue in Brisbane was 34-year-old beauty therapist Melissa Power, who had lined up for more than 25 hours to secure tickets. "It's unbelievable," a teary Ms Power said once she had the tickets in her hand. "I haven't slept and am so over-emotional...

THOUSANDS of people are expected to camp out at booking outlets tomorrow night for tickets to Steve Irwin's memorial service. The life of the Crocodile Hunter will be honoured at a special public memorial service next Wednesday at the family's Sunshine Coast animal park, Australia Zoo. The memorial will be held at the park's Crocoseum, which was built by Mr Irwin and holds a capacity of 5500. Three thousand tickets – a maximum of four per person – will be released to the public at no charge from 9am (AEST) on Friday at Australia Zoo's box office and Ticketek outlets...

A PUBLIC memorial service for Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin is expected to be held next week at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. 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 for him at Australia Zoo on Saturday, his father Bob Irwin said today. His best mate and Australia Zoo staff member Wes Mannion said today a memorial service would be held next Tuesday or Wednesday, with Suncorp Stadium a likely venue. Mr Irwin died last Monday aged 44...

IT is 4 o'clock in the afternoon, peak hour for mourners flocking to the nation's newest shrine, a palm tree oasis called Australia Zoo in the foothills of extinct volcanoes called the Glass House Mountains. The mourners come in their hundreds, then thousands to the spot in the Hinterland an hour's drive each way between Noosa or Brisbane. The two car parks are jammed with frantic attendants in khaki shirts and shorts trying to keep the traffic moving. Khaki shirts and shorts are the uniform here at the shrine to Steve Irwin. There is his image in a khaki shirt...