Australia says Farewell to Irwin

BEERWAH- Friends and fans, including Hollywood stars and Australia’s prime minister, bid farewell to “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin on Wednesday at a public service that veered from poignant tributes to belly laughs.

In a service meant to celebrate his life as much as mourn his death, Irwin’s 8-year-old daughter Bindi hailed him as her hero; his father, Bob, asked people to end their grieving; and fans were invited to laugh at his television antics one more time. Australian Prime Minister John Howard was among the 5 000 people who attended the ceremony at the “Crocoseum,” the small stadium built inside Irwin’s wildlife park where he regularly performed crocodile feeding shows.Irwin, 44, died September 4 when the barb from a stingray pierced his chest while he was filming for a TV show on the Great Barrier Reef.Nampa-APAustralian Prime Minister John Howard was among the 5 000 people who attended the ceremony at the “Crocoseum,” the small stadium built inside Irwin’s wildlife park where he regularly performed crocodile feeding shows.Irwin, 44, died September 4 when the barb from a stingray pierced his chest while he was filming for a TV show on the Great Barrier Reef.Nampa-AP