Irwin family offered state funeral (Australia Honours the Crocodile Hunter)

The Australian ^ | 9/5/2006 | n/a

[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....

[Pyro7480]

This sounds like it would be a provincial affair. But it very well could become a national one.

[Pyro7480]

Ping!

[Aussie Dasher]

Thanks for the ping.

A State Funeral would be a fitting tribute, and it most certainly would be a national event.

[Uriah_lost]

I don't think it's unreasonable to classify him as a National Treasure. A state funeral would be quite reasonable.

[Ex-Dem]

I think they're waiting to hear if that's what the family, esp. Terri Irwin, wants. I'm not really familiar with Irwin's wife, haven't seen her nearly as much on TV, so it's kind of hard to say if she would agree to have a very public funeral.

[cripplecreek]

I'm just hoping against hope that the media has the decency to leave her alone till she's ready to talk.

[ladyinred]

What an honor for such a special man. He is going to missed world wide.

[A CA Guy]

I think the man was so likable that he is loved world wide and a fancy state funeral would be proper.

[RichardW]

Certainly he was an Aussie Icon. We virtually had a state funeral for Dale Earnhardt. It would be fitting. Not often someone of his stature and renown loses his life in such a tragic way in the prime of his life. I vote for it.

[NonValueAdded]

Yet the Brits are already on record that Lady Thatcher will not get one.

[Kimmers]

He is worthy, he is an Aussie tresure.

[ErnBatavia]

This time they won't be 'crocodile tears' ...his favorite species is likely mourning him as well.

[Pyro7480]

Media? Decency? Surely you jest.

[Pyro7480]

If that goes through, only certain members of the Labour Party over there are responsible.

[Aussie Dasher]

Very touching...

[GinaLolaB]

God bless Terry and the children at this sorrowful time.

[Aussie Dasher]

Yeah but the Poms have little decency at all!

[mom4kittys]

I vote yes. He is deserving of the honor.

[NonValueAdded]

If that goes through, only certain members of the Labour Party over there are responsible.

Like Tony Blair? 'No state funeral' for Thatcher (She is still alive) I don't mean to take away from the tribute the Aussies will have for the amazing Croc Hunter, just using it to illustrate that we colonials seem to have a better feel for these things.

[nmh]

You can't replace Steve. He was the real deal, a conservative and a conservationist. He didn't do it for the money and fame. He did it because he was passionate about it. It was as natural as breathing for him. This family will miss him. Prayers for his family and surviving loved ones. His poor father ... burying his son and his son won't know him ... he's too little.