Posted on 09/06/2006 11:47:23 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
CROCODILE Hunter Steve Irwin's family say they have formally declined a state funeral and will hold a private service within the next seven days.
Irwin's father Robert Irwin today also said a memorial service would be held in honour of his son within the next two weeks at an undecided location.
Mr Irwin said the family had decided to hold a private funeral for family and close friends only.
On behalf of the grief-stricken Irwin family, Mr Irwin read the details from a written statement to a media throng outside the family's wildlife park Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
ping for future.
ping for future.
Be nice if the media gave them the courtesy of some privacy.
Media and courtesy are mutually exclusive.
I missed his comments. Can you post a link or summarize for us?
A state funeral? Is this a joke? I mean seriously. I liked the guy. And I felt really bad when he passed over. But he was not a Prime Minister or President. In this country Medal of Honor recipients are not entitled to a state funeral. Maybe they meant an "official" or ceremonial funeral. But a state funeral is serious stuff. Think of the funeral of Ronald Reagan or the Pope of Rome. Sorry but if this report is true the Aussies are loosing it.
Not losing it at all. Prominent Australians are often granted a State Funeral. It's the Australian way.
Have a bo peep at this:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20367359-661,00.html
relax,, the guy was a true ambassador of Austrailia to the rest of the world and the PM offered it
Ultimately, the family made the right decision for them. A media circus at this time would be too much for his young children.
There will be time for a national memorial after the funeral.
Right now the Irwin Family is more than entitled to privately grieve their loss. Steve Irwin contributed so much to children and parents everywhere that it is fitting that his family wishes be followed to the letter.
Yet Steve Irwin is very deserving of a State funeral for all that he gave to the animal kingdom. He shared his wondrous fascination for all of God's creatures, mighty and small with all of us.
My family and I are still grieving his passing.
Holding a public and even "official" funeral is fine. Nothing wrong with at all. But (and I know I am being an etiquette snob here) State Funerals are in a very special class by themselves. Foreign heads of state usually attend. There is an assload of diplomatic protocol and the ceremonial is extreme. I absolutely agree that he was an extraordinary man and true gift of Australia to the world. Some form of public memorial service or even official ceremony is perfectly appropriate. But even royalty who are not crowned heads of state are not entitled to state funerals.
If I had my druthers, which I don't, I'd love to see a very grand ceremony *because* of the contrast with his rough-and-ready life. 'E'd get a kick outta it, 'e would.
(That was my faux Cockney - picture Eliza Doolittle saying it to him, lol.)(Modern day *Dr.* Dolittle that he was!)
A private funeral for family and friends of this uncommon "common bloke," as his dad called him, is just right, so long as there is a public memorial later - and there is. So, all needs should be attended to.
OK, they have my unasked-for approval!
In Australia, a State Funeral comes in degrees. It can be anything from full-on ceremonial with horses' carriage, military and bands to relatively simple gatherings.
It basically means the Government picks up the tab and certain protocols are followed as a result.
That's very reassuring to hear, A.D.
For years I have been hearing about "Tall Poppies Syndrome" and some very disparaging comments about just about every single Aussie celeb from the past 20 years.
Steve Irwin was more than just a good Aussie bloke, he touched millions of people worldwide, as evidenced by the outpouring of condolences on the Sydney Herald site, and on some other Australian papers' sites.
Well put it this way. If Bill Clinton the rapist and sexual predator died tomorrow, he would be given a state funeral, probably more knowing Hellarys thirst for publicity. To me between Steven and Bill, if it came down to who was more deserving of that type of funeral, it sure as hell wouldn`t be Bill. Then you have Jimmy Carter......
OK. That's what I was thinking earlier. Gov't sponsored funerals usually come in three and sometimes four degrees (official, ceremonial, and state funeral). In some places they have the distinction of what is called a solemn official funeral (Princess Diana's funeral would be an example). Not quite a full blown state funeral but still high end in the ceremony department. In this country cabinet members Supreme Court Justices and state governors would get something like that.
Calvin, there's nothing wrong with being an etiquette snob on your own turf.
Australia has no obligation to follow the Crown of England's rules of etiquette, nor etiquette or diplomatic protocol from any other country for one of their own native sons.
Steve Irwin has earned the State funeral the Australian government has most graciously offered his family.
And Steve Irwin's family deserves that their wishes for a completely private funeral and memorial service be respected.
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