Australia Pays Tribute to Irwin

A khaki-clad choir, Hollywood stars, family, friends and thousands of ordinary Australians bade farewell to "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin today.

Australia was brought to a virtual standstill as millions watched the televised public memorial service at the television presenter and conservationist's "Crocoseum".

The Australian prime minister, John Howard, was among the 5,000 people who attended the service at Irwin's personal stadium, which is at the centre of the Australia Zoo near Brisbane, Queensland.

"Steve Irwin touched the hearts of Australians and touched the hearts of millions around the world in a very special way," Mr Howard said as he led the tributes. "He did that because he had that quality of being genuine, of being authentic, of being unconditional and having a great zest for life."

Irwin, 44, died on September 4 when the barb from a stingray pierced his chest while he was filming for a television show on the Great Barrier Reef. His family held a private funeral service for him on September 9 at Australia Zoo, a flora and fauna park that has been owned by the Irwin family since 1970.

Today flags on the Sydney harbour bridge flew at half-mast, and giant television screens were set up in Queensland for people to watch the hour-long public service.

The ceremony featured footage of the hugely popular entertainer, including out-takes and bloopers from his programme. It showed Irwin falling out of boats, getting bitten by lizards and forgetting his lines.

The actor Russell Crowe, dressed in a black suit, said in a recorded tribute from New York: "It was way too soon for all of us. We have lost a friend, a champion. It will take some time to adjust to that."

As expected, there was one empty seat at the stadium, the one set aside for the late conservationist himself. A koala slumbered in a gum tree next to the stage where Irwin's widow, American-born Terri, and their two children, Bindi 8, and Bob, 2, sat. It was their first public appearance since Irwin's death and all his family were dressed in his favourite khaki wear.

"Please do not grieve for Steve. He's at peace now," said Irwin's father Bob. "Grieve for the animals. They have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I."

Later, Bindi Irwin told the crowd at the ceremony that she had the "best daddy in the world".

"I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end, I will miss him every day," she said.

There were further video tributes from the Hollywood actors Cameron Diaz and Kevin Costner.

Tens of thousands have travelled to the zoo in the days since his death to leave flowers and other mementos, many of them signing khaki shirts instead of a condolence book. Since Irwin's death, his conservation charity Wildlife Warriors has seen a surge in donations and its website has received millions of hits.

Three of Australia's main television networks screened today's hour-long ceremony, which family officials said could have been watched by as many as 300 million people around the world.

Irwin's 46 "Crocodile Hunter" documentaries were watched by 200 million people and his death prompted a huge outpouring of grief in Australia and beyond.

The ceremony included a performance from one of Irwin's favourite Australian country singers, John Williamson, singing from a makeshift stage on the back of Irwin's utility vehicle.

At the end of the ceremony, Irwin's truck, packed with camping gear, netting and his favourite surfboard, was driven from the stadium - through an honour guard of Australia Zoo employees - to an encore singing of one of Irwin's favourite songs by Williamson, True Blue.

After the truck left the stadium, a group of employees spelled out Irwin's catchword "Crikey" in yellow flowers on the ground.