Thousands queue for Irwin memorial tickets

[Sydneyfan]

This is actually starting to get a little over the top.



People have been turned away from centres that are distributing tickets to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's memorial service on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Thousands of tickets have been given out to hundreds of people who have been queuing throughout the night at Ticketek outlets in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and at Australia Zoo.

Police say queues reached full capacity at 9am AEST.

The public farewell will be held at Australia Zoo's Crocoseum next Wednesday.

Zoo marketing manager Peter Lang says he expected the overwhelming response.

"People around the world loved him and in the local area people loved him even more and we're just so proud and so happy that people have turned up to get tickets," he said.

"They're free tickets that we're giving away to what should be a wonderful celebration of Steve's life on Wednesday.

"We're very humbled and we're very proud of the support."

It took just 17 minutes for tickets being given out in Brisbane for Irwin's memorial service.

More than 400 people queued at the Ticketek office, some since early Thursday morning.

Only about 50 people missed out on the 1,000 tickets that were given out in Brisbane for next week's service.

Melissa Power was the first to be successful.

"I've been in line for 25-and-a-half-hours. I got here at 7.30 yesterday morning," she said.

"It's indescribable. It's joy. It's elation. My daughter wanted this so much and to be able to give that to her and just to go

[Sydneyfan]

Its on today at 11am our time. Going to be bigger than Ben Hur by the looks of it.

[foggy]

Sounds like it. They are showing the memorial here in the states on Animal Planet.

[Sydneyfan]

Russel Crowes' involved somehow - not sure whether he's going to make an appearance, do a video cross or wrestle a crocodile with his bare hands.
One of those.

We'll all be overdosing on Australiana today maaaate.

[Sydneyfan]

Okay - I'm a dope. Service started at 9am. Its on right now.

Russell Crowe, Cameron Diaz (go figure) the PM etc all made speeches either live or via video.

Linkie: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/pm-honours-irwins-zest-for-life/2006/09/20/1158431742766.html

[foggy]

I watched the service and thought it was nicely done. I was quite surprised to see Steve's daughter Bindi make that speech, (talking about how her Father was her hero and she will carry on his work) she appeared very mature for such a little girl, but obviously she can't entirely comprehend the weight of her Father's death at her young age.

Then today I was reading that Irwin's friend John Stainton said Bindi has to "step up to the mark quickly" which, while Stainton seems like a good guy, I found it such an odd thing to say. He went on to say how Bindi has all these episodes of her new show to finish. She's only 8 years old for gods sake. Something rather unsettling about the whole thing. It's certainly too much pressure for an 8 year old little girl who just lost her Father. I hope she'll end up ok. :\

[Sydneyfan]

There's a lot being said about that here too. And I agree, it seems like she's being pressured to "carry on his legacy" - which let's not forget, is actually worth a great deal of money. When Steve ws alive he spent all his money on conversation, buying up land for wildlife habitats etc, so it wasn't as if bucks were his prime motivation. HOwever, there are a lot of other people making their living off the Irwin name, and I'm not certain they all have his daughter's best interests as their prime concern.

Hopefully the mother will take control when she's up to it.

[foggy]

HOwever, there are a lot of other people making their living off the Irwin name, and I'm not certain they all have his daughter's best interests as their prime concern.
.

My concern exactly. As you said, hopefully Terri will take control when she's in a better frame of mind.