BEIJING, Sept. 21 -- Hollywood celebrities, friends and relatives of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin paid their final respects to the popular TV host and conservationist yesterday at a public memorial service that was alternately sad, uplifting and sometimes funny.

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

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, among the 5,000 in attendance at the Australia Zoo for the ceremony, was the first to speak at the memorial at the "Crocaseum" at the family-owned Australia Zoo.

"Steve Irwin touched the hearts of Australians and touched the hearts of millions around the world in a very special way," Howard said. "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 September 4 when the barb from a stingray pierced his chest while he was filming for a TV show on the Great Barrier Reef. His family held a private funeral service for him on September 9 at Australia Zoo.

The public memorial featured a more public Irwin at least in several video clips aired during the ceremony. His in-your-face antics and humour helped level out some of the more serious parts of the hour-long ceremony.

Most popular were out-takes and bloopers from his TV programme showing Irwin falling out of boats, getting bitten by lizards and forgetting his lines. In one scene, he fluffed his line four or five times, before simplifying it to say: "Crikey, that's it," coaxing much laughter from the crowd.

As expected, there was one empty seat at the stadium the one set aside for the late conservationist himself. On the stage sat Irwin's widow, American-born Terri, and their two children, Bindi 8, and Bob, 2.

All dressed in Irwin's favourite khaki wear, it was their first public appearance since Irwin's death.

"Please do not grieve for Steve, he's at peace now," said Steve's father, Bob Irwin. "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 passing to ever end, I will miss him every day," said Bindi Irwin.

Flags on the Sydney Harbour Bridge flew yesterday at half-staff, and giant television screens were set up in Irwin's home state of Queensland for people to watch the service. Three of Australia's main television networks carried the ceremony, which was made available to US and international networks and which family officials said could be watched by as many as 300 million people.

One of Irwin's favourite Australian country singers, John Williamson, sang one of Irwin's favourite songs, "True Blue," from a makeshift stage on the back of Irwin's utility vehicle more commonly known as a "ute" in Australia.

(Source: China Daily)