In front of a crowd of 5000 and a worldwide television audience of more than 300 million viewers, Bindi read the following statement at her father's public memorial service on September 20, 2006:
"My daddy was my hero – he was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all he was fun. I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.
He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.
I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.
I have the best daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life and now it’s our turn to help Daddy."
Bindi's speech received a standing ovation and was voted the television moment of the year, as chosen by readers of the Australia TV Week Reader Poll 2006. Bindi's speech received 43 percent of the votes from the poll.
Terri Irwin stated that, apart from some assistance with typing, Bindi had written the speech herself.
Bindi now has a show Saturday mornings taking the place of her father.
You can view her speech in the videos section.
"My daddy was my hero – he was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all he was fun. I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.
He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.
I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.
I have the best daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life and now it’s our turn to help Daddy."
Bindi's speech received a standing ovation and was voted the television moment of the year, as chosen by readers of the Australia TV Week Reader Poll 2006. Bindi's speech received 43 percent of the votes from the poll.
Terri Irwin stated that, apart from some assistance with typing, Bindi had written the speech herself.
Bindi now has a show Saturday mornings taking the place of her father.
You can view her speech in the videos section.
