I guess it's good to remember that most kids would love to have a clown for a father. At least until they go to high school. The kids, I mean, not the clowns. And being named after the dog doesn't seem to bother them much, either.
The text of Bindi Irwin's speech at her father's memorial service at the family zoo are after the jump. She received a 1-minute standing ovation.
[note: to stem the tide of Aussies shouting "crikey!" in the comments, I have replaced the NZ Herald link with a .au one.]
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.Bindi's Speech [Daddy made this place his whole life and now it's our turn to help Daddy."
I have to say that I have never seen a stronger, more well spoken 8-year-old... ever. She did a beautiful job, and I too was in tears. He may have been a nut, but that's by our standards.
Honestly, in my opinion all that matters is that he loved those kids like crazy which is more than we can say for a lot of parents out there. They won't ever have to grow up wondering if their daddy loved them. They have not only their own memories, but also films, photos and a whole zoo full of people who love them and will be there for them to share his memory as well.
I don't know that anyone could ask for more, except of course for him to still be alive...
I have a bigger concern that you are sourcing the NZ herald...crikey.
[all of Oceania mourns Australia's loss? I have no idea what the NZ Herald is, besides a paper from the country of Hobbits and Phil & Ted's -ed.]
Bugger... me to.