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The Crocodile Hunter may be gone, but a khaki-clad army of Steve Irwin fans kept his spirit alive yesterday during celebrations in his memory.
About 6000 people from around Australia and overseas crammed into Irwin's Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast for the first annual Steve Irwin Day.
Most donned Irwin's familiar khaki uniform, while some scrawled "crikey" across their bodies, strapped stuffed crocodiles to their heads and even dressed as khaki brides.
"The response worldwide has just been tremendous," Irwin's widow Terri said.
"I think that what happened to Steve was such a tragedy, but it's given everyone the opportunity to take stock and re-evaluate what's truly important, and that has to be family and our wildlife.
"I think Steve would have been very proud, but I know he would have said, 'It's about me crocs, mate, not about me'."
Irwin was killed in September last year when he was pierced in the heart by a stingray in Far North Queensland.
Terri Irwin, flanked by her children Bindi, 9, and Bob, 3, unveiled a life-sized bronze statue of the family at the site where the zoo began in 1970.
The statue captures Terri, Bindi and Bob holding a saltwater crocodile as Steve stands behind with his faithful dog Sui.
"I think it's so special because our last trip together was catching crocodiles," Terri said.
Prime Minister John Howard paid tribute to Irwin in a video message at the zoo's Crocoseum, saying the Crocodile Hunter had left an "indelible mark" on Australia.
"We all miss Steve," Mr Howard said. "He was a larger-than-life individual who gave all of us a special and new way of thinking about the environment and all creatures great and small."
Bindi sang and danced her way through two new songs, one devoted to her dad, who she admitted she still missed.
"But I know that I'm going to carry on with his work."
Olivia Newton-John also helped to entertain the crowd.
Terri Irwin later launched her new book, My Steve, which she said was a journey of their life and love.
But she said it also documented the difficult times, including the international outcry when Irwin was condemned for holding his Bob, a baby at the time, while feeding a crocodile in 2004.
"I think we fell desperately in love at first sight and it's kind of our journey through life together," she said.
"He's the closest thing I've ever encountered to a real-life action hero."
- AAP
