BEERWAH (Australia): Admirers of Australian Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin were being urged to wear his trademark colour of khaki on Friday in an international tribute to the slain wildlife warrior.
A cyber campaign in the form of a chain email called on fans around the world to don khaki clothes for the day as a tribute to the larger-than-life conservationist whose death Monday shocked the world.
The chain letter urged fans to wear "anything khaki... in remembrance of a great man."
Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper joined in the call and said top Australian politicians would take part, with opposition Leader Kim Beazley set to turn out in khaki trousers while New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma was planning to wear a khaki tie.
Television star Irwin, 44, was killed on Monday when a stingray lashed out at him, puncturing his heart as he filmed the creature while diving off the Great Barrier Reef.
The Australian Radio Network, a grouping of commercial radio stations, launched its own Crikey, It's Khaki Friday drive to raise cash for Irwin's charity, Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.
"Steve Irwin’s death has shocked and saddened us all, so we are asking people to pass the bucket around at school and work and make a donation," ARN's operations manager David Smith said.
"Not only was he brave and dedicated to the cause of saving the habitats of all animals, he was a lovable character that found his way into our hearts and homes," he added.
Longtime friend, manager and producer John Stainton meanwhile told reporters that Irwin's widow Terri and her family would Friday finalise arrangements for the peppy naturalist's last rites.
"The private funeral will be decided today," he said of the funeral that was expected within a week. He said anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 people could attend a public memorial service that the family said would be held within two weeks.
The large number of mourners meant that a suitable venue had yet to be found for the public service, Stainton said at Irwin's Australia Zoo in the small northeastern town of Beerwah.
The TV star's father Bob Irwin said on Wednesday that his son would not have wanted a state funeral "because he's just an ordinary guy and he wants to be remembered as an ordinary bloke."
Irwin is survived by his American wife Terri, an eight-year-old daughter Bindi and three-year-old Robert.
