Bushfire tragedy remembered one year on

The remains of a fire damaged bush overlooking Steels Creek on the one year anniversary of 'Black Saturday', Australia's worst ever bushfire disaster. Photo / Getty Images

Australians are holding a national day of mourning today for the 173 people who died a year earlier in the country's worst wildfire disaster.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd attended a church ceremony in Melbourne, and smaller gatherings were held in hamlets that were wiped out by the infernos in Victoria state on what is now called Black Saturday.

On February 7 last year, hundreds of fires raged across the state as temperatures soared and powerful winds whipped blazes into firestorms. By the end of the day, 173 people were dead and more than 7,000 homes razed.

"The loss of so many men, women and children was almost too much to bear and their absence still weighs heavily on their communities and all of those who loved them," Victoria Premier John Brumby said in a condolence message.

The government ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff around the country, and commemoration services were broadcast nationally on television and radio. A minute of silence was to be observed at noon.

At Marysville, where most houses were gutted by fire and 34 people died, survivors gathered at a sports field that became a lifesaving refuge for many as flames roared all around them on Black Saturday. Green shoots of new growth sprung from many eucalyptus trees surrounding the field, though their trunks were still charred black.

Today's national day of mourning will mean the start of a "new year" for many Victorians from bushfire-hit areas, says the head of the recovery authority.

Christine Nixon, the head of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, said she was inspired by the resilience of those affected.

"It's really terrific for me to see, from the very first day when I was up and out in those communities and has continued to be so," she told the Nine Network today.

"I think many people will see today as the start of a new beginning.

"Some people have said to me, look I just want it out of the way, others, it's just another day for me to get over, others say my new year doesn't start until Monday. That's the range of views.

"What keeps people together is the support from the broad community ... I couldn't be more supportive and encouraging of the communities themselves who've just come together, stood up when they never expected to and done an amazing job together."

To mark the fateful day of February 7, 2009, community events have been organised in the bushfire-hit areas such as at the Kinglake West Football Ground on Sunday night, when butterflies will be released and candles lit.

Along with the Prime Minister and Premier Brumby, Ms Nixon will lead a multi-faith memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne to remember those who perished.

"This morning I am going to be meeting with some of the families before the service ... who lost mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and grandchildren," she said.

"They will be very much be the heart of our service today.

"A lot of communities have said to us they just want to be on their own ... they just want to have those who are part of it to reflect, to think and to support each other and I hope that's respected."

Ms Nixon said most of the A$388 ($489.49) million in cash donated after the fires had been allocated to families.

- AAP