Anniversary marked

Melbourne: Church bells rang in the small community of Marysville in Victoria yesterday to mark 10 years since the town was destroyed in the Black Saturday bushfires.

Members of the town who wanted to reflect were invited to attend a church service last night, followed by a walk to the memorial for a minute’s silence.

Bells rang out at 7pm before those who gathered were invited to attend a community barbecue at the oval in Gallipoli Park where hundreds sheltered when fire ripped through the town on February 7, 2009.

Other towns including Kinglake, St Andrews, Strathewen, Flowerdale and Yarra Glen also held services yesterday.