While many chose to reflect quietly on the tragic events of Black Saturday 2009, and some would like to forget, others, like Ballan's CFA crew, were looking forward to continuing the rebuilding effort.

Their lieutenant, Mick Heath, who was in the thick of the relief effort in 2009, said he - ironically - spent the day this year lighting fires as improved conditions allowed for fuel reduction burning.

Mr Heath said the active fire preparation had provided a low-key but useful way of spending the memorial day.

He has visited the Kinglake area several times since the fires destroyed the home of his friend and fellow St Andrew's firefighter, Ben Hutchinsen.

"It was good to hear he had moved into the temporary village and was looking forward to beginning to build," Mr Heath said.

He said it had been a long struggle for the victims, who had often been frustrated by 'red tape'.

"I think everyone is just taking it a day at a time," Mr Heath said. "For 12 months the focus has been entirely on rebuilding and maybe when that is done, people will have the time to think." He said the Ballan CFA was also eager to return and hopefully work on projects that may have been overlooked in the initial effort - like rebuilding children's playgrounds.

"In the first few months the floodgates (of public support) just opened, but 12 to 18 months down the track things tend to get forgotten."

For CFA Region 14 Brigade Support Officer Chris Kearney, the memorial day served as a reminder of a different kind, that fires are still a potent threat to all those who live in fire-prone areas.

"We still have so many people who have the mindset that, 'it's not going to happen to me'," Mr Kearney said.

He said he was continually surprised by the ignorance of residents about fire preparation and burning off, even after the tragic February events. Last year's ordeal had deeply affected many in the CFA but had not dimmed the enthusiasm of volunteers or the dedication of the organisation to improve its role in protecting communities.

"The current conditions here so far have been fantastic," he said. "But there's nothing to say it won't happen in a week's time - if it does we'll be ready for it."