It's been almost a decade since Isabella Laudisio lost her father, family restaurant and several staff in Australia's deadliest bushfire.
In total, 173 people were killed in Victoria's Black Saturday disaster which sparked on February 7, 2009.
One of the worst-hit communities was Kinglake, where homes have been rebuilt, businesses reopened and families forced to pick up the pieces of their lives.
"It's been hard, we've really struggled," Ms Laudisio, 65, told AAP on Thursday, explaining she has received therapy to cope with the trauma.
The family reopened their Capparossi's eatery, a local favourite, in 2014. But they say they will never get over the events of 2009.
"Every day is a challenge for us in the sense that it doesn't go away," Ms Laudisio said.
"You want summer to pass very quickly, you are always on edge because you know what you went through.
"You don't want to live through that again, especially when you lost someone dear."
Concerns over the mental health impact of the fire are shared by many residents.
Belinda Temby, executive officer at Kinglake's Ellimatta Youth Centre, said better access to specialist services is essential in the lead up to the 10th anniversary.
"Some people aren't doing very well at all and others are doing really well; they are thriving and they have moved on with their lives and they are living with the trauma that the fires had on them," she said.
"Other people are still suffering, businesses haven't rebuilt, families ... some of them are still falling apart."
Michelle French, part of Kinglake Ranges Business Network, managed to flee half-an-hour before the fire ripped through her home and school camp business.
"It is a struggle but it's a great struggle," the 52-year-old said of rebuilding the business, which reopened in 2011.
"We were so fortunate our family were fine; what we lost was nothing compared to who we lost up here."
The mother of two worries about the lasting mental impact but believes the 10-year anniversary is a chance to show the resilience of the town.
"I want to let Australia know that it's beautiful up here, it's fantastic, we have moved on, we are doing great, we need the tourists to come and support our local businesses," she said.
On Thursday, federal Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten pledged that a government led by him would contribute to a $750,000 revitalisation of the community.
"Black Saturday was of a magnitude of disaster that is incomprehensible almost and it still feels incomprehensible now," he told reporters after meeting community representatives.
