Hundreds join Stuart Diver to mark 20 years since Thredbo landslide

Family and friends of the 18 people killed in the Thredbo landslide say they're still confronted by the tragedy as they gather in the alpine village to mark the 20th anniversary.

Senior police pay their respects at a memorial service at the Thredbo Ecumenical Chapel in the Thredbo Alpine Village, Sunday, July 30, 2017. Source: AAP

Hundreds crammed into the Chapel on Sunday for an emotional service to commemorate the victims two decades after a landslide crushed two ski lodges in the popular NSW ski resort.

Mourners wept as Euan Diver, brother of sole survivor Stuart Diver, and other community members read the names of the victims, followed by a moving rendition of Amazing Grace.

A bell was tolled and a candle lit for each of the victims before mourners lay flowers and wreaths at the nearby Thredbo Memorial Community Centre.

Annie Boward said emotions were still raw for those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

Stuart Diver as he was pulled from the rubble of a ski lodge in Thredbo in 1997. (AAP) Source: AAP

She recalled how she had planned to call her friend Wendy O'Donohue before discovering she was trapped in one of the collapsed ski lodges.

"I had a letter on my kitchen bench signed by Wendy just to call her and let her know when I was coming down next," Ms Boward said.

"I had it on the bench that morning ready to call - then I turned on the early news."

Ms Boward said healing was about bringing people back to Thredbo.

But the loss always remained just under the surface, she said.

"I don't think it leaves you. It's always just there."

Donna Barlow worked in customer service at Thredbo when the landslide occurred.

She returned this weekend to remember the friends and coworkers she lost in the tragedy.

"We're still a community and we support each other - it changed all of our lives," she told AAP.

"It's confronting how quickly 20 years goes by."

Local businessman Ian Foster insisted the community was stronger than ever but the pain was still present.

"It's something that's always there. It's not hard to feel that emotion come up," he said.

Memorial services were held throughout the weekend in Thredbo, with a commemorative flare run on Saturday night led by Stuart Diver.

He was joined by 300 skiers and snowboarders who blazed down Thredbo's Supertrail with red flares in memory of the victims, including his wife Sally.

The procession was followed by a pyrotechnics display featuring 18 separate fireworks - one for each victim.