Bushfire state memorial honours the 25 victims and the heroes of the NSW fires

Families enter Sydney Olympic Park service through a guard of honour, with a row of 25 candles marking each life lost

The scars remain but traumatised communities are starting to heal as a state memorial honoured the lives lost and the heroes forged in the New South Wales bushfire crisis.

A public state memorial was held at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday to recognise the devastating toll of the bushfires that ripped through much of NSW.