ABOUT 300 people have attended a Corryong memorial service for DSE firefighter Steven Kadar, tragically killed in the line of duty.
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Mr Kadar, 34, died alongside his colleague Katie Peters, 19, on February 13 as they battled the Harrietville fire in the North East's remote alpine region.
A tree fell on their emergency vehicle.
Among the mourners at the Corryong Youth Hall were Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews, Deputy Premier Peter Ryan and the member for Benambra Bill Tilley.
A strong contingent of DSE fire fighters were also there.
His Corryong colleagues spoke at the service and said "good mates are hard to find and even harder to lose".
"His amazing sense of calm with continue to radiate," they said.
Mr Kadar's sister Elissa Lemech said it was comforting to be in Corryong to feel "how loved and respected Steven was by his community".
The eulogy was read by cousin Wendy Poulton, Corryong police officer Sgt Paul Brady and family friend Miranda Mouat.
Sgt Brady read a statement on behalf of Mr Kadar's girlfriend Leah.
She wrote "I will forever miss the sound of Steven stomping up the front steps".
Ms Mouat told The Border Mail last week that while Mr Kadar was born and bred in the city "he had that country boy about him".
Mr Kadar moved to Corryong in 2004 where he started as a first-year project fire fighter with the Environment Department.
He had found the love of his life in Albury with his partner Leah and his family said the couple had many dreams for the future.
"Words cannot express how lost, devastated and heartbroken she feels, having lost the love of her life," the family said in a statement.
"Steven was such a beautiful soul and he and Leah were so privileged to have shared the greatest love."
His family said Mr Kadar had an uncanny ability to create a sense of calm and was a person who lit up their lives.
"Steven had a wicked sense of humour," they said.
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