Wills plays cricket, serves sausages in Victoria

Melbourne, Jan 21 (ANI): Prince William was seen joining cricket stars for a game after serving sausages for locals in the Victorian town of Flowerdale, where he visited people affected by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Wearing a yellow ribbon in support of the bushfire victims, he visited a temporary village set up in Flowerdale, north of Melbourne, for families who lost their homes in the fires.

According to the Whittlesea Leader, about 400 people attended a barbecue lunch at Flowerdale Community Village, with William helping to cook 60kg of meat ordered for the occasion.

Afterwards, he joined in a game of cricket with locals as well as Australian cricketers Brett Lee, David Hussey, Callum Ferguson, retired left-handed batsman Matthew Hayden and former cricketer Brad Hodge.

He planted a tree in memory of the bushfires, which killed 173 people living in the area on February 7 last year, and was also presented with a book of photos commemorating the bushfires called Firestorm.

Whittlesea resident Maria Gajac said Prince William's visit was "absolutely wonderful".

"This is what we need, especially during this time. I work in a nursing home and when the clients heard this, it really lifted their spirits," News.com.au quoted her as saying.

"He is really following the steps of his mother," she added. (ANI)