The faces may be wrinkled but the eyes that bore witness to the many horrors of World War II still have a twinkle and the cheeky smiles remain.
A photographic exhibition, two years in the making, of 6500 war veterans posing with their medals, mates and memorabilia was unveiled at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Tuesday.
For many now aged in their 90s it's been a while since they had to scrub up in jackets and ties.
Four hundred and fifty professional photographers from across the country took part in Australia, Reflections, including Pam Hutchinson from Geelong who has 115 portraits in the exhibition.
"My first one was the cutest one - Clifford Hayward from Ballarat. His daughter-in-law Pam said 'he's flirting with you'," she said laughing.
"Not long after I did his photo, he had his 90th birthday and then died suddenly and the family were so grateful for the photo which captured who he was."
It had been an honour to meet so many characters and listen to their stories, Hutchinson said, recalling she had to fend off date requests.
"There was a quiet pride and respect and they had a presence about them but when they were together the comradeship was just amazing," she said.
For Hutchinson the project had a special significance because her grandfather had served on The Western Front during the World War I.
Among the portraits on display is one of Ian Prior, standing proudly with his four war medals.
He served in the RAAF with stints in Papua New Guinea, Tarakan in Borneo and the southern Philippines.
Brian Hurley, 92, who was as a signaller with the 43rd Squadron Catalinas based at Kurumba, in Queensland is also featured.
"We saved a few planes that were lost in storms," he said, modestly.
John Carter met his wife Jose, who was in an ordnance section while serving in the British Army, and they have been married for 71 years.
They migrated to Australia in 1949 and both have portraits in the exhibition.
"Never had an argument, not one... only every other day," he joked.
Mr Carter worked on Operation Pluto - a pipeline under the English Channel between Britain and France to supply fuel to allied forces.
"We were boys... (16-years-old) working 6.30 at night to six in the morning making these special tubes, we didn't know what they were for," he told AAP.
War memorial director Brendan Nelson described the collection as compelling.
"Looking into the faces of this remarkable generation of Australians now leaving us is an emotional experience," he said.
"They mobilised to defend us when our vital interest was at stake and gave their youth and their all for us."
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