As a child, Karen Ager had a bag with a little girl saying "if I were a man," she would enlist, which gave life to a childhood dream of serving. In her 30s, Mrs Ager joined the army.
Realising this dream came after getting married and having children.
Mrs Ager said her husband joined the Army Reserve, and she walked up to the enlistment caravan with her newborn daughter in her arms.
"I walked in there with her, and I said, 'You won't have me because I have asthma.' And I turned around to walk out, and the bloke went, 'Ah, not necessarily.'"
That conversation was the start of 10 years of service with the Army Reserve and the Australian Army, mostly driving trucks.
"I was practically a grandmother when I joined compared to the 18 to 22 year olds," she said.
"It's all physically hard like, I said like oh my god I'm 30, what the hell am I doing here."
She said her time overseas with the army in Timor-Leste was both the best and worst time of her life.
"All serving can leave a legacy, but not all people have problems just with going overseas," Mrs Ager said.
"There's a whole range of people that still did the job, that stayed back to make sure those people that went away could do their job, and they still came out with issues as well."
Only recently, Mrs Ager joined the Launceston RSL's Women's Auxiliary sub-branch.
It supports the Launceston RSL, veterans and their families by running stalls and fundraisers, assisting with commemorative services, sub-branch events, and contributing to community initiatives.
The Launceston Women's Auxiliary has 28 active members ranging from 28 to 85 years of age.
Mrs Ager said she wasn't "good in social settings", in part because of PTSD, but the Auxiliary still involved her and she found them easy to be with.
"That's why I joined them, that's why I stay," she said.
"We can be deadly serious when we need to be and professional, but we can also have that lighter side because I think we need that."
The Auxiliary celebrated its 90th birthday in October, reflecting on 90 years of continuous service, fellowship and dedication to veterans and their families.
Showing off that light-hearted side, the men and women who gathered to celebrate, did so with the childlike fun of a children's party.
Mini pies and sausage rolls, party hats, presents, games and fairy bread were all rolled out.
The Women's Auxiliary president Diane Brzeski said the event not only honoured present members, but also the generations of women whose compassion, organisational skill, and steadfast support have shaped the Auxiliary's legacy.
"These women cooked, fundraised, comforted families, and stood beside veterans through war, peace, hardship, and change," she said.
"Their contributions continue to resonate through every event and act of service offered today."
Launceston's Women's Auxiliary was one of the first in Australia, and has one of the largest memberships across the country.