When John Keating began playing bagpipes in the Victorian town of Robinvale at 13, he never imagined it would turn into a life-long passion or a staple of the district's annual remembrance commemorations.
This year, Mr Keating will mark 70 years of playing at Anzac Day services and after reaching the platinum milestone, the 83-year-old said he planned to retire from official piping duties.
"It has been a great journey," Mr Keating said. "But, there comes a time when it does stop.
"Getting towards 84 and trying to blow a wind instrument at that age, you have to be careful."
Mr Keating took up bagpipes as a teenager because he needed a hobby and "didn't mind getting out on the front verandah annoying the neighbours".
He would join the Robinvale and District Highland Pipe Band, which was formed by a group of returned servicemen in the early 50s, and perform at Anzac Day parades until the group disbanded in 2012.
Since then, Mr Keating has piped solo, performing the Scottish folk tune and traditional lament Flowers of the Forest during the laying of wreaths at the Robinvale Cenotaph.
"The pipes really make the occasion," he said.
"Without them it is solemn but with the pipes it turns into an event and that is what people want to remember."
Mr Keating said it felt like the right time to step back from playing at remembrance services.
"I have a great self-satisfaction completing jobs and seeing things through – and I hate having to walk away from anything and leaving people in the lurch."
"Having got to 70 years, at the one cenotaph, that is great."
War memorial anniversary
This year also marks 70 years since the 1953 unveiling of the Robinvale Cenotaph, where the town holds its commemorative events.
The official ceremony was held on April 26, rather than Anzac Day, because the dignitaries invited for the occasion were all unavailable.
In the years prior, community members had to erect makeshift memorials every Anzac and Remembrance Day and hold services at the local railway station.
Robinvale RSL secretary Bev Harbinson said large crowds still came out to the Cenotaph to remember those who fought in the war and that a lot of effort went into organising the annual dawn services and parades.
"Robinvale has a long service history and I think that is why Anzac Day is special to us."
She said the absence of Mr Keating's bagpipes would not go unnoticed at future events.
"It just adds something special to the day and it has always been part of our service. John is there and John plays the bagpipes," Ms Harbinson said.
Mr Keating said he was proud to have served the community through his piping.
"The piper that taught me, Dick Voege, said to me when I was getting well into the bagpipes, 'John, if you give up playing, all you have done is waste my time'," Mr Keating said.
"I have carried that through and I don't think I have wasted his time or anybody else's."
