John Bartlett was trying to survive the depression in Deniliquin in the 1930s by taking whatever work he could before he turned 18.
But as soon as he reached that magic age, he had signed himself up to the Australian Defence Force and was headed to World War II with the Army.
Later transferring to the Royal Australian Navy, John is one of few World War II veterans from Deniliquin who still survive today.
Also turning 100 last year like celebrated local Russell Eames - the last surviving WWII veteran still living in Deniliquin, and who featured in this newspaper last week - John made national news last week when his new community at Avoca Beach rallied in his honour.
Less able to attend official Anzac Day ceremonies in person, the commemoratives were brought to him.
About 500 people gathered outside his home on Thursday, including officials from the Royal Australian Navy.
John said it’s a gathering that has been growing in number since he relocated to Avoca Beach to live with daughter Narelle during COVID-19.
“Four years ago I walked to the top of my steps on Anzac Day and two young fellows greeted me and asked if I was the man from the Navy, because their dads would like to come say ‘g’day’,” John said.
“That was the start. Now there’s about 500 people who assemble.
“This year we had four senior officers from the Navy, and a jet fighter flew over the house and shook the whole thing.
“But it was so good to look outside and see so many people who had come to say ‘g’day’ to an old soldier.
“When it was tough we (ANZAC troops) were there, and now they are here for us.”
Among those gathered at Avoca Beach were members of John’s close and extended family, including Deni’s own Eunice Bennett and Lee Bartlett - the daughters of his brother Chummy Bartlett.
John served on HMAS Manoora in New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines.
He was a member of a gun crew and assisted with lowering landing barges which carried troops into battle.
Of 700 crewman on his ship, he is the only one still surviving.
While it has been some time since John lived in Deniliquin, he says it will always feel like home.
He says it’s where he was educated - including by famed local teacher Arthur Lewis in Year 5 - and where he honed his skills and found security in the defence force to escape the depression.
But most importantly, it’s where he met and married his beautiful wife.
“After the war I stayed with the Navy another eight years on bomb and mine disposal in the islands, but then came home to Deni.
“My brother Chummy asked what I was doing this one day and took me down to the football.
“There I sat down next to a girl I had been to school with.
“I asked her who her blonde friend was and she said ‘Eileen Brown’. I leaned over and said ‘hello Eileen Brown, I am going to marry you’.
“Eighteen months later, in 1950, we were married in the Presbyterian Church.”