After talking about their projects, of which there was some great ideas, we talked about what sort of photos they would take for it.

One of the students asked me: "what's your favourite thing to photograph?".

This is a difficult thing for me to answer as there is so many things. For example, siting in Parliament with the politicians watching them settle the days arguments, photographing all the different sports events, taking photos of animals - especially at Tasmania Zoo - and also particular events like V8 supercars, and Agfest.

But I think my favourite would be taking photos of our elderly, people with years of experience. Now I can hear my co-photographers Phillip and Craig laughing and asking: "Is that like people around your age?". Well no, the older ones.

Elderly members of our communities are some of our greatest assets. They have seen change, the cruelty of war, recession, and the power in our humanity at work.

Their face tells a story. I don't call them wrinkles, but character lines, and with the natural light it gives them depth and intrigue, and adds personality. I think there are two types of people one are those who don't really want to look old, but want to look wise and youthful not show the lines. The other type are those who consider the marks of their age as a badge of every success and failure, every laugh laughed and sob wept.

In the last couple of years, I've been privileged to photograph some centenarians when they were celebrating their birthdays. Listening to their stories, and of course asking, that old favourite question: "What is your secret to long life?". Sometimes that answer can't be published.

Journalist Jessica Willard and I knocked on the door of Ralda Freiboth, of Kings Meadows. The door opened and this little lady known as Topsy, welcomed us into her world.

In the loungeroom, the family photos lined the mantle above the freshly lit woodfire she had just stacked the wood in front of, beside which she sat down in her favourite chair. I remember when we started to take the photos, nice soft natural light filtered through the partially drawn venetian blinds, this was the spot to take the picture.

Suddenly the phone rang, and it was loud, it made all of us jump, but brought a cheeky smile to her face. She told us of her recent treasured item, the birthday card signed by the Queen wishing her well for her 100th. I wanted the picture to show her with the card and some of her world.

One of the best interviews I have enjoyed was with journalist Harry Murtough, when we visited Nina Brzeski in her home, the day before her 100th birthday. I think she took a liking to young Harry, and what made this interview was her cheekiness and she would break into song when she wanted to express herself. She was born in the Krasnodarskiy region of south-west Russia in 1919.

At the age of 19, she was taken to a labour camp in Germany. She remained there until the end of the World War II, when she was transferred to a displacement camp where Nina met her husband Stanislaw Brzeski. They got married in 1949 and ended up in St Leonards.

An amazing life to listen too. Once again the natural light through the dining room window just made it right, with her cards in front of her and that cheeky smile.

Another very interesting man was Bill Payne, of Kings Meadows. His old comfortable chair was beside a large window where he could look out into his garden, and with a cup of tea, told us just a small part of his life story. He was born prior to the end of World War I on October 12, 1918.

He could remember quite well his childhood years, growing up in Weldborough he said things were quite hard in those days. On his farm near Winnaleah, he spoke of how they used horses to round up the cows, and horses for riding, and dogs for helping round up the cattle.

Our cattle were very good cattle. He sheared his last sheep at 89 years old on the farm before moving to Launceston. Mr Payne was a kind and softly spoken gentleman, with still the country boy quietly there.

We know older generations have decades of experience they could share with the younger generations. These younger generations can spend years slowly gaining the experience and perhaps making the same mistakes on their own, or they can draw on the wisdom of those who've already been down that same road. While they have unique ideas of their own, it's up to today's young adults to listen to those life lessons.

- Paul Scambler, Senior Photographer