NORMA Johnson spent much of the war years in a prisoner-of-war camp.

But luckily, she was on the right side of the barbed wire.

A lieutenant for the Australian Women’s Army Service, the Burnside resident was posted to a POW camp near Shepparton, where she worked as a pay officer and quartermaster during WWII.

Although she was only 18 when she began a life of service, Norma is grateful for her time in the army, which she says taught her about “love and discipline.”

It also snagged her a husband.

The then-teenager met Navy Engine Room officer Ron Johnson during a trip to Daylesford shortly after the war broke out.

The romance blossomed and the pair married in 1948.

They were married for 37 years and had three children together before Ron passed away in 1985.

Despite the hardships, Norma continues to hold fond memories of the war years.

“They were the best times of my life,” the 87-year-old said.

“My husband didn’t really talk much about his experiences, but I think it’s important to talk about them so the younger generation understands what those days were like.”

Norma is the president of the Burnside Widows Legacy Club, the first legacy club to be based in a retirement village.

Legacy is a charity that raises money to support more than 33,000 family members of veterans in Victoria.

Norma said the support of Legacy had been vital to her and dozens of other war widows who currently live in the Burnside Retirement Village.

“I don’t know what I would have done without Legacy,” Norma said.

“It’s been a lifeline for a lot of people who lost their loved ones who fought for this country.”

The ladies of the Burnside Widows Legacy Club will be selling legacy badges this week to raise money for veterans and their families.

Legacy week will be celebrated from 29 August – 4 September.