What to Gift For ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day Gift Ideas: Honouring Service Through Custom Framing

What gift for ANZAC Day truly captures the significance of service, sacrifice, and remembrance? As ANZAC Day approaches, many Australians find themselves searching for a meaningful way to honour veterans — whether gifting a returned serviceman or woman, or presenting something special to the family of a loved one who served.

At Portfolio Picture Framers we believe one of the most powerful ways to preserve and display ANZAC history is through custom framing. From medals and photographs to letters, uniforms, and personal mementoes, framing not only protects these irreplaceable items — it turns them into lasting tributes.

This month, we will provide you with some unique ANZAC Day gift ideas using custom framing, tailored for different recipients, and discover how our expert team can help you create a timeless piece of remembrance this ANZAC Day.

Why do people decide to preserve war memorabilia? 

Preserving war memorabilia is a deeply personal act of honouring service, sacrifice, and family legacy. For many, these items — whether they’re medals, uniforms, letters, or photographs — are tangible connections to loved ones and their stories. 

Custom framing helps protect these irreplaceable pieces from deterioration while turning them into powerful visual tributes. Whether displayed at home or passed down through generations, framed war memorabilia keeps history alive and ensures that the bravery of those who served is never forgotten.

Why custom framing makes the perfect ANZAC Day gift

Custom framing isn’t only about upgrading your decor — it’s about storytelling. Every veteran’s experience is unique, and the items they leave behind or carry with them tell a rich story of bravery, mateship, and service.

Here’s why custom framing is a meaningful choice for ANZAC Day gifting:

• Personalised tribute: Each frame can be designed to suit the individual’s service history.

• Preservation: Protect fragile documents, photographs and medals from damage and deterioration.

• Display-worthy: Create a beautiful focal point in the home that honours a loved one.

• Legacy: Framed items become heirlooms passed down through generations.

Gifts for a living veteran

If you're wondering what gift for ANZAC Day would be suitable for a living veteran, consider a custom-framed display of their service history. 

Veterans often have items tucked away in boxes — campaign medals, service photos, insignia patches, discharge papers or even letters from the front.

At Portfolio Picture Framers, we can design and create custom framed pieces of the following: 

• Securely mounted medals preserved behind UV-protective glass

• A portrait in uniform, professionally printed

• A plaque engraved with their name, rank, and years of service

• Unit insignia or patches, mounted as 3D objects

• A section of personal memorabilia, such as dog tags, or a field diary

These all make for deeply personal gifts that celebrate their legacy, perfect for hanging in a living room, office, or community hall.

Gifts for the family of a veteran

For those asking what gift for ANZAC Day would suit the family of a veteran — especially if the veteran has passed — custom framing offers a way to preserve their memory with dignity and pride.

These are some touching ways to frame a veteran’s story for family members:

Memorial medal frame

A classic option that can combine any of the following:

• A photo of the veteran

• Securely mounted medals

• Dog tags, badges, service books etc

• A service certificate or honours citation

• Engraved plate with key details: name, birth/death dates, rank, and theatre of service

This framed tribute can serve as a focal point for ANZAC Day reflection and family storytelling.

Family gallery wall

Another beautiful idea is creating a series of multiple coordinated frames that you can use to portray your family’s history as a gallery. For your gallery wall you can choose to frame any of the following war memorabilia: 

• Framed letters or postcards 

• Old photographs with family members during leave

• A timeline of their military career

• Any awards or commendations

At Portfolio Picture Framers, we specialise in gallery wall curation and can help match frame styles, colours, and layouts to suit your home and the tone of the tribute.

Framing medals: A timeless gesture

Military medals are among the most cherished mementoes from a veteran’s service. However, when left in drawers or boxes, they’re prone to tarnishing and damage. A popular ANZAC Day gift is to have a professional medal frame made — either for the veteran themselves or for a family member.

We offer:

• Custom shadowbox frames for3D objects

• A huge selection of coloured matboard backgrounds such as Army green, RAAF blue, or Navy black, to enhance the display

• Optional engraved plaques

Framed medals make a beautiful andsentimental gift that brings honour and dignity to a veteran’s service, ensuring their legacy is always on display.

Framing letters, diaries & service papers

If you’ve discovered wartime letters, service diaries, or discharge papers among your family’s keepsakes, framing these items is a respectful and meaningful way to share them.

As an ANZAC Day gift idea, framed letters can serve as:

• A personal history lesson for younger generations

• A touching tribute to those who served

• A unique decorative piece with emotional weight

We offer museum grade materials, preventing acid damage and sun fading. 

Multi-window custom frames allow you to include typed transcriptions alongside difficult-to-read handwriting, or pair the letter with a photograph for context.

Framing military uniforms or patches

If you have access to a veteran’s jacket, shirt, or even a slouch hat, these make an impressive and deeply personal framed gift. 

While more elaborate, framed uniforms are perfect for major commemorative gifts — especially when gifting on behalf of a family.

At Portfolio Picture Framers, we can frame:

• Shirts or jackets, neatly folded or fully spread

• Name tags, patches or epaulettes

• Berets or slouch hats

• Insignia, ribbons, or medals, incorporated into the same frame

These displays are ideal for RSL clubs, local history exhibits, or a feature wall in a family home.

Commemorative collage frames

A more modern take on ANZAC Day gifting is to create a photo collage frame that brings together various aspects of a veteran’s life and service. This could include:

• Photos from enlistment through to discharge

• Images of war memorials, service locations, or military mates

• A scanned image of handwritten letters or diary entries

• An inspirational quote about service or remembrance

We can help design a layout that flows visually and tells a story — whether it's a single oversized frame or a triptych series. This makes for an incredibly touching gift for children or grandchildren of veterans.

Reframing heirlooms

Sometimes, a meaningful item has already been framed — but not in a way that does justice to its significance. Old frames may be faded, broken, or non-archival.

If you have an heirloom that could use a refresh, why not reframe your ANZAC Day gift?

Our team can:

• Replace old or non-archival mats and glass with museum-quality materials

• Update the style to suit your home or décor

• Re-mount items using conservation techniques

• Incorporate additional pieces such as medals, badges, or new information

This is especially useful for family members who’ve inherited framed memorabilia but want to breathe new life into it.

Additional services we offer

• Medal mounting advice: We can recommend trusted local providers to professionally mount your medals on a bar, ready for framing or wear.

• Replica medal guidance: Need a second set of medals for another family member? We’ll help you source high-quality replicas to create additional framed tributes.

• Service history research: Our team can assist in researching your relative’s military service, helping you create an accurate and meaningful plaque.

• Photo & document scanning: We offer high-resolution scanning of original photographs, awards, and certificates — perfect for including in your frame while keeping digital or printed copies for other family members.

Your local framing specialists for ANZAC Day memorabilia

At Portfolio Picture Framers, we bring over 30 years of custom framing expertise to every project. Based in Perth, we’re passionate about preserving personal and national history through quality craftsmanship and care.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Custom designs tailored to your story — no two frames are ever the same

• Archival materials to protect your memories for decades to come

• Experienced team with a deep understanding of military memorabilia

• Local business with fast turnaround times in Perth

• Friendly service, helping guide you through the design process with compassion and expertise

Whether you’re looking for a last-minute gift for ANZAC day or planning a meaningful family heirloom, we’re here to help you create something truly special.

To get started on your ANZAC Day gift project, contact our friendly team for a framing consultation. We’re honoured to help preserve Australia’s stories — one frame at a time.