Born in Brisbane on February 19, 1917, Mr Barker has two daughters, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren who will join cousins and other friends and family to celebrate his 100th birthday on Sunday afternoon.

While he cooks all his own meals now at his home in Coorparoo these days, Mr Barker's daughter Chris McLennan said he only learnt to cook when he was in his 80s.

"He didn't cook whatsoever until my mother died," Ms McLennan said.

With both daughters out of the state at the time, she said it was "sink or swim" but he managed to figure it out all by himself.

"He said 'I watched your mother cook for 50 years, I'll be right', and he took to it like a duck to water," she said.

While Mr Barker said his cooking is "nothing special", his tomato relish is a family favourite.

"I got that out of the paper and I've been making it for years, I always give my daughter some when I make it," he said.

Growing his own vegetables had always been a passion.

"I'm not interested in flowers much, but a vegetable garden I've always been interested in," he said

Born in Brisbane, Mr Barker grew up in Chelmer and attended Brisbane Boys College until the age of about 15.

And besides stints in Borneo and Papua New Guinea as a radio mechanic during World War II, Mr Barker lived and worked for his entire life in Queensland.

Ms McLennan said he moved with his family all over regional Queensland thanks to his job with the bank, with stints in Rockhampton, Townsville, Marburg, Harrisville, and Mundubbera.

"He worked for NAB for his entire life, which I just think is incredible in this day and age," she said.

"We moved a lot, usually every two years."

Mr Barker said the constant moving was a "nuisance", which luckily stopped when the family moved to Coorparoo in 1962. Mr Barker has lived in that home ever since.

Ms McLennan said the family has just sold Mr Barker's home, and he will live with family until he has decided exactly what he wants to do. Ms McLennan said his positive attitude will see him through the transition.

"He makes us all smile, I must admit. His attitude to life is always calmly positive," she said.

Mr Barker said he lives by the philosophy that everything will be all right.

"I always say 'don't worry'."