When Nikki Waldon and her husband David stand in the pre-dawn chill at the Colonel Light Gardens Memorial this Anzac Day, they’ll have a new member of their party.

Their nine-month-old son Chase will be there, resplendent in miniatures of his dad’s medals, experiencing the day when many nations come together at sunrise to honour and remember those who served and died for their countries.

For Nikki, a Sergeant with SAPOL, Chase’s first Anzac Day will be a chance to participate in a tradition she has seen grow considerably in recent years.

"It’s great to see so many people there to recognise our servicemen and women," she said.

"They give so much throughout the year and throughout their entire service.

"It brings a lot of people together, and it’s a wonderful demographic of people who come out. And to see so many kids there, I think that’s really important."

While David is no longer in the Army full-time, he maintains his connection through the Army Reserve while working within South Australia’s burgeoning defence sector.

And Nikki gives back by sitting on the Veterans’ Health Advisory Council (VHAC), a group that provides advice to the government on health issues of veterans, war widows and their families and advocates on their behalf.

VHAC is made up of Reservists from Navy, Army and Air Force as well as ex-serving veterans and medical specialists who work with veterans, family members and carers of veterans.

Nikki said that while the families of Defence personnel were generally immensely proud of the work that their loved ones carried out for the country, it wasn’t always an easy life.

"There’s a lot of uncertainty," she said.

"Duty always comes first, and if they’re called upon to do something then they have to go.

"That can make the usual planning you do as a family quite tricky, and your plans tend to be shorter term because everything is subject to change, and quite quickly.

"So, there are sacrifices on both sides, but there are also so many benefits that come from serving."

It’s a sentiment shared by Emma Kokar, Executive Director for Transport Policy and Regulation at the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Emma’s husband Chris is a Major in the Army, and she has grandparents whose lives were impacted by the Second World War.

"Both sets of grandparents were affected by war in very different ways," she said.

"My grandfather on my mother's side served in the Second World War in Borneo, and my father is a Polish immigrant whose parents were both incarcerated in Germany during the war, so I've seen both sides growing up."

For Emma, these connections have led to a deep respect for service.

"I know a lot of people say this, but I truly believe there is no greater public service than serving in the military," she said.

And this respect for service is something she’s incorporated into her role as a public sector leader and as the chairperson of the department’s Veterans and Defence Committee.

"It’s a very new committee, but through getting to know my staff and understanding some of the unique challenges they have faced, I've developed a bit of a passion for supporting those that have served and are serving," Emma said.

"We're on the path to becoming a partner in the South Australian Veteran Employer Network (SAVEN) – a Veterans SA program that aims to bring together employers committed to improving employment outcomes for veterans and their partners.

"A lot of the skill sets in the military really suit our department.

"The number one thing that I notice is in emergency management, they're second to none.

"Combine that with their project management skills, their ability to navigate complicated tasks and to get to the information really quickly - they're just unflappable.

"I really do believe that we should do everything we can to support both our current and former serving personnel."

On a personal front, Emma – who like Nikki said the uncertainty was probably the biggest challenge of being married to someone in the military – said Anzac Day was a very special day for both her and Chris.

"For me, I see it as a time to reflect and remember those that have gone before us and, we should thank them for their service," she said.

"It’s because of them that we are able to live in this beautiful country. We're here because people fought for our freedom.

"Chris and I spend that morning time together reflecting and talking about that, and then it’s a day for him and his mates to spend time together."

PAYING YOUR RESPECTS ON ANZAC DAY

• Across the state, South Australians will gather at dawn services, marches and commemorations to pay their respects to those who have served, to the families who support them and to the enduring legacy they have entrusted to us.
• Information about South Australian Anzac Day services in metropolitan and regional areas is available on the RSL SA website (external site).
• In Adelaide, commemorations will begin with the Dawn Service at the South Australian National War Memorial at 6am, followed by the Adelaide Anzac March at 9.30am and the Service of Remembrance at the Cross of Sacrifice in Pennington Gardens at 11.15am.
• Adelaide Metro will provide free public transport for current and former military personnel in uniform or wearing service medals, or presenting a Veteran Card.
• Additional bus, train and tram services will operate to and from the city for Anzac Day memorial services, including the Anzac Day Dawn Service and Commemorative March.
• A free, fully accessible Digger Shuttle will also run between the National War Memorial and Victoria Square following the march. Full details on Anzac Day public transport services are available at the Adelaide Metro website (external site).