South Australians have been reminded that Anzac Day doesn't glorify or romanticise war and urged to avoid the "jingoism" sometimes associated with the most important day on the national calendar.
At the dawn service in Adelaide, Anzac Day committee chairman Bill Denny said there was no glory or romance in war.
"There is only futility, loss and grief," he told the thousands gathered at the war memorial in Adelaide.
Saturday's service was bathed in sunshine as dawn broke, defying forecasts of rain.
Tears were shed by many as choirs sang and war historian Bill Gammage urged everyone present to do all they could not only to remember those who had gone to war and never returned but also to care for the relatives of the fallen.
"Lest we forget is not enough. Words and bugles can never repay," Mr Gammage said.
Adelaide's service marked 80 years since the first dawn service was held in the city in 1935.
On that occasion only about 200 people turned up, but it was still hailed a success.
Writers at the time noted that despite 20 years passing since the Gallipoli campaign, the public had not forgotten the importance of the day.
Mr Denny said the Gallipoli campaign was often hailed as "laying the bedrock" of Australia as a nation.
Many considered Gallipoli to be the genesis of Australia's national personality that had delivered such characteristics as courage mateship, tenacity, loyalty, selfless dedication and more, he said.
"Others see it much differently, with the most extreme arguing that the whole campaign was characterised by unremitting tragedy, a shambles doomed to fail.
"Whatever your view, what these men did, nothing can alter now."
Attending the dawn service for the first time, Kirsten from suburban Salisbury said this year's service had special meaning with her son taking part in the youth vigil among 400 young people who stood guard at the memorial overnight.
A great uncle also fought in World War I making it "even more important that we came".
While the Organ family, who were also attending their first dawn service, said they were touched by the emotion of the morning.
"Unlike many people here we don't have any relatives who fought. But we still just wanted to be here," they said.
