An Afghanistan veteran says more "meaningful and tangible" support is needed for veterans before a second remembrance day is introduced.
Timor Leste and Afghanistan veteran Ryan Gilbert told AM a proposed second remembrance day should come hand-in-hand with additional support for veterans.
It comes after RSA National president Sir Wayne Shelford called for an extra day to recognise all veterans last week.
"We know that ANZAC is about the first World War and I think the second World War members and veterans are actually part of that as well," he told AM on Tuesday.
"From the Māori wars all the way up to Afghanistan, so that means everyone gets represented on this day."
But Afghanistan veteran Gilbert says the cause needs further support and more meaning behind it.
"I wouldn't want to see that day become another one where people just see it as a day off or a day to drink, it should be about the remembrance of those who've fallen in their time."
Gilbert told AM when he first joined the Mackenzie RSA in Canterbury's Fairlie there was little support for war veterans.
"It had a welfare system that was pretty much non-existent, it was very much off the map, off the grid from all the other RSAs."
Gilbert said he's worked hard to plug his local RSA to support services since.
"It's been a lot of work, I've had to put in a lot of work in myself, but that's been the rewarding part of it as well."
Watch the full interview above.
