The parents and sister of killed soldier Private Robert Poate, Hugh, Janny and their daughter Nicola in there Garran home.

The parents and sister of killed soldier Private Robert Poate, Hugh, left, Janny, right, and their daughter Nicola, centre, in there Garran home. Photo: Jay Cronan

In a corner of the Poate family's living room, a grandfather clock stands to attention with a brass plaque fixed to its cabinet.

The family heirloom has been passed from generation to generation, from eldest son to eldest son, with each father proudly adding his son's name to the plaque when the clock was handed on. Seven names dating back to 1738 are inscribed on its face.

Hugh Poate planned to fulfil the family tradition with his son Robert. But that day will never come; Robert isn't coming home.

The parent of killed solider Private Robert Poate, Hugh wears Robert's Dogtags as a reminder of his son.

Time to remember: Hugh Poate wears son Robert's dogtags. Photo: Jay Cronan

Private Robert Poate, of the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, was one of three Australian soldiers killed at a patrol base in the Baluchi Valley, Afghanistan, on August 29 last year. A rogue Afghan National Army soldier, Hek Matullah, turned on his coalition partners and opened fire. Robert died aged 23.

''He was so looking forward to marching in [today's] Anzac Day because he would have served overseas in combat, and he would have been able to wear his combat medals,'' Mr Poate said. ''He wanted to be part of that Anzac legend … and now it will be me wearing his medals instead. That's what hurts the most.''

The fact that their son was betrayed by someone supposedly an ally makes the loss all the harder for the Poate family to understand and accept.

As the nation gathers to mourn its fallen soldiers, Mr and Mrs Poate and Robert's older sister Nicola are slowly coming to terms with what their first Anzac Day will mean without the loving company of their charismatic son and brother, known to his mates as Poatey, but to his family simply as Robbie.

For many of the thousands of Australians attending dawn services around the country, the deaths of the 39 Australians killed since 2002 in Afghanistan will be the most keenly felt.

For the parents whose son followed a proud family history of military service, there is hope that that country now better appreciates the importance of the job done by those who put themselves in harm's way.

''The rest of the country needs to understand what these people mean to this country, and I think today they're in a better position to understand how important they are in today's environment of terrorism,'' Mr Poate said. ''It can result in the destruction of our way of life and that's the intention of terrorism, so our armed forces are employed to protect us from this, and they do a very good job of it.''