That's the view of Lachlan Stevens, well known as perhaps Wollongong's favourite burger king for his restaurant His Boy Elroy - but lesser known as a veteran of two tours of Afghanistan.

That's no accident for Stevens, 33, who says he prefers to concentrate on what's next rather than what he's done before.

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But just a few years before he opened the restaurant in Wollongong, he was combing roadsides in Tarin Kowt for the improvised bombs as a high-risk searcher in the 2nd Combat Engineers.

"It is high risk but it's rewarding, and if you ask most veterans I think they'd say they'd go back and do it again with their mates," he said.

His experience, and that of his comrades after returning home, helps explain why Stevens spends much of his time and effort on mental health initiatives such as Barstool Brothers, and he understands Anzac Day isn't an easy day for many returned servicepeople.

"I've had friends from the army kill themselves, and 99 per cent of those people didn't put their hand up and reach out to people, to mates, and I think a burger and beer and sport can be the conduit to conversation that some people might need if it's done in a healthy way," he said.

Stevens said people shouldn't shy away from veterans on Anzac Day, even though some will find it a difficult day and stay in the background.

"I don't think too many would shy away from wanting to talk, as long as the question is being asked in a respectful way," he said.