Prime Minister Gillard to return to work

13 Sep 2012, 7:00 am   -   Source: AAP
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A private gathering is to be held to mourn the death of the prime minister's father, John Gillard. (AAP)

A private gathering is to be held to mourn the death of the prime minister's father, John Gillard. (AAP)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is returning to work after bereavement leave by attending the funeral of a fallen Australian soldier.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will resume formal duties on Thursday by attending the private funeral of a fallen Australian soldier.

Ms Gillard will not be in parliament but will attend the funeral of Private Nathanael Galagher.

Private Galagher's family have requested that no media attend the funeral service.

Pte Galagher was serving with the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan when he was killed in a helicopter crash on August 30, along with Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald.

He was raised near Narrabri in northern NSW.

His partner Jessie Feeney is pregnant with his unborn son.

Ms Gillard has been on leave since Saturday after learning of her father John's death while in Vladivostok for the APEC summit.

Mr Gillard's death, aged 83, left the prime minister in shock even though her father had been battling illness.

No formal funeral service was held for Mr Gillard at his request.

He donated his body to science and requested there be no formal funeral service, a notice in Wednesday's Adelaide Advertiser said.

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