Preparations are under way to honour a young Gold Coast man who died aiding the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria.
The body of 23-year-old Reece Harding returned to home soil on Friday night, a month after he died when he stepped on a land mine while supporting the Kurdish YPG, People's Defence Units.
A traditional Kurdish funeral will be held in Melbourne on Sunday, which up to 1000 mourners are expected to attend.
Humbled by the Kurdish community's honouring of his son, Keith Harding said he was proud of his son and what he did for the people over there.
"It just shows how much he was loved by the Kurdish community," he told AAP.
Sunday's service will be held at the Kurdish Association of Victoria's headquarters at Pascoe Vale from 2pm.
Organiser Mahmut Kahramanm said the service would include speeches about the sacrifice Mr Harding had made in the name of the Kurdish people.
Mr Harding's body will later be brought home to the Gold Coast for a family funeral on August 1.
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