"Nothing has changed," he said on Thursday as he joined other council figures in reflecting on a life well lived.

Mr Sullivan died on Wednesday aged 76.

He was mayor from 1983-1991 and a councillor from 1978-1991 and 1995-1999.

The car park behind the Civic Centre was named after him in 2009, he served on several boards and was president of the Orange City rugby and CYMS rugby league clubs.

He was awarded a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship in 1990 and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2003.

But most of all he is remembered as a man of the people.

"His motto was putting people first and he was referring to the people of Orange. I was lucky and blessed to be part of his team," Mr Gryllis said.

Former councillor Denis Gregory recalled how Mr Sullivan stood up for local artists in the 1980s.

"He said at the time he preferred paintings of gum trees rather than triangles and squares when it came to appreciation of art after the gallery management knocked back a request from the Orange Art Group to hold and exhibition there," he said.

Mr Gregory said Mr Sullivan saw that the local group got their exhibition.

Mayor Reg Kidd said Mr Sullivan was "a great son" of Orange.

"He retained a strong interest in council and the community," he said.

He was always willing to give me feedback about whatever were the big community debates of the day, but it was always helpful, constructive advice.

"I know he marvelled at the quality of medical facilities here, the very health assets that he was able to use as his health declined."

Cr Glenn Taylor said Mr Sullivan came from a working class background.

"The son of a shearer's cook, he was a Labor man through and through. He worked as a nurse at Bloomfield Hospital and you could see that in the way he genuinely cared for people," he said.

Cr Taylor said in 1996 Mr Sullivan stood for state parliament in a by-election.

"The pundits said a Labor party candidate couldn't get close in the seat of Orange. Tim was proud he proved them wrong and got within two per cent of winning the state seat of Orange for the ALP."

He is survived by wife Lorraine and sons Tony and Michael.