He slept on its verandah in the heat of summer and the cold of winter, and showered at football facilities after training or at a nearby factory.

"The work hard, play hard lifestyle of Alstonville certainly shaped TC over the entire course of his life," eldest son David said in a eulogy at his 77-year-old father's funeral earlier this month.

READ ALSO:

Tony Kelly, called TC because of his almost three decades as town clerk and general manager of the former Dubbo City Council, has been lauded for his accomplishments since his death on November 26.

Civic leaders and bureaucrats have paid tribute to the man who developed infrastructure necessary to make the city grow, kept it in the black and made its sporting and recreational facilities the envy of others.

Dubbo was the "fastest growing inland city in Australia" during Mr Kelly's term as town clerk and general manager ending 2004.

David Kelly's eulogy told of his father's "passion for the city" and drive to make it better.

"He lobbied the state government relentlessly resulting in Western Plains Zoo being located in Dubbo of all places," David Kelly said.

"He brought the abattoirs to Dubbo on a handshake deal with Roger Fletcher."

The eulogy also provided glimpses of a man who had a "tough but rewarding upbringing".

Anthony George Kelly, born into a large Catholic family in 1943, was already being noticed for his rugby league prowess when he turned down a a scholarship to study law and began work at Lismore Council to "help out the family".

A move to Sydney to play with Manly Warringah in 1964 led to employment at Sydney City Council and then Warringah Council where he met a "pretty young girl in the office".

"He actually asked Mum to marry him on their second date but since he was rather intoxicated, Mum said she'd have to think about it," David Kelly said.

The couple married at Mona Vale in 1965 with Mr Kelly and his mates "the ones late to the church" because they had forgotten to organise transport and had to hitchhike.

"Then, eight months, three weeks and five days later I was born," David Kelly said.

"TC always assured me it was all above board. He was just a man of action."

The family moved to Dubbo in 1968 and never looked back.

Mr Kelly was part of a "new era for Dubbo CYMS" and rose through council ranks.

In 1975 he became the "youngest ever town clerk or general manager of a NSW council at the time".

"What TC also realised at the time was that he'd fallen in love with this town and he was going to make changes, serious changes," David Kelly said.

He said they included turning dustbowls into "beautiful green ovals that stretched for miles".

Mr Kelly, who retired from the council in 2004, also chose to serve the community.

David Kelly said his father "started the St John's Junior Rugby League Club" which had produced many NRL stars and a few kangaroos.

"He was a member of the Men of League, a board member of Westhaven and the Orana Gardens.. and he also formed the Dubbo CYMS cricket club," David Kelly said.

Mr Kelly is survived by his wife Barbara, four children and eight grandchildren.