As his commitment to the town grew, Mr Pynt became different things to different people.

Some saw a compassionate fundraiser, others, an outspoken leader, or just someone to hit a round of golf and have a good chuckle with.

And for the younger members of the community, every December for the past 15 years, Mr Pynt was Santa Claus at Mid Valley Shopping Centre and Traralgon's Carols by Candlelight, a role that brought him great joy.

Mr Pynt was an old school communicator who walked into the Traralgon central business district every day and chose to speak to people face-to-face rather than carry a mobile phone.

Many knew him simply as `Harvey'.

Close friend and Traralgon City and Rural Community Development Association secretary Bruce Bremner described Mr Pynt as ``a man of great character''.

``Family was very important to him, community was second and politics came third,'' Mr Bremner said.

``He would fearlessly say what he thought. He was passionate about things he was right about, and passionate about things he was wrong about,'' he joked.

``You'd be arguing something, you'd have him on the back foot and he'd twist your words, it wasn't quite what you'd said but you couldn't argue it and you quickly found yourself losing the argument.''

Mr Bremner said Mr Pynt was a long-serving member of the Australian Labor Party who respected people's character regardless of their political background and would give his time to people from all sides.

Mr Pynt was a member of the Traralgon Lions Club and fellow member Allan Vickery will remember him as an ``honest and sincere person''.

``He felt very much for the community. If there was a need, Harvey was there,'' Mr Vickery said.

Traralgon Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Lorraine Paulet said Mr Pynt was willing to help anybody out and always had a joke to tell.

``We have lost one of life's great community spirited people, they don't come along very often,'' Ms Paulet said.

REH Cork Club member Max Williams described Mr Pynt as ``passionate with everything he did'' and a ``lovely man in every way''.

Latrobe City mayor Kellie O'Callaghan said he was a permanent fixture of the Traralgon community who would be remembered long after his death.

Long-time friend Lisa Proctor said Mr Pynt had shaped Traralgon to what it was today.

``It's a gift to have people like that in our community,'' Ms Proctor said.

Mr Pynt's funeral will be held on Monday, 18 January at the Latrobe Valley Funeral Services chapel, Princes Highway, Traralgon from 11am.