Mr Mackay, 61, died following a short battle with cancer surrounded by his most loved people.

For many of his friends, one of their enduring memories is when he would take their children for driving lessons.

Mr Mackay would arrive in his beloved Mercedes and deal with all the troubles that come with teaching teenagers how to drive.

For Mr Mackay - there was nothing that was more important than his family or friends.

"He was at his happiest when he was surrounded by friends and family," friend Lyn Brayshaw said.

Mrs Brayshaw had met Mr Mackay during their years at high school and said he was immensely supportive of the people he called his friends.

"My son said Paul always spoke to him like a grown up, even when he was 11 years old," she said.

"He was immensely loyal, if you made him your friend, he was a friend for life."

Mr Mackay was a third-generation businessman and while he was always busy making sure the business succeeded, he found plenty of time to raise and care for his family.

While Mr Mackay spent a few years at school in Sydney, he and his wife Maria made sure their three children Christine, Caroline and Geoff stayed close to home in Griffith.

Mrs Brayshaw said when his daughter Christine was busy with work in Canberra, he would go off for a few days to help her out and look after his grandchildren.

"Nothing was too much trouble, it was just the way he is," she said.

"His kids are all hugely successful and you see the way they were raised, they are beautiful young adults."

Mrs Brayshaw said when he was sick, his main concern was not himself, but Maria, their children and grandchildren.

She said friendships like the one she had with Mr Mackay didn't come around very often and she was still getting used to Mr Mackay not being around.

Annie Kiely described her friend as a good role model and his death was "real loss".

"He's an all around good guy who could make you laugh, he wasn't a comedian but he had an unusual wit," Mrs Kiely said.

"He was always doing nice things for other people.

"We've all had some bad times in our lives, and he'd always stand by you. He was very loyal when he considered you part of his family."

She said for his friends dinner party invitations and school reunions were common as Mr Mackay enjoyed bringing people together.

Mrs Kiely joined Mr Mackay to help organise a 30 year reunion for their school mates.

"He really drove it, he wanted it to be a good time for everyone, so it was," she said.

Mayor John Dal Broi said the community would mourn the loss of Mr Mackay along with his family.

"I know all the community, each and every one, would extend their deepest sympathies to the family," Councillor Dal Broi said.

Mr Mackay was elected twice to Griffith City Council and Cr Dal Broi said he was always "reasonable and respectful".

"One always had the feeling that he suffered with what happened to this father," he sad.

"I admired him for what he achieved, he took up the family business, made a success of it and raised a family.

"With all the trauma around the Mackay family, he held his head high in Griffith."

Councillor Mike Neville grew up with Mr Mackay and said he followed his dad's example and was man of absolute resolve and integrity.

"Paul lost his a father, he saw his mother's life and his family's life galvanised by the events of 1977."

"He loved his father, in Paul's mind he was a dad and the bloke who stood up for the right thing. He was a man of action and did things, Paul was the same," Cr Neville said.

"Paul believed in the good things in the community, believed in the people he worked with."

Cr Neville said Mr Mackay focused on being a good dad, grandfather and successful in his business.

"He had a keen interest in what was going on," he said.

When he stood for council Cr Neville said Mr Mackay didn't want to make a big splash and didn't even hand out how-to-vote cards.

"He did what he needed to do and said he wanted to move on."

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