Eric Blain, a tireless worker for Bulli, passes away

Eric Blain, who worked as a real estate agent in the northern suburbs for many years, was 91 when he passed away at Bulli Hospital.

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Born in Corrimal and living in Bulli, he did much for the area, including being a founding member of the Towradgi Surf Club

Mr Blain also built the Nissen huts at the Fairy Meadow migrant hostel, helped create the Bulli Railway Museum and saved the Bulli Family Hotel from demolition, ensuring it was heritage listed.

"There's so many things about him - what he did around the northern suburbs," his daughter Kristine Carroll said.

"When we went through the paperwork since he passed we were just floored by just how much he did."

Mr Blain was heavily involved in the Lions Club and looked to reach out and help those in need.

"He owned a lot of shops in Woonona Circle and in those days he used to take food packages around to a lot of the migrants who had just shifted into the area," Ms Carroll said.

"They were in quarantine because of scarlet fever. He would go around to make sure them and the kids were all being fed."

He also worked to get a a new playground built at Towradgi Public School especially for children on the autism spectrum.

He was involved in politics as well, sitting on the local council and running for state and federal parliament as a Liberal candidate.

Most notably, in 1972 he came within six votes of defeating a guy named John Howard in the pre-selection ballot of the seat of Bennelong.

He also contested the federal seat of Hughes and the state seat of Corrimal (now Keira).

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