Hawks pay respects to Blancato

The founder of the Winston Hills Hawks Junior Rugby League club has passed away.

Winston Hills Hawks Junior Rugby League Club founder Eric Blancato Eric at the club's 25 year black tie celebration last year. Picture: Supplied

The founder of the Winston Hills Hawks Junior Rugby League club has passed away.

Father-of-three Eric Blancato, who founded the Hawks 26 years ago, died on October 17 from heart failure aged 69.

The Hawks honoured Mr Blancato at their annual father and son camp last weekend and paid tribute to his memory, example and enduring contribution.

Hawks president Craig Culnane said Eric was a “gentleman and will forever be remembered as our founding leader and a man who represented the club’s core values of family, community, mateship”.

Mr Blancato’s son Aaron said: “I can say based on many conversations we had that he was extremely proud of the club and its continued success and growth.”

Mr Blancato, who emigrated to Australia from Italy as a young man and most recently lived in Kellyville, was also well-known in the hair industry.

An award-winning hairdresser, Mr Blancato owned a salon in Castle Mall for 20 years and also founded Eric’s Hair Salon in Castle Towers.

In a post on their Facebook page, staff members at Eric’s Hair Salon expressed their condolences to Mr Blancato’s family.

“He was and still is an inspiration to us,” the post read in part.

“His legacy will live on in our salon and he will never be forgotten.”