Personal profile: Brian East

Born in 1941 and raised mainly in Launceston, Brian East was educated at Scotch College, the University of Tasmania and the University of Adelaide. His initial employment was as a teacher and senior master at Launceston Matriculation College and Kings Meadows High School. This was followed by nearly 30 years at the University of Tasmania (and its antecedent institutions) and a university in Bristol (UK). At retirement, Brian was on the staff of UTAS Department of Economics.

Early retirement has afforded the opportunity to broaden activities to include a variety of volunteer positions, as well as a second career in horticulture – maintaining a large garden, now becoming more of a chore!
Recreational pursuits include cycling (many long-distance tours, including Melbourne – Sydney, Adelaide – Melbourne, Brisbane – Sydney), bushwalking and rowing. After coaching school crews for 22 years, Brian resumed recreational and competitive rowing and has competed in many Tasmanian Masters Regattas, as well as several World Masters Championships. Other distractions include encouraging four grandchildren to ride bikes, occasional (too infrequent) visits to our East Coast house, and interstate and overseas travel. Age and some physical conditions have recently forced a cessation of rowing and cycling, with a switch (via School for Seniors) to learning to play the ukulele.

Brian has been a member of the Royal Society of Tasmania for nearly thirty years, and Treasurer of the Northern Branch from 1997 to 2019.

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