Vale Brian Boutchard

Pictured: Alan on the left Brian on the right at Tolosa Park celebrating their 80th birthday. Alan died in 2013.

Brian Boutchard and his twin brother Alan were born on May 2 1928, joining their sisters Joan and Betty in the Boutchard household in Florence Street, Moonah. A little sister Marjorie would join them soon after. The birth of the twins must have seemed a wonderful gift to their parents following the death in infancy of their older brother James.

Brian’s father Harry was a senior manager with the public works department in Hobart and his mother Lillian came from one of the large Dilger families in Swansea.

Brian spent the bulk of their schooling at St Virgil’s College, and with his passing, the College has lost one of its oldest former pupils. He was an accomplished middle distance runner, and ran for his school and the Hobart Harriers. Later on, he would spend many hours on the sidelines  supporting their children’s various sporting endeavours.

The great love of Brian’s life were his family. Mavis and Brian were together for nearly 65 years, with Brian’s quieter personality offset by Mavis’ sociability and warmth. Something must have clicked because as of this year his family consists of nine children, 20 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, with one more not too far away. In their younger years Brian and Mavis enjoyed dancing, biking and trips into the country. In later years they undertook road trips on the mainland and travelled overseas. 

When he left school Brian started a degree in chemistry, but after meeting Mavis and deciding to marry, he felt that he needed to start a career. Accordingly, in 1950 he joined the ES&A Bank, which later became the ANZ, and where he would work for 37 years. He was a manager and senior administrator for much of the time and was known as ‘Dad’ by the more cheeky members of staff. 

Brian became heavily involved in banking unions at a time when better pay for bank workers was an important issue. He was State President of what was then the Australian Bank Employees Union for several years and served on its federal executive. The union made him a life member in recognition of his contributions.

Brian gained his accountancy qualifications by studying part time in the evenings when he had five children around. 

He had a great love was music and spent 20 years as a volunteer programmer and announcer in community radio, including putting together a two hour segment of diverse music called Kaleidoscope. He volunteered in other ways as well. He was an auditor for several community groups including Tastex, St Vincent de Paul and Meals on Wheels. He took up lawn bowls later in life and was an office bearer with the Derwent Bowls Club for a number of years.

Brian was also instrumental in establishing the Sacred Heart College Board of Management and arranging extra financial assistance for the Sisters of St Joseph. His faith was handed down from his parents and was central to his life. Over the years he assisted the church in many ways by supporting parish programmes, social activism, and giving financial assistance. 

He had an enduring love of radios. This began when he was young, building his own crystal set and valve radio. In later years he restored old valve radios, which has resulted in an impressive collection. He also had a love of gardening and was a member of the Vintage Car Club – his pride item being an 1949 Austin A40 Devon that he bought in the early 1970s. 

Vale Brian Boutchard – yours was a rich and enriching life. Rest in peace.