In the mid 1980s Brian Unkles worked in Townsville as an air traffic controller. He became involved in the Townsville Little Theatre, assisting as an actor, producer and lighting technician from 1989 to 1994. He participated in the Townsville arts community as president of the Townsville Little Theatre (1991); vice-president (1992); committee member (1993/94) and various other arts positions. Unkles also worked as a radio announcer with a monthly classical music segment on 4TTT FM.
