Photo of bellringers in action

The Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers was formed in 1962 to promote the art of change ringing in our two countries. There are currently around 400 members who ring at more than 70 bell towers throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Non-ringers might like this introduction to bellringing. Groups interested in a tower tour, or a guest speaker are invited to contact our Regional Contacts in the first instance. Ringers and potential ringers can contact our association's office bearers or local towers and ringers.


Updated: 12 October, 2026

Sydney 12 Bell Weekend, October 2026 new

Two happy ringers
Ringing at St Andrew's Saturday

We had an excellent weekend with ringers from every Australian State, ACT, both NZ islands, Hong Kong and the UK.

There were three successful quarter peals, lots of firsts, lots of progress and some good striking.

Thanks to St Mary's, St Andrew's and CCSL for hosting sessions.

Phil Goodyer

2026 Sydney Ringing School new

a group of people
Some of the learners at St Mark's Darling Point with Tower Captain Richard Winkler. (Photo courtesy Margaret Hill)

The 2026 Sydney Ringing School took place over the long weekend, 2-5 October. We welcomed 11 learners from a wide range of towers including Camden, Menangle, Goulburn, Manuka, Katoomba, Bathurst, Orange and Melbourne. 26 helpers assisted in running and ringing for 7 training sessions and two successful quarter peals. Ringing ranged from rounds and call changes through to touches of Doubles, with additional sessions on handling improvement and bell control.

This was an intensive weekend and participants were committed and hard-working, climbing many more stairs and ringing for many more hours than usual! Helpers gave time to stand behind, advise, explain, demonstrate and conduct - the Ringing School cannot run without them.

Thank you to our six hosting towers: St Mary's Cathedral, St Paul's Burwood, St James' Queen's Square, St Leonard's Naremburn, Christ Church St Laurence and St Mark's Darling Point.

The Sydney Ringing School is a NSW & ACT Branch event. Ringers within the branch are encouraged to sign up to the branch mailing list to hear about future events. Subscribe by emailing nsw-act-ringers+subscribe@groups.io

Kathi Downs

Phi, Rhiannon and I participated in the Sydney Ringing School on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. On Saturday Phi went to St Leonard's in Naremburn with the Plain Bob ringers band, ringing at a tower I've not yet grabbed. Rhiannon and I were part of the band at St James doing whole pull and stand, hand/back/hand stand, rounds and call changes, and ending with Plain Hunt.

Before dinner we watched a spectacular rain and lightning storm pummel our motel's window. About 10 ringers met at the Dove & Olive for dinner.

I know Rhiannon and Phi got a lot out of the sessions. I imagine others benefited from exposure to different bells, different methods and tips on their handling.

Thanks to the local Sydney ringers, and Kathi in particular, for putting on a great ringing school.

Scott Jones
Manuka

See more reports and photos here.

Census of Ringers 16th-22nd November 2026

census title image


All Australian and New Zealand Towers and Ringers are encouraged to participate in the 2026 census of ringers being conducted by the Central Council of Church Bellringers. More information, including links to the online questionnaire, will be provided closer to the time.

A number of "enumerators" will assist with administering the survey. Each will be allocated a small group of towers and, after Census Week has ended, will:

  • contact the Tower Captain or nominated tower contact
  • encourage completion of the Tower Headcount Survey
  • answer straightforward questions and provide practical support
  • follow up where a return has not been received
  • establish and record the status of towers unable to provide a return

If you are willing to be an enumerator now is the time to sign up. Do so here, and choose a briefing to attend.

ANZAB CPR Training and First Aid Assistance

ANZAB offers funding to all towers for ringers to train in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid, to a maximum of two ANZAB members per tower. Each tower is also being offered a free poster providing details of CPR.

Read more about the Assistance scheme, and how to apply, by following this link.

as shown on BellBoard

see other performance links on the
Peals & Quarters page

Updated: 8 October 2026

13 October
Sydney. St James Queen's Square.
No Practice, 13 October.

18 October
Lithgow. Hoskins Day.
Contact:

Updated: 9 October 2026

2026

9-11 October
Sydney. ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend.
Register here
Contact:

17 October
Perth. Branch Practice.
Contact:

23-25 October
Armidale 30th Anniversary Weekend.
Contact:

24-26 October
Wellington. Two Island Cluster meeting.
Information
Contact:

Facebook - follow ANZAB on Facebook

email - looktoanzab

latest first

2026

Sydney 12-bell Weekend - 12 October

Sydney Ringing School - 7 October

VIC ANZAB Branch Practice - 1 October

CCCBR Meeting 2026 - 29 September

WA Branch Practice in Bunbury - 24 September

St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Adelaide - Next step in sound remediation - 16 September

Using BellBoard - 11 September

Armidale Ringing Featured - 9 September

Handbell Practices - 5 September

A Peal with Footnotes - 3 September

Bridgetown Ringing Weekend - 1 September

Latest issue:
vol.80, no.4, Spring 2026

Ringing Towers cover

Download the current issue

Deadline for next issue:
31 December 2026.
Early submissions appreciated,
and essential for longer articles.

New Zealand: DST commenced on 27 September 2026 (UTC +13 hours) and will cease on 4 April 2027 (UTC +12 hours).

New South Wales, A.C.T., Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia: DST commenced on 4 October 2026 (UTC +11 hours, South Australia UTC +10.5 hours) and will cease on 4 April 2027 (UTC +10 hours, South Australia UTC +9.5 hours).

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory: No DST.