WELCOME
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 500 members who ring at more than 65 bell towers throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Non-ringers might like this introduction to bellringing.
Ringers and potential ringers can contact our association's office bearers or local towers and ringers.
NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Updated: 26 September, 2023
St Boniface Bunbury - a ring that nearly was... 
The Anglican Cathedral of St. Boniface in Bunbury has a solid and dominating tower, originally planned to contain a peal of bells. In 2009 eight eighteenth-century bells from the redundant 28cwt twelve at St. Leonard’s Shoreditch, London, arrived as a donation from Laith Reynolds. Plans were drawn up for them to be hung in a radial frame. But the main problem was that access to the tower is by an internal vertical ladder and an external staircase. Because of this, extensive rebuilding would be needed to provide a ringing chamber. Quotes for the required work were upwards of $500,000.
After sitting in the Cathedral narthex for fourteen years the Shoreditch bells were returned to their donor in April this year.
But the tower of St.Boniface Cathedral may not remain silent for ever, as a further promise has been made by Laith of a donation of a much lighter chime of bells which would be installed as a stationary ring, electrically rung. The cost of this to the Cathedral authorities would be the more achievable sum of $50,000, and although this is not currently available, the Dean, The Very Reverend Darryl Cotton, hopes that one day funds will materialise and the project can proceed. Until then a second peal of bells in Bunbury remains "a ring that nearly was" ….
Abbreviated version of article in Look To! September 2023
Look To! and other newsletters available in the Members' section
Repair work at Lismore
So many months after the February and March 2022 floods, scaffolding has gone up at the seriously damaged tower at St Andrew’s Lismore. When the tower work is finished they will then start inside to repair the bells, fittings, new floors and ceilings etc. The Bellringers have kept together with handbell practices.
Margaret Weatherby
18 September 2023
ex-Burnley Bells to ring out in Wahroonga
The Australian cast bells previously at Burnley have been aquired by St John's Uniting Church, Wahroonga (shown above). The bells have been retuned and will be hung in a new frame but with many of their original fittings. It is hoped that work on hanging the bells will be started this year.
St John's was designed by John Shedden Adam. He was also the architect for St James', Turramurra. The ring of 6 bells (approx. 5 cwt) will be a good addition to the tower at Wahroonga.
Thomas Perrins
September 2023
October 2023 12 Bell Weekend - Goulburn and Sydney
For information, including the draft program and how to register, please see the first news item on the 12 Bell Weekends web page.
September 2023
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.
in brief
Updated: 26 September, 2023
Burnley. St Bartholemew's
No Practice Thursday 28 September.
Sydney. Christ Church St Laurence
Check ahead for all ringing during September.
Bathurst. All Saints' Cathedral
No Service ringing Sunday 1 October.
anzab diary
Updated: 25 September, 2023
2023
29 Sept - 1 October
Sydney Ringing School.
Web page
Contact:
3-5 October
Goulburn. ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend Extension.
Web page
Contact:
6-8 October
Sydney. ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend.
Web page
Contact:
13-15 October
Bridgetown. Mini-ring weekend.
Contact:
15 October
Lithgow. Hoskins Memorial Day.
Contact:
things to ring for
2023
20 October - 50th anniversary of Sydney Opera House
1 December - 50th anniversary of First Ladies Peal on Tower Bells in Australia
This is a very selective list in an ANZAB context. See also the CCCBR's list for events and anniversaries, and ringing.org's peal and quarter peal lengths for appropriate compositions.
about an event or anniversary to list here.
news archive
latest first
2023
St Boniface Bunbury - a ring that nearly was... - 26 September
Repair Work at Lismore - 18 September
ex-Burnley Bells to ring out in Wahroonga - 12 September
Palmerston Bells Arrive in Darwin - 4 August
Ringing Towers
Latest issue:
vol.77, no. 3, Winter 2023
Deadline for next issue:
30 September 2023.
Early submissions appreciated,
and essential for longer articles.
Daylight Saving Time
New Zealand and Australia
New Zealand: Daylight Saving Time commences on 24 September 2023 (UTC +13 hours) and will cease on 7 April 2024 (UTC +12 hours).
New South Wales, A.C.T., Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia: Daylight Saving Time commences on 1 October 2023 (UTC +11 hours, South Australia UTC +10.5 hours) and will cease on 7 April 2024 (UTC +10 hours, South Australia UTC +9.5 hours).
Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory: No Daylight Saving Time.