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 500 members who ring at more than 65 bell towers throughout Australia and New Zealand.

If you are not yet a ringer, we suggest you start with this short introduction to bellringing and our Association.

You can contact our association office bearers or local towers and ringers.


Updated: 23 October, 2020

Vale! Reg Toze

Reg Toze

Reginald Toze. 25th March 1936 - 22nd October 2020.

Reg learnt to ring at Bampton, in Devon, in 1950 and emigrated to Brisbane in 1964.

He was very much involved with the teaching of ringers at St John's Cathedral when the bells were installed for full circle ringing in 1988, and was ringing master during these early years. It was later realised that when the temporary west end north tower - where the bells were installed - was replaced with a permanent structure, it would not be suitable for the bells. He campaigned vigorously for them to be installed in the central tower and augmented to 12. Although he already had started suffering from Parkinson’s in 2008 he was able to be in the band for the first ring of the 12 bells in the central tower.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s he travelled regularly to Western Australia to visit his eldest son and took the opportunity to "score some towers". He was a regular attendee to ANZAB festivals during this period. He had to retire from ringing in 2009 and was made an Honorary Life Member of ANZAB in that year.

Mike Toze

"Shake my hand and I'll show you the ropes" new

George Pipe biography front cover

The Ringing World is about to publish a biography of George W Pipe by John Loveless.

From a Suffolk family with bellringing in its blood, George Pipe (1935–2020) was an unusually influential character across his long life. He was involved in the growth of bellringing in America and Australia, built on centuries of tradition in Suffolk ringing, and maintained a huge network of friends through his many activities.

Over the course of twenty chapters illustrated with over one hundred of George's photographs, sketches and other memorabilia, John Loveless traces George's extraordinary life - his range of talents, his accomplishments across the world of ringing, and the many colourful characters George kept in touch with. Filled with stories and history and including a sixteen-page colour photograph section, this book is sure to delight and interest a wide range of readers.

Australian ringers are being offered an opportunity to pre-order the 240 page hardback, though a bulk purchase and delivery plan, and pay for it in Australian dollars (A$). Follow this link for more details on how to order a copy via the plan.

Tower Photos - Challenge 7 new

The Bell Tower, Perth


Many of the photos in the Tower Directory date back to the days of dial-up modems and we are trying to update them with higher resolution images.

This photo of The Bell Tower is out of date for another reason. Although we will keep it for historical purposes, the current view is quite different.

Please check your photos (or if in Perth, take a photo) and and if you have a good up-to-date view, send it to us.

The winning entry will be acknowledged here, along with the challenge of another tower which could do with an upgrade of its photo.

Deryn Griffiths

Bell and Tower Projects Page

Screen Grab of menu

Following a suggestion from Julie Doyle, we have created a new page along the lines of the Tower Directory and directory of Mini-Rings. You will find it in the same menu, as shown to the left.

Use the new page, and links from it, to find information about current projects for new towers or rings of bells.

The would welcome further information about these or other such projects.

COVID-19 - Ringing Still Suspended at 28 Towers

At the peak, 64 ANZAB towers suspended ringing, as a precaution against COVID-19.

Currently the 28 towers listed below continue to have ringing suspended as a precaution against COVID-19.

At towers where ringing is occuring visitors are encouraged to "check ahead". It is very likely that the towers have restrictions on numbers and visitors may not be welcome. Furthermore, they may be ringing for services but not practicing, or vice-versa.

ANZAB branches have also suspended various activities. Contact them for further information.

Returning to Ringing

Lithgow announcement boad
  Notice at Hoskins Memorial Church

The following towers have provided information about their experience going into, and coming out of, COVID-19 restrictions, which you will find detailed in their tower page.

St Paul's, Burwood is ringing for services with up to four ringers. Further detail is available here.

St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney is ringing for services with ringers registered with the Cathedral. Further detail is available here.

St Peter's, Hamilton is ringing without restriction. Further detail is available here.

Hoskins Memorial Church, Lithgow has a detailed Safety Plan. Interested ringers can find more information, including the plan here.

Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney are ringing on five for one service each Sunday. Further detail is available here.

Safeguarding Guidelines

Follow this link to ANZAB's Safeguarding Guidelines.

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: 30 March, 2020

COVID-19 Suspensions
See news item here for COVID-19 related suspensions.

Updated: 14 October, 2020

2020

23-26 October
Wellington. Annual Ringing Festival.
Venue: St Paul's Cathedral
For NZ residents only, subject to COVID-19 restrictions remaining at level 2 or below.
More information
Contact:

15 November
Sydney. NSW & ACT Branch Committee Meeting.
Contact:

Facebook - follow ANZAB on Facebook

email - looktoanzab


2020

11 November - Remembrance Day

2021

26 June - 200th anniversary of the invention of the Ellacombe Chimes

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.

latest first

2020

George Pipe biography offer - 20 October

Walkerville Rehanging Update - 3 October

Cockatoo Shield returns to Orange - 23 September

Walkerville Rehanging Update - 23 September

Future 12 Bell Weekends - 20 September

Blessing of Bells (Parramatta) - 9 September

Darwin Tower Project On Hold - 3 September

Earthquake Strengthening - 2 August

Stedman Cinques Handbell Peal - 29 July

Latest issue:
vol.74, no. 3, Winter 2020

Ringing Towers cover

Find it on the Members' section.

Deadline for next issue:
28 September 2020.

New Zealand: Daylight Saving Time commenced on 27 September 2020 (UTC +13 hours) and will cease on 4 April 2021 (UTC +12 hours).

New South Wales, A.C.T., Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia: Daylight Saving Time commenced on 4 October 2020 (UTC +11 hours, South Australia UTC +10.5 hours) and will cease on 4 April 2021 (UTC +10 hours, South Australia UTC +9.5 hours).

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory: No Daylight Saving Time.