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 January, 2021

Bells for Eastwoodnew

Exterior of St Philip's, Eastwood

St Philip's Eastwood

The most recent project added to our Bell and Tower Projects page is a new ring of six at St Philip's, Eastwood.

Thomas Perrins has provided the following information about five bells being donated by the Keltek Trust.

  • 2 bells from an estate in Scotland which was owned by the Earl of Lovelace and Ada Lovelace (of computer science fame). These were cast by Gillett & Co in 1887.
  • 2 redundant bells from Lancashire, believed to have been cast by James Shaw c1880.
  • 1 redundant bell from Brockville, Canada. This is about 3.75 cwt, was cast in 1925 by Taylor's, and will become the tenor.

Women in Ringing new

I hope towers with ringing will make take the opportunity to mark the 125th anniversary this February of the first woman, Alice White, to ring a tower bell peal. More information about Alice can be found in the first chapter of Giants of the Exercise II along with other interesting stories about early ringing by women.

Ladies Grandsire Caters Band, 22 April 2019

A female band that rang a quarter-peal of Grandsire Caters in 2019.

In ANZAB about 45% of our membership is female, but, a quick search of Peals rung for ANZAB in 2018 and 2019 showed no female conductors and only about 27% female members in the bands. In 2020 the number of female ringers in ANZAB peal bands was down to around 18%, but one of the 22 peals was conducted by Esther Perrins, and that was the very impressive Scientific Triples in hand. I have not calculated figures for quarter-peals but it is something ANZAB could consider tracking.

The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers has a working group for gender balance in ringing. They have a Women in Ringing website and they produced the "Women in ringing" issue of The Ringing World (no. 5716, 13 November 2020). Both of these provide many thought provoking and challenging ideas we should consider so as to encourage our female ringers. They also celebrate women's achievements, have useful tips for all ringers, and The Ringing World issue has some fun Q&A with the Agony Aunt, Aunt Sally.

Your tower could set a goal to have quarter-peal and peal bands averaging (at least) 50% women and ensuring you provide opportunities for women to learn and practise conducting.

I hope to see some peals and quarter-peals celebrating women in ringing this February, including many female ringers and conductors.

Deryn Griffiths
January 2021

COVID-19 - Ringing Still Suspended at 17 Towers

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

Currently the 17 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.

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: 1 January, 2021

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

Updated: 19 December, 2020

2021

21 March
Sydney. NSW & ACT Branch AGM.
Contact:

11-14 June
ANZAB 2021 Festival and AGM.
Bundaberg and Maryborough.

Facebook - follow ANZAB on Facebook

email - looktoanzab


2021

12 February - 125th anniversary of the first lady (Alice White) to ring a tower bell peal

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

2021

Bells for Eastwood - 23 January

Women in Ringing - 16 January

2020

First Ringing at St Patrick's, Parramatta - 24 December

Perth Bell Tower 20th Anniversary Celebrations and Laura Ivey's Retirement - 21 December

Hamilton Celebrates 70 years of Change Ringing - 15 December

Tower Ringing Restarting in Melbourne - 9 December

New Old Chiming Bell at Orange - 16 November

Latest issue:
vol.74, no. 4, Spring 2020

Ringing Towers cover

Find it on the Members' section.

Deadline for next issue:
4 January 2021.

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.