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 350 members who ring at more than 74 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: 30 November, 2023
50th Anniversary of the First Ladies Peal on Tower Bells in Australia 
Friday, 1st December 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of the first ladies peal on tower bells in Australia, rung at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. Unfortunately there is no extant image of the band, but below is the BellBoard record of the peal.
Enid Roberts recalls:
The attempt to ring the first ladies' tower bell peal required ringers to travel from Adelaide, Sydney, and Bendigo to join the four Melbourne ringers, so we were keen to make the most of the opportunity. I had called several several peals of Grandsire Triples and Caters in England, and for the composition I decided to stay with the tried and true Parker's 12-part, called from the 6th, which had been successful at St Peter's, Adelaide, when the first peal was rung on those noble bells.
When we were catching hold to begin, one of the band said, "When you put me right, shout loudly, I'm a bit deaf," and I replied, "I'm not putting anyone right; if you want to get this, you have to keep yourself right." And we rang a good peal. Elizabeth Rossell was obviously pregnant and rang the tenor in fine style. In the sixth part, I could see that Jenny Murphy's rope tail end was coming undone, and I asked if I should call the attempt round at half way. "Oh no," said Jenny, "I can manage it." And so she could, though she ended the peal with a 20-centimetre long, fat, fluffy tassel flapping up and down. I believe it was kept as an historic memento in St Paul's for several years until someone threw it out.
Commemorative ringing is planned for the 50th anniversary over the next few days.
Frame installed at Wahroonga
This photo from 11 November 2023 was provided by Thomas Perrins with a comment that the installation took less than 24 hours. See further photos on the tower page here or on the ANZAB facebook page.
Looking down on the installed frame. That is Peter Harrison looking back up.
Register for upcoming ANZAB events
Registration is currently open for:
- Surprise Major Weekend in Brisbane
8-10 December 2023 - ART Modules in Adelaide 13-14 January 2024
- Surprise Major Weekend in Perth
19-21 January 2024 - Surprise Major Weekend in Victoria
15-17 March 2024
See the ANZAB Diary for events beyond that and contact people for further information.
Nominate an ANZAB Ringer for an ART Award
Do you know someone who’s making a difference and making things happen? Say thank-you by nominating them for an award. If they win, they’ll receive a substantial cash prize to spend on a ringing related activity or product.
The ART Awards recognise people and groups who are leading best practice and innovation in the teaching and development of ringing and our Learning the Ropes achievers. The teaching awards are open to everyone. The ringing awards are open to all those who achieved Level 5 during 2023 (LtR, LtR Advanced Call Changes or LtR Handbells) or are participating in the LtR Plus Scheme. More detail is available here.
You have until 31 December 2023 to get your nomination in, so now is the right time to start collecting quotes, photos, statistics and testimonials, to show just how good your ringing hero is.
Previous ANZAB winners include:
- Laura Goodin for Excellence in Recruitment and Retention
- Dylan Thomas who got the Learning the Ropes Achievement Award
Proposed changes to the ANZAB Ltd Constitution
The recent (Spring 2023) edition of Ringing Towers includes information about proposed changes to the ANZAB Ltd Constitution. We have a webpage with this information available to ANZAB members. It includes the pop-up information available in eRT but not in the printed copy of Ringing Towers. Members can access the webpage by logging on to the members' section of the website.
While you are logged, why not check my Membership details under myANZAB to see if your 2023 Subscription has been received and processed?
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: 30 November, 2023
Ballarat. Town Hall
Practice cancelled December.
New Year's Eve Ringing from 9:30 pm
anzab diary
Updated: 30 November, 2023
2023
8-10 December
Brisbane. Advanced Ringing Weekend.
Information and Registration
Contact:
2024
13-14 January
Adelaide. ART courses 1 and 2C.
Information and Registration
Contact:
19-21 January
Perth. Advanced Ringing Weekend.
Information and Registration
Contact:
things to ring for
2023
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
Frame installed at Wahroonga - 21 November
Armidale 27th Anniversary Weekend - 14 November
Wellington Ringing Festival Report - 25 October
Sydney Ringing School Report - 24 October
12 Bell Weekend Report - 11 October
Ringing Towers
Latest issue:
vol.77, no. 4, Spring 2023
Deadline for next issue:
31 December 2023.
Early submissions appreciated,
and essential for longer articles.
Daylight Saving Time (DST)
New Zealand and Australia
New Zealand: DST commenced 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: DST commenced 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 DST.