Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers

October 2023 - Goulburn and Sydney

This event includes:

• The Sydney 12-Bell Weekend, 6 - 8 October
• The "Goulburn Extension", 3-5 October

See the draft program here (as of 23/9/2023).

Late registrations may still be made by emailing . Registrants will be notified of updates to the program.

September 2023

Young Ringer Scholarships for 2023

Congratulations to Charlotte and David Sorell who have been awarded the inaugral Young Ringer 12-Bell Weekend Scholarship. This provides each of them up to $500 to cover costs involved in attending the 12-Bell Weekend in Sydney in October 2023. The second scholarship was possible thanks to a generous, anonymous, donation.

Come and ring with Charlotte and David in Sydney in October.

March 2023

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Wellington, 7-10 April 2023 - Report

From front (left): Jim Woolford (NSW), Ian McCulloch (QLD), Phil Goodyer (SA), Andrew Davies (Sydney), Rachel Aland (QLD)
From front (right): Frank Sluter (NZ), David Pacey (VIC), Mary Sluter (NZ), Ruth Lightbourne (NZ), Sue Marsden (UK), Jenny Davies (NSW), Peter Whitehead (NZ) [partly obscured]

This report complements the more formal one in Ringing Towers.

The photo shows many of the attendees having brunch on Easter Sunday between morning service ringing and our afternoon practice session. The weather was varied over the weekend, with Sunday mild, sunny and calm.

With very little in the way of joint Australian-New Zealand ringing since COVID, it was great to reconnect. Many Australians traveled to join NZ ringers in Wellington over the Easter weekend. A lot of the weekend we rang Grandsire Caters and Cinques, Stedman Caters, Little Bob Royal and Maximus, and Cambridge Royal, gradually building our skills as a band, learning to listen to the bells and hold the front bells up. We had just enough ringers prepared to try London Royal and Bristol Maximus.

The ringing master duties were shared around and there was the opportunity for some of us to try our hand at conducting touches. With practice sessions using simulated sound, we were able to use the 17cwt 11 as the tenor which helped us maintain our stamina.

We rang for two Sunday services. A team led by Frank Sluter removed and replaced clapper boards to allow this. We enjoyed the sound of the open bells, and the 27cwt tenor, for the service ringing.

Some of us tried our hand on the ring of five bells at Old St Paul's. On these light bells it was the handling that required concentration rather than the blue lines and rhythm that were challenging us on 10 and 12 bells.

Thanks to Phil Goodyer, Derek Williams and all others involved in organizing this ANZAB event.

Related peals and QPs: Grandsire Cinques; Cambridge Surprise Royal; Plain Bob Caters

Deryn Griffiths

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Sydney, 7-9 October 2022 - Report

An ANZAB-wide band at St Mary's (Ringers, clockwise from far centre): Claire O'Mahony (country NSW), Nigel Baily (Sydney), Harold Bartlett (QLD), Tony Murray-Feist (WA), Hugh Carwardine (Sydney), Andy Waddell (ACT), Deryn Griffiths (VIC), Peter Whitehead (NZ), Phil Goodyer (SA), Andrew Davies (Sydney), Peter Harrison (Sydney), Richard Webster (Sydney)

The 7-9 October 12 bell weekend was our largest yet with about 20 locals joining ringers from NZ (3), WA (1), SA (1), VIC (1), QLD (2), ACT (2) and country NSW (4). An additional 2 (SA) joined some of us for the Goulburn extension, an enjoyable and useful warm-up before the main weekend.

Tuesday night attendance at Goulburn (L-R): Shane Daly (Goulburn), Deryn Griffiths (VIC), James Heyes (ACT), Sharon Anderson (QLD), Georgina Templeton (Goulburn), Jan Lawton (Goulburn), Peter Whitehead (NZ), Annie Zappia (Goulburn), Stephen Relf (Goulburn), Mary Sluter (NZ), Frank Sluter (NZ), Hannah Tayler (SA), Peter Norman (SA), Kate Dover Thompson (Sydney), Tony Murray-Feist (WA), Christopher O'Mahony (Goulburn)

In a lot of my ringing life I'm encouraging others to try Plain Bob Doubles (say), reassuring then that it is OK that they don't feel confident and that I don't mind if they go wrong as it is all part of the learning process. It is good for me to be on the other end of that, remembering how uncomfortable it feels but appreciating others filling in for me as I try a Maximus method.

Similarly, my compassion for new ringers struggling with handling is refreshed when my handling is challenged, be it by the tricky 3 at Goulburn, the springy ropes at St Andrew's or the heavier-than-I'm-used-to back end at St Mary's.

I am amused when new ringers forget whether they are dodging up or down, but less amused when it happens to me as my brain struggles with learning a new method.

I liked having the opportunity to conduct touches, and run a session, on 12 bells, but both take a lot of my attention and it was a relief to hand over the reins to the next person.

An advanced team within an advanced weekend (Ringers, clockwise from left): Bill Perrins, Andrew Davies, Jenny Davies, Richard Webster, Christopher O'Mahony, Peter Harrison, Angus Gilchrist, Esther Perrins, Rachel Perrins

Thanks to Phil Goodyer and all others involved in organizing this ANZAB event.

Related peals and QPs: Grandsire Cinques; Grandsire Caters; Yorkshire S Major; Bristol S Maximus

Deryn Griffiths

ANZAB 12 Bell Weekend, Perth, 25–28 October 2019 - Report

I was delighted to be part of the recent 12-bell weekend. Thanks to all who participated, and particularly to the Perth ringers for hosting it.

I went because I expected to enjoy it, and to improve and extend my ringing (which I did). I also felt helpful filling in for some trying Plain Hunt on 11 for their very first time, and was delighted to meet several new ringers.

The weekend included sessions focussing on "easier methods", "cinques" and "maximus". Different Ringing Masters used different styles, each with their advantages. The opportunity to "catch hold" and "have a go" is fantastic. However, taking a band aiming for Stedman Cinques or Cambridge Maximus and having us ring Plain Hunt was illuminating. I was reminded that it is not just the longer, more complicated blue line, or the more difficult rope sight that makes 12 bell ringing a challenge. Even when ringing Plain Hunt I (and others) found it hard to maintain the precision required within a 12 bell rhythm.

The unexpected pleasure of the weekend was seeing the ANZAC bell, and watching and hearing its resonant chime at midday. The ANZAC bell made the 29-0-14 tenor of the ring of sixteen appear tiny.

Follow this link to quarter-peals rung during the weekend.

Deryn Griffiths