Background

The Annual General Meeting of ANZAB, held on 6 June 2015 in Adelaide, approved the following resolution:

In the 2015-2016 financial year ANZAB offer funds to all towers for ringers to train in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid, with a maximum of two ANZAB members per tower ...

Proponents of the resolution noted that following the recent medical emergency in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney and the life-saving CPR given by members of the band, it was considered appropriate to offer ringers in Australia and New Zealand the opportunity at a minimum to have members trained in CPR.

Provision of funds was justified under sections 6(c) and/or (h) of the ANZAB Constitution:

(c) to foster and provide education and training in the art of change ringing and all activities associated therewith or incidental thereto;

(h) to do and perform such things as may be conducive or incidental to the foregoing [sections].

Following furtherance motions at the 2016 AGM and the 2021 AGM, the scheme will be ongoing.


Suitable Courses

Depending on the trainee's location, one of the following courses is likely to be suitable and cost around $100.

Australian Red Cross - Provide CPR 3 hours face-to-face
St John's Ambulance (AU) - Provide CPR 2 hours face-to-face
New Zealand Red Cross - Save a Life 4 hours face-to-face
St John's Ambulance (NZ) - Basic Life Support Half day

Other First Aid Courses, which include CPR training, are also available from these and other providers and may suit a tower's extra needs.

Applicants should establish current course costs before applying to ANZAB for financial support.


Application and Approval Procedure

  • A tower representative seeks approval from the to access a course, providing details of the one or two nominated member attendees and total costs (AUD or NZD GST inclusive)
  • ANZAB approves the attendance in writing
  • Members pay upfront for training and seek reimbursement providing copies of receipts and bank account details for EFT reimbursement
  • ANZAB reimburses by EFT through Australian or NZ Bank Accounts

Emergency rescue at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

A bellringer who had a heart attack is lowered through a trapdoor in the St Mary's Cathedral bell tower.

Sydney Morning Herald, 24 April 2015

Image courtesy Top Notch Video