image of Christ Church, Bundaberg

Refurbishment before ANZAB 2021

Bundaberg ringing chamber with workers

Some rewiring and panelling work occurred May 2021, prior to the ANZAB Festival being held in Bundaberg and Maryborough.

Ian McCulloch

ANZAC Day 2021

A group of Brisbane ringers visited Maryborough (Saturday and Monday) and Bundaberg (Sunday) for the ANZAC Day weekend. Activities included half-muffled service ringing, various training sessions and a quarter-peal of Cambridge Minor at Bundaberg. The weekend was notable for the marvellous hospitality of the Maryborough and Bundaberg ringers.

lunch outside
Lots of ringing - but lots of relaxing too: lunch at Bundaberg

meals and tower photos
A great weekend in and out of towers

David Smith

First Ringing of the Bells at Christ Church, Bundaberg

Ron Shepherd writes:

Here is a photo of the band that rang the bells straight after service at Christ Church, Bundaberg, on 28 June 2019, to commemorate the centenary of the Treaty of Versailles - 300 changes of Grandsire Doubles. The bells sound very good are are easy to ring.

1st band to ring at Bundaberg

Ian McCulloch, Ron Shepherd, Kellie Hajek, Peter Harrison, Enid Roberts, Thomas Perrins

Enid Roberts writes: I have just been in Bundaberg. The church was packed out for the Peace Service and the first ringing of the bells. Nice sounding bells with a bit of weight to them. Rang some good Grandsire and Stedman Doubles and a course of Plain Bob Minor. More miscellaneous ringing on the Saturday afternoon, including local learners for handling and Rounds.

Bundaberg's 5th - a Fine Adjustment

Ted Reid and Ian McCulloch have supplied evidence of a very fine adjustment at Bundaberg. With Ron Shepherd OAM, Chris Beardmore (Maryborough) and Russell Cobb (Bundaberg), they're progressing the installation of Bundaberg's new ring of six. The wheel of the 5th was coming a wee bit close to the bell chamber wall. Here are the before and after images - a matter of millimetres - 4 to be precise!

Clearance of Bundaberg's 5th before adjustment    Clearance of Bundaberg's 5th wheel after adjustment

Before and After

And another ...

How often is a tower's fabric adjusted to fit a bell? In this case the wall of the bell chamber was modified to accommodate the arc of the clapper of the 5th!

Bundaberg 5th, Wall Modification    Bundaberg 5th, Wall Modification

Bundaberg 5th, Wall Modification

Chris Beardmore is down there somewhere!

It worked!

Images and video courtesy Ian McCulloch.

And the next thing?

Ted Reid reports: tomorrow [Friday, 24 May 2019] it is hoped to have 20 mm cut off the tenor clapper, in order to prevent #5 and #6 clappers striking one another end-on-end!

Ian McCulloch: The latest work turned out well. All of the bells are going now, except the treble doesn't have a slider, and we're still waiting for the ropes. The Bundaberg installation has been going for some time now with the continuing involvement of Ron Shepherd, Thomas Perrins, Russell Cobb and Ian McCulloch. We can see the end in sight.

Bundaberg Bells have arrived, October 2018

The five new bells for Bundaberg have arrived! Ted Reid contributed this photo gallery.

Bundaberg bells 1 to 5

The Treble (Patience & Self-control) and 2nd (Goodness, Gentleness and Kindness)

Bundaberg treble    Bundaberg 2nd

3rd (Joy) and 4th (Faithfulness)

Bundaberg 3rd    Bundaberg 4th

5th (Love) and the existing Tenor

Bundaberg 5th    Bundaberg tenor

In the image of the Tenor, at the top left, are some of the tubular bells that are hung tune ringing. They were transferred/installed to Bundaberg by an ex-Christ Church St Laurence ringer (Ian Stubbin) in the 1970s. The image of the 5th is distorted.

Two bells have dedications - the 2nd and the 5th.

Bundaberg 2nd dedication

THE OSBORNE FAMILY, WHO FOR 200 YEARS, WALKED HUMBLY WITH THEIR GOD

Bundaberg 5th dedication

IN LOVING MEMORY OF SIDNEY WILLIAM SMITH, BORN IN ENGLAND 3.11.1896, DIED TASMANIA 1.1.1980  A DEDICATED BELLRINGER FOR OVER 50 YEARS AT ST DAVID'S CATHEDRAL AND HOLY TRINITY CHURCH HOBART  A KIND AND COMPASSIONATE MAN AND COMMITTED TEACHER AND TOWER CAPTAIN.

An Interesting Sighting, July 2018

The trebles for Parramatta (2 and 1) in front of "FAITHFULNESS" one of the bells destined for Bundaberg.

Bells for Parramatta and Bundaberg

image courtesy Thomas Perrins

Bells for Bundaberg, July 2018

Work on the proposed heaviest ring of six bells in Australia is underway. Five bells are to be added to the existing Gillett & Johnston tenor bell at Christ Church, Bundaberg, Queensland. It was cast in 1935 and weighs 14-2-24 and is already hung for full-circle ringing.

The image below shows the front five bells, still in the UK at Matthew Higby's workshop.

Front five bells for Bundaberg

From left to right: Treble & Ben Kipling; 2nd; 3rd & Matthew Higby; 4th & George Wyatt; 5th & Jules Ferrar. They are drinking the world famous Bundaberg Ginger Beer which is brewed a short distance away from Christ Church. The ginger beer was kindly supplied by Ron Shepherd. (image courtesy the Keltek Trust)

Bundaberg, Queensland

Christchurch, Bundaberg, Queensland

Here is a view of Christ Church Anglican Church, Bundaberg, Queensland. The tower houses a 14 cwt Gillett and Johnston bell, hung for full circle ringing, and cast in the 1930s. It will be augmented to six by adding another Gillett and Johnston bell from the Keltek Trust, plus four new bells in front of the existing bell.



Ron Shepherd, October 2016

This page supplements the ANZAB Tower Directory, and records further information about the tower, its bells and ringers.

Some of this has been provided by local ringers, but most is historical and has been gathered by the ANZAB Webmaster since 2002.

Tower officers are encouraged to submit material for inclusion on this page, or suggest changes to its content.

Contact the