Some rewiring and panelling work occurred May 2021, prior to the ANZAB Festival being held in Bundaberg and Maryborough.
Ian McCulloch
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.
Lots of ringing - but lots of relaxing too: lunch at Bundaberg
A great weekend in and out of towers
David Smith
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.
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.
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!
Before and After
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!
Chris Beardmore is down there somewhere!
It worked!
Follow this link to a short video of the finished result (a 25mb file)
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.
The five new bells for Bundaberg have arrived! Ted Reid contributed this photo gallery.
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.
THE OSBORNE FAMILY, WHO FOR 200 YEARS, WALKED HUMBLY WITH THEIR GOD
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.
The trebles for Parramatta (2 and 1) in front of "FAITHFULNESS" one of the bells destined for Bundaberg.
image courtesy Thomas Perrins
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.
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)
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.
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