BATHURST Regional Council has given the Society of Bathurst Bell Ringers a helping hand as it prepares to host the 2016 Festival of Bells alongside the Australian and New Zealand Association of Bell Ringers annual general meeting.
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Bathurst Regional Council has provided the society with a $1000 grant, which was presented at a special ceremony at All Saints’ Cathedral.
Bathurst mayor Gary Rush was joined by members of the Bathurst and Orange bell ringers societies at the ceremony.
Cr Rush said council was pleased to be able to support the bell ringers and their hosting of the festival, which is bringing an internationally renowned event to Bathurst.
Chris Bacon from the Bathurst Bell Ringers Society said there were currently 59 bell towers in Australia and eight in New Zealand where change ringing is practised.
The Australian and New Zealand Association of Bell Ringers is the authority that guides, advises, sets standards and encourages the ancient craft of change ringing in both nations.
“The Association’s AGM has evolved into a travelling Festival of Bells, linked to the AGM, and next year the festival and the AGM will be hosted by the Bell Ringers of Holy Trinity Church Orange and All Saints’ Cathedral in Bathurst,” Mr Bacon said.
“Preparations are well underway to host up to 150 ringers from across Australasia for the AGM and festival.”
“The festival will run over five days next March and it is expected to turn a warm mid-autumn Bathurst into a city of bells.
“The event is also expected to attract a number of international bell ringers.”
In recent years the festival has been held in Sydney, Canberra, Perth and, this year, in Adelaide.
