THE Bathurst War Memorial Carillon could become a part of major events throughout the year once its upgrade is complete.
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Upgrades to the Carillon were announced in June, 2018 and to date more than $850,000 has been spent on restorative works.
Once complete, the Carillon will finally be a complete musical instrument.
While discussing the works at the October ordinary meeting of Bathurst Regional Council, deputy mayor Ian North asked about the future use of the Carillon, particularly if it would be played for major events.
Councillor Monica Morse, who is a delegate to council's Carillon working party and a member of the Friends of the Bathurst War Memorial Carillon group, was enthusiastic in saying that it will be played as much as possible.
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She said that the Friends will look after the playing of the Carillon, and train five locals to be carillonists.
"We would develop a protocol for playing it and, yes, let's have it played. There's also an electronic tune-maker in there which we can play other tunes, just electronically," Cr Morse said.
"Obviously it's the town clock, you can't play music when its 11 o'clock or quarter past 11 or whatever, but the Friends of the Bathurst War Memorial Carillon, we are supervising the training and supervising the playing, which we hope will happen lots and lots and lots."
The clavier was recently hoisted into the structure and Cr Morse said people can expect to hear it being tested sometime in November.
"There will be a testing day probably at the beginning of November when you can actually hear what happens, but the actual launch will be next year when council can work with Bathurst RSL to host, in particular, the special ceremony," she said.
"The Carillon Society of Australia is very keen to come up in March and play what they regard as one of the best carillons in Australia.
"It's a war memorial carillon, the Canberra Carillon is not a war memorial, so ours is particularly special. It will be welcomed by the people who play the carillon in Australia and overseas, and we are having five carillonists trained in Bathurst.
"Hopefully in the next couple of years they'll be really up to speed and playing our wonderful instrument."
