The ringing of six peace bells will sound out around the Bundaberg CBD this Sunday as part of Anzac Day commemorations at Christ Church Anglican Church.
The Peace Bells will be rung at the conclusion of each church service, at 8.30 am and 10.30 am, following the Last Post and National Anthem at the Wayside Cross.
Charlene Savage from the Parish Office said a team of experienced bell ringers from Brisbane would be tasked with ringing the bells.
“The peal of six bells (the heaviest peal of six bells in Australia) will be rung with the clappers half-muffled as a sign of respect and commemoration of the fallen,” she said.
“The half muffle signifies respect for the dead.”
Charlene said the tenor bell was placed in the tower of Christ Church in 1935, intended to be the first of the peal, but with WWII intervening the project was not completed until 2018.
She added the initial ringing of the bells took place on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, on 28 June 2019.
“The bells are rung traditionally on the day of commemoration services such as Anzac and Remembrance Days, for weddings, religious festivals such as Christmas and Easter, and are often tolled for funerals,” Charlene said.
“Our tower is limited by all ringers having started as beginners in 2018, firstly by travelling to Maryborough to train on their bells, then once our bells were installed, by trainers from Maryborough and Brisbane coming up to Bundaberg.
“In June 2021 our tower and Maryborough's will combine forces to host the ANZAB (Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers) ringing festival with ringing competitions in both locations.”
To find out more about The Peace Bells click here.
