Bathurst leads the world in ringing in the New Year

MEDIA RELEASE 23 December 2021

The Bathurst District War Memorial Carillon and the Community Bells in the Bathurst Anglican Cathedral will lead the way as 2021 ticks over into 2022 and bells around the world ring in celebration.

The ‘Ring around the World’ global initiative was created by Paul Ashe, President of the National Bells Festival in the USA and Stuart Pearson, convenor of Bathurst’s own ‘Festival of Bells’. This unique event, the first of its kind in the world, will see the Anglican Cathedral ring out its bells up to midnight with the Carillon then striking 12 strokes of the bell followed by 15 minutes of music commencing with the traditional Scottish song ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Manager Tourism and Visitor Service Daniel Cove said Bathurst is the only location in the world where a carillon, with its fixed bells, is located next to a cathedral, with its own separate set of pealing bells.

“The Anglican Cathedral Bell ringers will start off this global event prior to midnight during which Denise Garland, one of Bathurst’s very own carillonists, will climb the stairs to the top of the Carillon to be ready to commence on the stroke of midnight. The Bathurst District War Memorial Carillon will be the very first to ring in the New Year with a number of Carillons to follow in Africa, Europe and North America as the world moves through its different time zones. The whole event will be streamed live on YouTube, commencing with the Bathurst Carillon.”

“This initiative puts Bathurst on the global stage, alongside bells in many world cities, such as Johannesburg, Oslo, Copenhagen, London, and Washington, and further highlights the importance and deep cultural significance of the Bathurst District War Memorial Carillon,” Mr Cove said.

Future details are available on the Bathurst region website bathurstregion.com.au