HUNDREDS of churches celebrated the centenary of Australia’s nationhood by joining in a synchronous ringing of bells for five minutes before the start of the Federation Parade in Sydney on January 1.
The pealing of church bells could be heard as far as the Cocos Islands and in all states and territories.
Bells and chimes of all sizes in halls, schools, post offices and clubs were rung including those on boats, farms and bicycles.
At exactly 2.54pm, Ipswich was filled with the sound of the Angelus being rung from the bell in St Mary’s Church. Both the bell and the church are older than the nation itself.
At 2.55pm, the designated bell ringer, Frank Molloy had his hands full maintaining a five-minute peal, which coincided with ringing bells around the country.
