Pittwater Life October 2023 Issue

News
With bells on!
Phil Allan’s passion for
miniature handbells
began when his wife
Pam bought one of their
granddaughters a set of
children’s handbells.
The granddaughter is
now 17, and strangely no
longer has any interest in
handbells.
However, Phil became
obsessed, is now a prominent
member of the Handbells
Society of Australasia (yes,
it stretches to New Zealand)
and gave a speech on
the Australian history of
handbells to the Combined
Probus Club of Mona Vale
meeting at Pittwater RSL
last month. With handbell
accompaniment of course. PASSION: Aficianado Phil Allan runs ‘rings’ around his dining room.
“Handbells came to
Australia around 1850 with
“each the size of upturned “And I prefer songs my
the first settlers from Britain
teacups and with a two-octave mum and dad loved – like
and Europe,” Phil, now in his
range… people love them Grenada, the Sound of Music
80s, told Pittwater Life.
because they have never seen and South Pacific.”
“It was quite common in or heard them before”.
Any money Phil and his
those days to invite people to When Phil began playing handbells earn go to Brian
your home, have dinner and publicly he would play 1960s and Kathy Cox, a young
then play handbells.
“That lasted until the 1920s
and ’30s when films and radio
became alternative sources of
entertainment,” he explained.
“But handbells made a
comeback in the 1960s when
two American companies
rock songs. Now his audience
mostly consists of the over-
70s – at Probus, Rotary, VIEW
clubs, retirement homes and
his local Belrose church once
a month.
He recommends readers
watch a live performance of a
missionary couple in Nigeria,
translating the Bible into
various African languages.
“Pam is overjoyed that
I have a hobby,” Phil says.
“Though she has kicked me
out of the dining room and
made me rehearse in the
reintroduced them. America, handbell choir on YouTube. garage.” – Steve Meacham
Asia and Europe are now very
big on handbells.”
Phil’s own set consists of
25 miniature metal handbells
“Handbell choirs generally
have between 15 and 20
players,” Phil explains. “But I
play solo.
*More info PAllan28@
bigpond.com; or Handbells
Society of Australasia
website handbell.org.au
PHOTO: Pam Allan.
6THINGS
THIS MONTH
Natural Heritage talk. Discover
what the Pittwater Natural
Heritage Association has been
doing and hear from wildlife
rescuer Lynleigh Greig about the
challenges for Spring, the Mobile
Care Unit, and local snakes at
their 2023 AGM on Sun 8 from
1.30pm at the Newport Community
Centre. RSVP to pnhainfo@gmail.
com for afternoon tea catering.
Weaving workshop. Experience
First Nations culture through a
relaxed, hands-on workshop with
guest speaker, Noongar basket
weaver Jodie Dowd, on Sat 14
from 10am-12pm at Mona Vale
Creative Space 1/1 Park Street.
Cost $10 plus booking fee includes
materials and refreshments. Book
on Council website.
Composting course. Find out
everything you’d possibly want to
know about how to successfully
run a compost bin and worm
farm when experts from Kimbriki
Eco House and Garden host a
workshop at Avalon Public School
on Sat 14 from 1-4pm. Costs
$30pp/$50 a family. You may
even be eligible for a $90 voucher
courtesy of NB Council towards
buying a worm farm or compost
bin (Ts&Cs apply). Bookings
essential on Kimbriki website.
Hoarding help. Join Kristina the
Decluttering Diva who will help
demystify Hoarding Disorder on
Mon 23 from 11am-12pm. Whether
you’re a concerned family member,
a healthcare professional, or
simply curious about this complex
condition, this online event is for
you. Free; contact belongclub@
ccnb.com.au
Love interiors? Sydney Design
School is opening its studios
on Sat 28 from 10am-12pm
where you can meet passionate
educators, view the exhibition
space and gets hands-on building
an interiors mood board or 3D
model on campus at 65 Berry
St North Sydney. More info at
sydneydesignschool.com.
Author talk. Avalon Library is
hosting author Chris Hammer
with his new book Seven in
conversation with Michael
Robotham at 6pm on Mon 30.
Bookings at the library or phone
8495 5080.
18 OCTOBER 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991