When it comes to hobbies, Doug Nichols admits bellringing is not a common one that pops up.
However, the pastime is experiencing a boom in participants in Hobart — with the recent surge in new ringers resulting in a waitlist being started, and the poster calling for new members being pulled off the wall at St David's Cathedral.
It's not a situation tower captain and long-time bellringer Mr Nichols expected — but he isn't taking the boom for granted.
"We've had a surprising and very welcome influx," he said.
About a year ago, the group of volunteers was down to about three or four people, which meant sick days often resulted in events having to forego the bells, or cancellations.
"We can't quite figure it out … it could just be that we got lucky, or stopped being unlucky," he said.
"We've been busy, flat-out teaching people all year … it's a good problem to have."
According to the Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers, there are around 65 belltowers around Australia and New Zealand where bellringing occurs.
These are typically in capital cities — with St David's Cathedral in Tasmania's south the only place in the state where English-style bellringing is taught.
Currently, there are seven relatively recent recruits there who are learning the ropes, with ages of the band members ranging from 17 years old through to retirees
It is a hobby that does not discriminate, Mr Nichols said.
"Over the years, it's just been people from the community who've maybe heard the bells and got curious, or saw something, or know someone who has a connection to the church," he said.
For 17-year-old Harry Howard, who started learning the skill earlier this year, it was a general curiosity that drew him in and it was the sense of community that kept him there.
"I didn't know that bellringers existed, and I don't suppose that I ever really thought about how the sound was made," Mr Howard said.
"But we did live over the water from this tower and the sound would travel when I was younger, so I did sort of grow up with the towers in the background.
"Bellringers are very interesting people, from a whole range of lives. The feeling of controlling the bell and the sound that is produced is great as well, but the community is just great."
'It's quite secular here'
For Molly Taplin, another relative newcomer to the group, it's a similar story.
After spotting the poster calling for people to come and check out bellringing, she decided it was worth investigating.
"One of the things that slightly surprised me about it going into it was that it's quite secular here," she said. "It doesn't feel like I have to be religious to do it."
"It's quite a nice community."
How do you ring the bells?
While English-style bell ringing does not rely on strength, it is not something that you can jump right into. A fine touch is needed.
The bells at St David's in Hobart are made from bronze and range in size from around 50kg through to a tonne or more, with each equipped with a wooden wheel with a hand-made rope running around it. This rope is what hangs down in the ringing room, and what ringers rely on to get the right sound, in the right order.
Each bell is controlled by one person, who coordinate their movements based on which sequence they are ringing.
According to Mr Nichols, there are three phases that come with the learning process.
First, you need to learn to physically control the bell without requiring someone supervising you for safety. Then you can move into the group practices, where you learn to ring in sequence.
The third and final stage is when you're ready to learn the complex art of change ringing, which "can take years and last you until you can't get up the [belltower] stairs anymore, basically".
At least, that has been Mr Nichols's experience — having started ringing in 1974 and with no ambitions of stopping anytime soon.
"I just love the feel of controlling a bell," he said.
"I love the sound of the bells — and then there's something about, when a band of really good singers get together, it sounds really special."
The Hobart Bellringers practice every Monday evening, and ring on Sunday mornings — as well as for special occasions such as weddings and Anzac Day.
"And then sometimes over Christmas or New Year we ring just because we want to."
