An article published
on 25 August 2016 appears in the Canberra Life section of The Canberra Times with the headline: Canberra’s town crier hangs
up the bell. What does ‘town crier’
mean? What does a town crier do and why is the town crier hanging up the bell?
The Oxford Dictionaries
defines ‘town crier’ as ‘a person employed to make public announcements in the
streets or marketplace of a town.’ It notes that the term is ‘historical’ for
messenger, courier, bearer of news, a proclaimer, or a bell person.
The town crier does not
cry – the person does not weep or shed tears. The term ‘crier’ comes from the
term ‘to cry out’ – in other words, to call out or to shout out. The person,
historically, rings a bell (or gong, drum, or hunting horn) and calls out the
news of the day, usually a public announcement, such as the birth of a royal
baby, or other event of significance to the town.
The town crier wears
historical costume dating to the 18th century, which is usually a coat,
breeches (pants), boots and a tricorne (three-cornered) hat. The person – male or
female - carries a bell, and shouts out the words, ‘O-yay, o-yay, o-yay’ or ‘Hear
yea, hear yea, hear yea’ (or similar words) to attract attention before making
an announcement.
The article mentions
that the town crier of Canberra, the capital of Australia, is Alan Moyse, who
dresses in historical costume, takes his bell, and at community events, cries
out public announcements. He won the position of town crier five years ago in
2011. He receives no payment, as he performs his duties on a voluntary basis.
There is a society for
town criers all over the world – the position originated in Europe – called the
Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers.
Moyse is ‘hanging up
the bell’ – retiring. He has lived in Canberra for 44 years and is now retiring
from his paid job in the federal government, and moving to the coast, thus
moving out of Canberra. Since the town crier must be a citizen of the town in
which he or she cries, Moyse must also retire from the voluntary position of
town crier for Canberra.
The article concludes
with the statement that the Chief Minister Andrew Barr is calling for
applications to appoint a new town crier for the national capital.
The Scorecard for The Canberra Times headline is 90%. Canberra’s town
crier is dressed in traditional costume, with a bell, which he is hanging up
due to his retirement. So ‘hear yea, hear yea, hear yea – Canberra needs a new
town crier.’ Alas, the article did not mention how to apply, nor what skills
are required. I can say – having witnessed many town criers – that a loud voice
is a pre-requisite because loud-hailers and megaphones are not traditional
equipment. I can add that a willingness to wear flamboyant dress – not supplied
by the town council – would add authenticity to the role.
The article also failed to note that the 25th Annual National Town Crier
Championships will be hosted by the Redland City Council in Australia on 3
September 2016 as part of the Redland Spring Festival called RedFest.
Photograph : Elesa Kurtz
MARTINA NICOLLS is an international
aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of
Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet
(2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).
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