But it's music to the ears of Coby Mellor, who serves as the tower bell captain at St John's Anglican Church in Wagga.

Coby already has seven years of experience as a bell ringer, despite being only 24 years old.

"The bells have intrigued me since I was a young boy," said Coby, a final year pharmacy student at Charles Sturt University.

"There was always an air of mystery when I heard them ring while sitting in church."

Coby helps to co-ordinate the church's six ringers and the four "learners" ? ranging in age from 12 to 72 ? who are responsible for the eight bells in the tower.

"The bells usually ring weekly for about 20 minutes at the Sunday service, while he have a practice on Tuesdays," Coby said.

St John's, which has the only bell tower in operation in Wagga, also tolls for civic occasions, weddings and special occasions such as Anzac Day.