Hi Stuart,
Im also new to IIS. I can't really help you with Astronomical societies although I know Mornington Astronomical Society has an astrophotography night coming up in about a month (10th of sept I think).
I'm also in Sale and have been photographing/teaching wide field astro for a few years now my Facebook is Gippsland Images
https://www.facebook.com/gippslandimages/ and website
www.gippslandimages.com.au If you need someone to help you out with wide field astro photography that is local yell out and we can meet up sometime. Im an ambassador for Samyang Optics Australia so know my way around the equipment for basic wide field well, although deep space photography/observing is another ball game altogether, hence why Im here.
Anyway would be good to meet up with someone thats also new to this side of things, cheers Daniel.