Planning for Astrofest 2025
The Astrofest Committee has begun planning for 2025. The Committee is looking for feedback, comments, suggestions and volunteers on the following topics.
You can either respond here or by emailing the Registrar directly at
registrar@qldastrofest.org.au
1) Astrofest Meals.
Important: No catered meals for 2025.
The Committee is aware of the issues that have been raised in regards to the price and quality of some of the meals that have been provided at the Astrofest.
The following relates to providing catered meals for lunch and tea. Breakfast has never been catered. The Astrofeast meal will be covered separately. For 2023, Duckadang required a minimum 15 meals to be ordered for a given meal time to make it economical for them to provide the meals. If 15 meals are not ordered for a given meal time, no meal will be prepared. The meals need to be pre-ordered and pre-paid 2 weeks prior to the camp. For 2023, only two meals met the 15 meal minimum. Prices for meals in 2023 were $25 for lunch and $30 for tea.
Any requests for refunds on meals must be made directly to Duckadang and not to the Astrofest Committee.
Not knowing if the minimum number of meals would be met until 2 weeks before the camp caused a lot of extra work for the committee and confusion for attendees who were planning for catered meals.
Prices for meals in 2025 are expected to be $25 for lunch and $35 for tea and minimum of 20 meals.
As a result of the above the Committee has decided not to offer catered meals this year.
The committee is looking at providing a freezer in addition to the current cold room.
There are 3 microwaves at the camp. There is also the BBQ in the Rotunda..
2) Committee positions and helpers.
The Committee would like to have a few extra people on the committee to help spread the work load. If you have been enjoying the Astrofest over the years, this may be the time to give a little back. Some of the duties for committee members include
a) Providing updates to your local club.
b) Helping with working bees at either Duckadang or in Brisbane.
c) Help setting up and packing up the camp.
d) Helping with the smooth running of the camp.
If you do not wish to be on the committee, there might be other ways you can help prior to or at the camp.
3) Speakers and workshops.
a) The Committee would like to hear from anyone who is planning to attend the Astrofest and would be willing to give a presentation or run a workshop.
b) The Committee is also interested to hear suggestions for what sort of presentations, workshops or other activities that attendees would like to see.
4) Sponsors and Supporters.
Sponsors and Supporters play an important in keeping the Astrofest running. Their contributions help keep the costs down, updating and maintaining equipment, subsidising guest speakers. If you wish to help sponsor the Astrofest or know of a company that could sponsor the Astrofest, please contact the Registrar directly.
5) 30th Astrofest.
This will be the 30th Astrofest. The Committee would love to hear your stories and see your photos from the Astrofest from previous years. The intention is to share the stories, photos (with permission) on the Queensland Astrofest website and Facebook pages and in the registration booklet.
Do you have any suggestions to make the Astrofest better?
I was authorised to make this announcement on behalf of the Astrofest committee.