Hi Snoops
Welcome to IIS you'll gain a wealth of help and info here.
One of the first purchases to make is a guide to the night sky book called "Astronomy 2007 Australia "
This is a must for beginners. It has monthly charts of what's happening in the sky, such as the position of planets to the nearest star to help you find it, and much much more.
You can get it from Bintel Melbourne they have it on special for $20
You can order by phone ...... 03 9822 0033
Or on their website
http://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm and click on Books in left column
Barb & David