First of all I'd like to say Thank You!
for all the thanks I've read so far.
It has been a great time being a part of running the QLD Astrofest. But my available time is not what it used to be, so even though I am pained to do so
, I have to give this job up. I will miss it. I love talking to everyone and seeing people have a good time. It is a real buzz!
What I would like to say is that it really disappoints me to hear the usual complaints about fees.
Doesn't anyone listen to the committee?
We are charged by Lions per head not by where you sleep. The prices went up heaps this year but we received a discount. This may or may not happen again. So I would guess the price will rise again. FACT. We do not have control over this, we can only pass it on. We add a fee of less than $5 to help cover the other costs we have and to put some extra aside incase of unforeseen expenditure. Most years we have only just scraped in the positive.
If you are wondering what these regular costs are I can roughly list them:
- name badges
- printing
- web page changes/problems
- ink cartridges
- pens/ duct tape/ masking tape
- signs when necessary
- electrical leads
- red fluros
- red bulbs
- white bulbs/fluros to replace broken ones
- etc.
There is a lot when it adds up. The raffle is our only bonus money. It is run to help get our speakers and all the equipment that we use. That has amassed considerably over the years to make your stay better. So we can help people who have forgotten things,etc
As for percentages I can give you that
This is for the whole week
Bunking 36%
Camping 24%
Caravanning 27%
Family 13%
I don't agree we are out growing the site.
The bunk houses have been running at about 50% full for the last 2-3 years. So that is 48 people we can still house. It is getting harder to bunk people who cannot get into a top bunk, and I do see this being a problem in the future as we all get older.
The camping area was only getting full on the first and last weekends but more could be fit if people would put tents in a more orderly fashion. The committee have thought of marking out spots but that would be too much work. There is always the lower camping grounds too.
Less cars on site would give plenty of room for tents and caravans. But how many people would complain about that! I can see that being a better option rather than moving to another site. I doubt anywhere would allow us to replace all the lights like we do.
We still have plenty of space for scopes. There were large spaces in both fields that weren't used this year.
As for power problems:
When found the committee have found solutions each year.
- The bay-marie was faulty (not our fault)
- Long wait time for microwaves (we bought two)
- The microwaves were tripping the kitchen circuit (moved them next year)
- Campers couldn't get sufficient power (bought heavier cable to extend AC)
- Tripping house circuit board (investigated and found to be earth leakage not overload, everyone must work on keeping boards dry)
Problems arise and we have always tried to fix them the best way we know how. We have spared no expense doing so, as this is a annual event. I have even gone to extent of labelling every bunk so people don't get it wrong. This takes hours preparing and doing. But it makes it all run smoothly so it's been worth doing.
The Committee are just people like everyone who love astronomy. We make mistakes and we try to do better. But all of us believe the event is worth the time and the effort. I just hope everyone will help the new committee find their feet. I know I will.
Anne-Louise