Welcome to IIS Allanah.
It is difficult when you're first starting out, trying to do it on your own. It might be worth while, as Jon said, to track down your nearest Astro Society and attend a couple of meetings.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/clublistings.html#QLD
We do have a members map that you might be able to use to track down members in your region. But I can never find the damn thing to share it.