Blue Card Services, and public and school sentiment, have changed in recent months and we are now required to hold Blue Cards to attend BAS School Telescope Nights. However, Blue Cards are not required for other public nights we conduct at venues such as Maleny Observatory or Witton Barracks.
Here is a link explaining how to apply for a Blue Card as a volunteer with BAS:
A per-night facility fee payable by astronomy visitors to the Warwick & District Archers.
BAS Members: BAS members pay just $10/night.
Non-BAS Members: Non-BAS members pay $10/night plus a single additional $10 charge (Non-member stays 1 night and pays $20; Stays 2 nights and pays $30; etc.)
(Please note: We charge a little more than the base $10 charge (for example, $10.26 etc) to cover commission and fees levied by Square and credit card companies.)
At the end of each month, BAS transfers collected fees to the Warwick & District Archers. Your fee payment helps the Archers cover some of their costs for site leasing, mowing, electricity, gas, building construction, maintenance and insurance, rubbish removal, vegetation management, tractor and mower costs, and much more. Payments of more than just the base applicable fee are welcomed.
At the October 26th 2024 Annual General Meeting, the following BAS members were elected to the BAS Management Committee for 2024/25
Peter Allison – President Paul Baker Nathan Eikenbary Peter Metcher – Hire Equipment Co-ordinator Dean Stewart – Secretary Subbarao Sivakumar – Treasurer Ken Wishaw – Maleny Observatory Co-ordinator) Mike Zupanc – Education Co-ordinator
BAS conducts regular telescope evenings for its Sunshine Coast members on the lawns of the Maleny Golf Club clubhouse.
The club’s street address is: 15 Porters Lane, North Maleny QLD, 4552
Most people initially head for Landsborough and then head up the Landsborough Maleny Road to Maleny itself. Once in Maleny, drive straight through the first roundabout and then take the first right, Teak Street, to head towards North Maleny and the golf club.
For a What3Words location map, click here. Or insert the following three words into the app: responsible.bananas.croaking
The main telescope setup area is just above the clubhouse. The clubhouse is open for use by members during our telescope events.
There is some limited storage capacity adjacent to the clubhouse for astronomy equipment storage. There is a toilet to the north of the main carpark.
BAS conducts telescope evenings for members, mainly on the Saturday closest to the New Moon phase. Public nights are also conducted on selected Saturdays prior to member events. Dates for all events are available on the BAS website calendars:
Public telescope nights commence, around sunset, with a short PowerPoint presentation on aspects of astronomy and the main objects visible on the night. BAS members welcome the public looking through their telescopes as planets, stars, star clusters, nebulae or asteroids. Some members will also demonstrate aspects of astrophotography.
BAS Member nights are reserved purely for the benefit of members. Beginner members are encouraged to attend both public and members events. There is no need to own or bring a telescope. Attending these evenings and talking with other BAS members will help beginners climb the astronomy learning curve.
Ken Wishaw co-ordinates the Maleny events and makes the Go/No Go weather condition decision. He maintains an email list of BAS members interested in attending Maleny events. Members are encouraged to contact Ken and add their email address. Status update emails are issued in the days prior to calendar-listed events.
Please note, BAS does not have permission for members to camp overnight on the Maleny Golf Club site or in any of its facilities. The nearest camping option is the Maleny Show Ground, about 2km from the golf club.
The Maleny facilities are excellent. BAS members are encouraged to utilise these facilities and the events we conduct there.
