Recognising that satellites such as Linear have effectively pre-empted amateur discovery of Comets by their automated sky coverage, the decision was made to search those few parts of the sky that the satellites are not covering.
Accordingly, society conservationist Col McMickle has been allocated the Cometary search area covered by the LMC, having already memorised all deep sky objects in that area, while master chef Don Whitelight has been given Sagittarius and the Coal Sack.
Scott Muesli will search the SMC, while Les Ara will cruise through Carina on a regular basis.
The additional advantage of searching these areas is that they are too far south to be effectively reached by the industrious Japanese Comet searchers, so competition from that direction is low.
Although no discovery has yet been reported, the group is satisfied that success will reward their efforts well before their target date - the return of Comet Halley - and strike a blow for observational astronomy against technology.
The recent mouse plague at Wiruna has been effectively brought under control without recourse to poisons or other noxious chemicals by a vigorous Eastern Brown snake breeding campaign headed by conservationist McMickle, who had developed an early affection for the reptiles since his first encounter with one as a teenager when jumping into a river, and nests have been located in suitable parts of the humpy, known affectionately as Mos Eisley.
In consequence, fat and contented snakes are often seen sleeping happily around the site, but all are expected to have retired into winter quarters well before the 17th Annual South Pacific Star Party in May 2009.
Meanwhile, Christmas in July celebrations are being planned for 2009, with a traditional Christmas dinner in the hall and, in celebration of the Bondi Icebergs, a bracing winter swim across the famous Wiruna Dam will be inaugurated.