The Astronomical Society
of New South Wales Incorporated
Since 1954 | ABN 51 807 120 936 | www.asnsw.com

Star Party Under Threat

Readers of Alternate Universe will be aware of the proposed annual Star Party at Cunnamulla, timed to take place during the Eulo-Cunnamulla Festival of Opals in general and the annual World Championship Lizard Races held at the magnificent Paroo Lizard Racing Track situated right in the central business district of the fair town of Eulo.

However, bad news has been received from top gun amateur of the Paroo Shire, Ludwig Litechardt who had been heavily involved in the planning for that Star Party and had even upgraded from his research-grade 60mm Tasco to a vintage 8-inch Coulter dobsonian in anticipation of the event.

Ludwig advises that the lizard races have been cancelled for the immediate future, apparently because of complaints from persons about them being a hazard to the health and well being of the lizards.

He is at a loss to understand this as the Queensland Government had enacted the Nature Conservation (Eulo Lizard Races) Conservation Plan 1995 to control the event and to make it an offence to mistreat, nobble or otherwise infringe on the physical integrity of the lizards.

He theorises that as the shingleback lizards and bearded dragons of the Paroo Shire have long been acknowledged as the most intelligent lizards in Australia, some conservationists might see them as intellectual soul mates.

Of greater concern to him however, is the proposition put forward by the Beyond The Black Stump Alternate Society Brotherhood that the Star Party should be cancelled owing to it conflicting with their anti-nuclear principles.

They consider that Star Parties are tantamount to worship and glorification of those nuclear furnaces in the sky, and apparently are so fervent in their beliefs that they keep their solar-cells covered by day and uncovered only on cloudy nights.

This has so far proved so unsuccessful in generating any electricity, that lighting and cooking is done by them by burning dried kangaroo and rabbit droppings.

Ludwig has been negotiating with the civic fathers of Cunnamulla to see whether the Star Party might proceed at such time as the President of the Beyond The Black Stump Alternate Society Brotherhood, Mr Bert Dropkyk, is not allowed out on day release.

His followers are not able to read and write, have no radios, and have few visitors to their Ashram on the reed island in Taipan Swamp and therefore would be unaware of the event and so not cause disruption.

As soon as Ludwig gets a response to his representations he will inform Alternate Universe.