• Exhibition and eBook to celebrate 50 years of higher education from Charles Sturt’s Riverina College of Advanced Education

Charles Sturt University is co-hosting an event to celebrate 50 years of higher education in Albury-Wodonga.

The Riverina College of Advanced Education (RCAE) was established in 1972, with campuses in Wagga Wagga, Albury and Griffith.

The college replaced the existing Wagga Wagga Teachers College and, after numerous name changes, including Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education, it became Charles Sturt University in 1989.

The Albury-Wodonga campus was one of the University’s three founding campuses, with Wagga Wagga and Bathurst.

Associate Professor Bruce Pennay from Charles Sturt in Albury-Wodonga and Mr Wayne Doubleday from Charles Sturt Regional Archives oversaw the compilation of a history of the campus to mark the 50^th anniversary of its foundation.

Associate Professor in the Charles Sturt School of Education and artist Jenni Munday initiated the idea of developing an exhibition, which has been brought to life by Ms Sarah Ind and other members of the Albury LibraryMuseum.

The exhibition, to be displayed at the Albury LibraryMuseum, chronicles higher education on the border and the centre’s growth into a regional university.

PhD student at Latrobe University Ms Portia Dilena has written book called Achieving Higher Education in Albury-Wodonga. The e-book version of the book will be launched at the exhibition opening.

Current and former Charles Sturt students and staff have contributed memories, stories, and photos, with additional material supplied by the Charles Sturt Regional Archives.

“We found the local community warmed to the project and former students and staff members contributed memories collected by Portia,” Professor Pennay said.

“We think the Albury-Wodonga community played a huge part in ensuring their district won and kept opportunities for higher education. We were warmed by the way people, and women in particular, saw how the availability of higher education here was life-changing for them.”

AlburyCity Council Mayor Cr Kylie King said Council was happy to be part of the collaboration to bring this vision to life.

“Higher education in Albury has a rich history, and Albury-Wodonga is currently the only place of its size with two universities (Charles Sturt University and La Trobe)," she said.

"This year marks 50 years since the Albury Study Centre of the Riverina College of Advanced Education (RCAE) opened and we are very pleased to celebrate it in collaboration with Charles Sturt with this new exhibition at the LibraryMuseum.”

The Higher Education in Albury exhibition and book launch will be held on Thursday 17 March from 5.30pm at the Albury LibraryMuseum. Bookings are essential and can be made online. The e-book is available on the Charles Sturt website.