Providing a ‘home away from home’ to Charles Sturt University (CSU) students living on campus will become easier with a generous gift  from the charitable trust, the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, based in Sydney.

 

The Foundation has distributed $500 000 to St Martin’s College, a self catering residential college operated by the Anglican Church for CSU students in Wagga Wagga.

 

The grant will be spent on the construction of a new multipurpose centre for the college.

 

“The centre will provide much needed recreational and meeting space for the 96 students at St Martin’s, as well as a kitchen, BBQ area, chapel, outdoor amphitheatre, offices and a study common,” said head of St Martin’s College, the Reverend Jenny Willsher.

 

“The majority of students at St Martin’s College are drawn from rural and regional Australia. They are studying a range of courses, including agriculture, education, nursing, radiography, television production and veterinary science.

 

“Since its establishment in 1992, the College has provided a ’home away from home‘ for the students during their studies and offers community activities, spiritual support, counselling and tutoring to students resident in the college.

 

“The College Board is extremely grateful to the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation whose generous support has enabled the project to proceed.

 

“The Board is now seeking to raise a further $200 000 from local businesses and the community towards the total costs of the project,” the Reverend Willsher said.

 

It is hoped construction of the multipurpose centre will start in July and be completed in December, ready for the 2009 academic year.

 

CSU provides a range of accommodation options for its students including catered or self-catered facilities across the University’s campuses.