Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga is looking after the aged – particularly its trees.To help maintain the health of existing large trees on the campus, CSU students and staff will be planting around 400 native grasses and shrubs underneath them.CSU in Albury-Wodonga Campus Supervisor, Mr Richard Overall said "By re-establishing Indigenous under storey grasses and shrubs, birds and insects that are drawn to these plants will also help control diseases in the older trees." The annual Tree Planting Day at CSU in Albury Wodonga commences at 10am on Wednesday 10 August and runs until 12.30pm.

Author and social researcher Dr Hugh Mackay AO will examine the thorny issue of how we find meaning and purpose in our lives when he delivers public lectures in Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga this month.The latest in the CSU Explorations Series, Dr Mackay's lectures will discuss the themes from his new book, Beyond Belief: How we find meaning, with or without religion.  He'll explore the changing role of religion in Australia and the ways we search for spiritual direction in a society where traditional religious faith and practice are in sharp decline."While our attachment to a traditional idea of God may be waning, our desire for a sense of meaning remains as strong as ever," Dr Mackay said.In the lectures, he'll identify some of the factors that have driven people away from organised religion, and examine the rise of the "spiritual but not religious" movement.Dr Mackay is an honorary Professor at CSU and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University in 1995 recognising his contribution to our understanding of Australian society during his long career as a psychologist and social researcher.Beyond Belief is his seventeenth book. The lecture at CSU in Albury-Wodonga will be held from 6 pm on Monday 15 August at the CD Blake Auditorium, building 751, room 104, near car park 2, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive in Thurgoona.The lecture in Wagga Wagga will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday 16 August at the CSU Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross Street in Wagga Wagga.

A unique project and exhibition that explores the history and impact of a former mental asylum in Beechworth, in north-east Victoria, has opened at the Albury City LibraryMuseum.Dr Jennifer Munday (pictured), senior lecturer and researcher in the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Education in Albury-Wodonga and one of the curators, said the project titled Bedlam: living with a mental asylum in town has collected narrative data and artefacts for several years which now feature in the exhibition Up Top: A Sense of Place for Mayday Hills Hospital."Bedlam is an applied theatre, history and arts project that helps audiences and participants reflect on the multiple perspectives that co-exist around a significant site within community," Dr Munday said."Mayday Hills Hospital, the former Beechworth mental asylum, referred to as 'Up Top' by locals, has been an iconic presence in the North East Victorian community for more than 140 years," she said."Since the mental asylum opened there in 1867 approximately 9 000 people lived and died there during its 128-year history."One of the central aims of the Bedlam project is to investigate senses of place, along with the living memories of those who have in some way experienced the site."The re-organisation of Mayday Hills throughout its history, and its subsequent closure as a mental asylum, meant changes in the way the community, health services, and patients lived their lives."This project aimed to activate the voices of those touched by their experiences of Mayday Hills, and to provoke a community dialogue about both the history of Mayday Hills and its ongoing presence in the community."Dr Munday said, "One way of achieving this objective is the inclusion of a Story Booth in the LibraryMuseum exhibition where visitors can record their memories of visiting, working or having connections to Mayday Hills."Up Top: A Sense of Place for Mayday Hills Hospital was officially opened at 2pm Saturday 23 July by Professor Bruce Pennay, and will be exhibited until Sunday 25 September and throughout the Write Around the Murray Festival. Find out more about the project here.

Physiotherapy students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga and Orange will this month meet in the NSW Central West for an inaugural sports competition.The first ever CSU Inter-Physio Games will take place in Orange from Friday 22 July to Sunday 24 July.Money raised during the weekend will go towards Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Organised by the University's physiotherapy student associations from Albury-Wodonga and Orange, the weekend will see the students compete against each other on Saturday in netball, basketball, touch football, ultimate frisbee and soccer.CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann is due to attend the event on Saturday as well as a social function for the students at the Hotel Canobolas from 7pm on Saturday 23 July. On behalf of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Mr Rob Martinez will talk about the impacts of physiotherapy within communities.On Sunday, the students will take part in a Pilates introductory course run by the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute.Bachelor of Physiotherapy student Mr David Ternes said, "In addition to further developing the skills of the students, the event is being organised to introduce a 'friendly' rivalry between the two campuses."The Bachelor of Physiotherapy is a four year program at CSU in Albury-Wodonga and Orange.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students are tackling some major issues for diabetics - foot health and mobility - head on at Albury-Wodonga.As part of their podiatry and physiotherapy degrees with the School of Community Health, CSU in Albury-Wodonga students provide clinical and preventative advice to clients of all ages, including people suffering the debilitating effects of diabetes."National Diabetes Week highlights the needs of the many people who suffer with diabetes," said Mr Brent Smith, clinical educator with the University's Community Engagement and Wellbeing Centre, or CEW.Diabetes causes substantial damage to feet through poor blood circulation and damaged nerves, as well as mobility problems with increased weight caused by reduced kidney function. At its extreme, complications can lead to limb amputation."At the CEW, the podiatry students are supervised by experienced professional staff to provide clinical care for diabetic clients, as well as comprehensive diabetes screening and preventative education services," Mr Smith said."In addition, physiotherapy students help people with diabetes and musculoskeletal issues to remain active and mobile, keep good health and reduce related health problems."Importantly, the CEW provides services that benefit the students as well as clients, who are helping train the next generation of health professionals who will be vital in treating this disease as the incidence of diabetes continues to rise in Australia and worldwide."The CEW now also provides speech pathology clinics and services to the residents of Albury-Wodonga. To book an appointment, call the CEW on (02) 6051 9299.

Expertise in frogs and managing frog diseases has brought Ms Dillian Nason from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga and Albury-Wodonga.The biologist, who is an intern with PNG's Institute for Biological Research, is learning methods to help her identify new species of frogs from the New Guinean 'cloud' forests.These methods will also allow her to diagnose the deadly chytrid fungus disease, which is the greatest threat to cold-climate frogs worldwide.Dr Andrew Peters, from the CSU School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, said PNG is one of the most biodiverse places in the world and depends heavily on local agriculture and wildlife for food, culture and tourism."PNG is home to seven million people who are heavily dependent on agriculture and wildlife, but its capacities to investigate and manage animal health is among the lowest of any country," Dr Peters said."To address this shortage, the School has now trained nine PNG scientists in animal health, including Ms Nason, in addition to educating one of PNG's first female veterinary students."Ms Nason is currently completing an Honours degree in Biology with PNG's University of Goroka.

Charles Sturt University will host a forum focused on the future needs for education and skills training at its Regional Study Centre in Wangaratta this week.The forum will feature leading futurist and strategist Dr Peter Ellyard, who will assist community and industry leaders across the region and representatives from CSU and Goulburn Ovens TAFE to discuss future trends, priorities and needs for education across North East Victoria."Dr Ellyard is a prominent futurist and strategist, known for his challenging and inspirational ideas on shaping the future," said coordinator of the invitation-only event and manager of CSU's Regional Study Centre, Ms Ilena Young."As our global society becomes more interdependent and interconnected, we need to come together to prepare for the challenges of keeping pace with fast moving regional changes."The afternoon forum is a collaborative opportunity to consider the future of North East Victoria, and the education and skills that we will need to support a thriving and sustainable community." The forum will run from 1pm to 6 pm on Thursday 9 June at the Wangaratta Regional Study Centre, 218 Tone Road, Wangaratta.

The memory and generosity of two passionate advocates for regional higher education will be honoured at this year's major scholarship ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga.The annual ceremony, starting at 5.30pm on Wednesday 18 May, celebrates the academic achievements and endeavours of current students enrolled in business, education and science courses at CSU in Albury-Wodonga in the CD Blake Auditorium at Thurgoona.This year, the event will hold special significance as CSU Foundation Trust welcomes the receipt of a bequest of over $3 million from Carole and Stan Droder.Other new donors presenting prizes at this year's ceremony include the Westpac Corporation and the Rand-Walbundrie Football Club.They will be joined by other local businesses and organisations in presenting scholarships to deserving students to assist them in their studies.CSU Foundation administers over 300 scholarships annually, 39 of which will be awarded at the Albury ceremony.CSU Foundation recognises that by giving rural and regional students in Australia fair access to higher education, CSU can develop professionals who have experience in regional areas and further afield, which will help them to maintain and develop healthy local economies and vibrant communities.This year across all campuses, CSU will award more than $1.2 million in scholarships to help students reach their full potential.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is partnering with James Fallon High School in Albury to investigate new ways of preparing new teachers for the rigors of high school teaching.Five third-year students enrolled in education degrees at CSU in Albury-Wodonga are taking part in the Great Teaching, Inspired Learning Framework funded by NSW Government.The CSU students, who are specialising in mathematics, science, social science and English, have been immersed in the high school since March this year, observing different classes and participating in wider school activities. This prepares them for their formal six-week practicum with classes at James Fallon High School supervised by experienced teachers.The CSU students were selected from their expressions of interest, which CSU education lecturer, Mr Paul Grover, hopes will better prepare new teachers for the complex life of high school teaching."High school teaching requires new teachers to understand the way a whole school operates each day, and the wide variety of school activities students are involved in each term," Mr Grover said.The partnership between CSU and James Fallon high School is one of 11 across NSW, with only one other project being carried out in regional NSW."We have the chance to demonstrate how inland high schools can welcome and invigorate prospective teachers to explore the teaching profession by understanding the real world of a regional high school," Mr Grover said.