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The NSW Government has been successful in encouraging one of the world’s ‘best and brightest’ minds to relocate to inland NSW to carry out innovative research into the development of natural herbicides. Professor Leslie Weston, from Cornell University, one of the United State’s premier research universities, will relocate to the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus under the government’s Life Science Research Awards. The NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, Ms Verity Firth said, “Professor Weston is a recognised leader in her field of research and her relocation to the state is a major scientific coup and will cement NSW at the leading edge of scientific research into natural herbicides.” CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), Professor Paul Burnett has welcomed Professor Weston’s move, stating it is a fantastic outcome for the University. The EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation is a collaborative alliance between CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research team from the Centre for Inland Health is investigating ways of providing health and veterinary education and services in the community, through university clinics involving students of health and veterinary disciplines practicing under supervision. Educators, students, practitioners and community members with an interest or experience in this area are invited to make written submissions. The submissions must include a brief description of your current role and interest in university clinics. They must address a short discussion of the problems, solutions or benefits in areas such as Community – how would a local university clinic affect local health and veterinary service provision, Education - how would a university clinic affect health and veterinary education for students and educators and Sustainability -  how can university clinics be sustained in your area. Submissions are confidential and should not exceed three pages.

A breeding, teaching and research program involving the Connemara Pony has been given a healthy start thanks to the generous donation to Charles Sturt University (CSU) by Brisbane businessman, Bill Concannon. His three year old mare, Siobhan, has been delivered to the CSU Equine Centre on the Wagga Wagga Campus. A member of the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society of Australia, Mr Concannon recently visited CSU to inspect Siobhan who will be joined with a Connemara stallion in 2008. The compact size, good temperament and marketability of the Connemara Pony make the breed ideal for the needs of CSU’s equine science and veterinary science students. In welcoming the new links between the University and the Society, equine science course coordinator, Mr Hunter Doughty, has praised the generosity of Mr Concannon and his support for the University. The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society is establishing a fund to support research and education through the Charles Sturt Foundation to aid in education of their members and to support equine student scholarships.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff from Ontario, Canada, had a brief taste of the Australian summer during a visit to CSU campuses in December. As students in the successful Bachelor of Primary Education Studies in Ontario undertook their teaching practical work, lecturers Ms Janet Adler, Ms Gail Grant, a lecturer in language and literacy, and Mr Don Jones travelled to CSU campuses at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga. Their trip included a visit to meet primary school students at the Wagga Wagga Public School by Ms Grant and Mr Jones.

The reported link between the suicide rate amongst farmers and the drought is often based on hearsay, according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic, Dr Judith Crockett. The lecturer in social sustainability, from the School of Rural Management on CSU’s Orange Campus says that while the tragedy of suicide must not be downplayed and undoubtedly continues to be of major concern, many of these comments are based on hearsay. However, there is a lack of evidence concerning the actual rate of suicide in rural areas linked to the drought. “What is clear is that an early intervention approach linked to improved referral pathways to care is the most effective way of assisting rural people. The Drought Mental Health Assistance Package, funded by the NSW Government, has resulted in the implementation of a multifaceted approach across rural areas to increase the capacity of individuals, communities and service providers in drought affected areas to deal with mental health issues and to encourage practices that promote mental well-being,” said Dr Crockett. “Extensive evaluation of the program shows very positive results, including helping to reduce the stigma of mental illness in rural communities.”

A woman’s experiences of living in regional Australia in the 1940s and 1950s is the subject of a special one-off performance of the play, The Weather and Your Health at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 5 December. The 50-minute show will be hosted by rural women’s advocate Professor Margaret Alston from CSU. The Weather and Your Health was written by Ms Bethany Simons, who based the work on her mother’s experiences in regional Australia. Directed by Mr David Wicks from the CSU School of Visual and Performing Arts,  The Weather and Your Health will be performed by Ms Simons and her fellow acting honours student Mr Andrew Dodds. The performance will start at 6pm in the drama studio, building 70, Kywong Place, near carpark 20, on CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus. Drinks will be served from 5.30pm. There will be an opportunity after the 50 minute show to discuss the issues raised during the performance.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has been recognised for its efforts to address the shortage of veterinarians in rural and regional Australia, with praise from Dr Norm Blackman, former Senior Advisor in the Office of the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Dr Blackman hailed the innovative veterinary science program, which began in 2005, while speaking at a cocktail function hosted by the Charles Sturt Veterinary Science Foundation in Wagga Wagga for local veterinary practitioners and industry representatives.  Director of Veterinary Science at CSU, Professor Kym Abbott commended Dr Blackman’s dedication to the industry. He also presented certificates of appreciation to Dr Brian Munro and Dr Doug Bryden for their contributions to the Charles Sturt Veterinary Science Foundation.

The University Co-operative Bookshop on Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Bathurst Campus won a top award at the 2007 Australian Book Industry Awards ceremony in Sydney in November. Mr Mark Bancroft, manager of the Bathurst Campus branch, said that his outlet was named 2007 Australian Publishers Association Small/Regional Bookstore of the Year. “The staff and I are very proud to have achieved this level of industry recognition and we will continue to provide the best textbook service possible,” Mr Bancroft said. “I thank all at CSU for their support and co-operation which plays such a large part in our success. We sell about 55 000 individual volumes each year, and about 70 per cent of our business is to distance education (DE) students. We send orders to CSU students in all corners of the globe.” The Bathurst Campus branch was established in 1970 and processes DE orders for most CSU campuses.