“Lazarus with a triple bypass”. The year was 1989, and John Howard had just lost the Opposition leadership. One reporter at the media conference asked him if he felt like a “political corpse”, another if he thought he could ever regain the leadership. How did John Howard go from that moment in political time, to today marking his tenth year in office with four straight election wins, making him Australia’s second-longest serving Prime Minister? Dr Wayne Errington (left), Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences and Liberal Studies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) is currently writing a biography about John Howard, and will present a paper to a weekend conference looking at Mr Howard’s skill as a politician and his refusal to succumb to political rejection. “He’s grown as a politician, he’s a much more calm person than he was 10 or 15 years ago, he’s much more measured in his policies, he’s prepared to compromise to get things through the senate or to mollify public opinion, and that’s a recipe for a much more successful conservative politician.” Dr Errington’s paper also examines all the elements that have led to John Howard’s remarkable four election wins.

Are you around 50 years, female and have a pain in the heel? Podiatry honours student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Luke Hewitt is looking for middle aged women with heel and foot pain in the Albury-Wodonga area. “Heel pain affects over 10 per cent of the population and is more common among middle aged women. As part of our research we will test treatments including orthotics to lessen or cure heel pain,” said Mr Hewitt. If you are a woman aged between 30 and 60 years and you suffer pain on the bottom of your heel, Mr Hewitt, supervised by qualified CSU podiatrists, will assess the condition and treatment options as a free service as part of his research at the CSU Allied Health Clinic. The clinic is located on the corner of Guinea and Olive Streets, Albury, each Wednesday and Thursday starting tomorrow, Wednesday 1 March. To take part in the study, contact Mr Hewitt on telephone 02 6051 6733.

The story of two women living on "a knife's edge" in the Villawood Detention Centre has won an inaugural international broadcasting award for former Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Kirsti Melville. The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) Amnesty International Award for Human Rights Programme was presented to Ms Melville by Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International at a ceremony in New Delhi. The Radio National documentary is described as "the human story behind the federal government's stance on deporting long-term visa overstayers". Ms Melville, a 1994 graduate with a BA Communication (Broadcast Journalism), says it was a compelling program "because their stories were equally moving and powerful as those of refugees, but they are voices you don't hear very often. I think it was one of the first times I felt like I had had a little bit of an impact. You become very aware of your responsibilities as a journalist and to the people involved." The news that she won came as a surprise, "I was completely gob smacked, and on top of that to find out I was going to India in two weeks to accept the Award was mind-blowing." Kirsti's next documentary is about ageing Holocaust survivors in nursing homes in Sydney.

A best practice childcare centre planned for the Bathurst Campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU) “would boost our early childhood education profile and be of benefit not just for the professionals in the field, but for our students as well,” according to Lynda Ireland, lecturer in the School of Teacher Education. The play area is to be designed collaboratively between the School of Teacher Education, Mitchell Childcare Centre and leading outdoor environment designer, Prue Walsh. Ms Walsh, an early childhood playground consultant and long time advocate for better play environments says “we’ve never had more exciting research available about what happens in early childhood centres. IQ is no longer rated as the main skill, socio-emotional skills are”. She says that repeated evidence shows positive childcare environments support children’s social and emotional development. “Children who have good social and emotional development go on to develop less drug addiction, fewer teenage pregnancies, are more likely to stick to university, and have more capacity and resilience to cope and adapt to the changes in life.” Annabelle Hillsdon, a tutor in the School of Communication, has children at the centre and is driving the fund-raising effort for construction of the facility. Ms Hillsdon says currently teachers and centre directors travel to Sydney to see Australia’s best childcare play environment. “So the idea is that we build the regional best practice, so people from Warren, Trangie, Trundle, instead of going to Sydney, they come to CSU.” Work is due to start this July.

“Accept our differences, celebrate our similarities” is the theme for Harmony Day to be celebrated next Tuesday 21 March on Bathurst and Wagga Wagga campuses. Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) students and staff will celebrate the national event, which coincides with the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. “It’s an opportunity for all Australians to get to know each other better, share our culture and say ‘no’ to racism,” said CSU Student Community Coordinator Monique Cummins. Special activities will be accompanied by free ribbons, stickers and postcards that celebrate the cultural diversity of students and staff at CSU.

Recent media has highlighted a large study linking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and higher risk of breast and other cancers. Charles Sturt University (CSU) biomedical researcher Dr Christopher Scott will present the science behind HRT, including the role of oestrogen and testosterone in males and females and how they are used in HRT during a public lecture in Albury tomorrow, Wednesday 15 March. He will also discuss the benefits and potential risks of HRT using his own research. The lecture will start at 6pm in the Nowik Lecture Theatre, Guinea St, Albury. Dr Scott joined CSU as a lecturer in physiology in 2003 and has studied the role of  sex hormones for the past 17 years in Australia and USA.