Archive
Lunch with speech and language expert
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003Leading speech pathologist Mrs Mary-Ruth Mendel, the 2012 NSW Australia Day Ambassador, will be the special guest at a lunch organised by the Charles Sturt University (CSU) speech pathology program in Albury-Wodonga on Wednesday 25 January. Ms Libby Clark, the organiser of the lunch and lecturer in the speech pathology program within the School of Community Health at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, said this was a wonderful opportunity for speech pathologists and early childhood educators in the region to meet and hear a leader in the field. “Mrs Mendel is a distinguished speech pathologist, specialising in literacy and language learning issues. While she has an international client base for her private practice in Sydney, she has also shown, through the development of a range of programs, a real commitment to supporting literacy in indigenous languages.” Ms Clark said. “She has many achievements and we are delighted that she has made time to visit Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga before officiating at Australia Day activities on Thursday. This will be a wonderful opportunity to discuss potential links between the work that Mrs Mendel has been doing and the projects related to indigenous language and literacy that are being carried out by Charles Sturt University speech pathology students and staff in Condobolin and Wagga Wagga.”
CSU cricketers in the pink
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Cricket Club will be one of hundreds of community cricket clubs across Australia sharing in the Vodafone Sydney Pink Test phenomenon this year by participating in Pink Stumps Day on Saturday 18 February. This is an initiative of the McGrath Foundation and Cricket Cares, Cricket Australia’s community action program. The CSU Cricket Club coach and team manager, Mr Ali Syed, an adjunct senior lecturer in the CSU Faculty of Business, says the team is excited to take part in the event. “The team has been playing cricket for the last three years,” Mr Syed said. “It’s wonderful to be able to contribute to the community and, with regards to this event, to show that the students care about charity.”
Booranga highlights multicultural voices
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003The Booranga Writers’ Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) is seeking contributions for a new anthology of writing exploring issues of cultural diversity and representation. The Centre is partnering with The Multicultural Council of Wagga to publish Riverina Multicultural Voices with funding from Regional Arts NSW. Booranga Writers’ Centre Director, Dr Derek Motion, said local writers from a non-Anglo-Celtic background are invited to contribute original work. “This might be poetry, fiction, non-fiction, a script or song lyrics, anything that can be defined as writing,” he said. “In recent years the Riverina region has become increasingly culturally diverse, and this publishing venture will locate the range of different voices in our region.” The Centre also plans to hold a series of writing workshops to help writers get work ready for publication in the book. Submissions must be received before the end of March and the book will be launched in August at the Wagga Wagga City Library.
CSUkes to strum up a storm in Katoomba
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003
Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) premier ukulele group, CSUkes, are tuning up for the annual Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival on Saturday 4 February in Katoomba. CSUkes spokesperson Dr Kristina Gottschall says the Blue Mountains town will be taken over by ukuleles and ukulele players of all shapes and sizes when they descend, or ascend, from all corners of the globe to play non-stop across two stages for over 12 hours. “As ‘veterans’ of the festival, now in its third year, the CSUkes will play a range of pop, folk, and rock-out tunes,” Dr Gottschall said. “This includes Five Foot Two on quirky banjolele with a very loud voice, a punk version of My Guy, and even a Monty Python classic. The festival will also feature workshops, busking, and an ‘open microphone’ section for ukulele players of all skill levels.” CSUkes will perform at 5.30pm Saturday 4 February at St Hilda’s Church Hall, 68 Katoomba Street, Katoomba. The other festival venue is the Carrington Hotel Ballroom.
New facilities ready at CSU in Bathurst
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003Several new facilities at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst have been completed or are nearing completion, and others refurbished, for the arrival of students and the start of the new academic year at the end of February. Mr Col Sharp, Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, said, “In late 2011, work was completed on the relocation and extensive refurbishment of the Learning Commons at the Truskett Library. The $3.5 million project, which includes new computers and study areas, was funded by the University and the federal government’s Better Universities Renewal Funding. The Diggings student residences, built in 1974, have had a total refurbishment - paint, carpets, furniture, and safety features – for approximately $1.2 million, funded by the University. This is part of a broader $2 million upgrade of student residences, including the on campus John Oxley Village, and the off-campus Mitchell, Truskett and Gordon Houses in Brilliant Street, Bathurst. The new hi-tech Regional Inter-Professional Clinical Simulation Centre costing $2.8 million will become operational this month for use by nursing and paramedic staff and students. It was funded by CSU and the government’s Capital Development Pool Program. There are four new tennis courts and two multipurpose/basketball courts as part of the ongoing ‘Health and Wellness’ and sports facilities and amenities upgrade funded by a federal government Voluntary Student Union grant of $2.6 million with a $500 000 contribution by CSU. This includes new access ramps, pathways, and picnic shade structure and barbeque areas.”
Research explores Molong community preparedness for flood
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003
Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers representing the areas of emergency management, community psychology, and economics, will host a meeting in Molong on Wednesday 8 February to discuss community preparedness for flooding, and their expectations relating to warnings, response, and recovery. Mr Ian Manock, lecturer in emergency management at the CSU Australian Graduate School of Policing said the meeting follows a postal survey distributed to residents in early January which sought responses to questions about community preparedness and expectations related to flooding in the Molong area. “This is part of a broader research project being conducted by the University which aims to analyse how a number of rural communities in both Australia and Bangladesh prepare for and react to flooding,” Mr Manock said. “Although different in terms of culture, economy, and size, the communities share similarities in that they are all exposed to flooding on a regular basis, and are all located outside major urban areas. We aim to use the experiences of the communities to identify strategies that can improve community preparedness, enable government agencies to better understand community expectations, and hopefully reduce the impact of future flooding on these rural and semi-isolated communities.” The community meeting is at 7pm Wednesday 8 February in the Molong Community Hall.
Students value primary industries
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003
Some Riverina high school students have a new appreciation of careers in food and fibre production thanks to a scholarship program run by the Primary Industries Centre for Science Education (PICSE) at Charles Sturt University (CSU). The 12 students from Wagga Wagga, Cootamundra, Griffith and Narrandera attended a science camp at CSU in November before gaining valuable work experience with a scientist or industry specialist. The Year 12 students outlined their experiences to CSU staff and industry representatives at a ceremony in Wagga Wagga on Friday 3 February. Although not from a rural background, Cootamundra High School student Ms Laura Bruce is passionate about working in agriculture. “When my science teacher told me about the PICSE program I just had to be involved,” she said. “It’s been an opportunity to gain knowledge, to meet other students interested in agriculture and make connections with people working in the industry.” PICSE Education Officer Ms Emma Wordsworth said the program is part of a campaign to encourage students to study science at university to help meet the skills shortage in primary industries.
CSU dental clinic to open for business
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003Charles Sturt University's (CSU) newest dental clinic will open in Albury-Wodonga from Monday 13 February. Dr Jai Rawal, who has joined CSU with extensive experience in the United Kingdom, will lead the CSU dental team in Albury-Wodonga to provide much needed dental services for private patients on the Border, as well as providing a state-of-the-art training facility for students enrolled in the University’s dental and oral health courses. “Having Australia's newest dental course means Charles Sturt University has the flexibility to build a program that will showcase the latest technology and techniques to its students,” Dr Rawal said. He also hopes the new clinic at Thurgoona will relieve some pressure on other dental practices in the region and decrease waiting times. To arrange a dental appointment, call Ms Linda Thompson on (02) 6051 9310. The CSU Dental Oral Health Clinic is located in Building 670, on Leahy Avenue, Thurgoona, behind the Thurgoona shopping centre.
Artists support mobile ear clinics
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003Funds raised at an art auction to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Thursday 9 February will help establish mobile ear clinics for children in the region. “The Earbuses are specially modified buses which travel to selected primary schools, kindergartens and child care centres, initially between Dubbo and Bourke, to provide a free hearing and ear screening service for all children who are at risk of middle ear problems,” said service coordinator Ms Rowena Galway. “We are currently working on getting one bus up and running. Hopefully, it will prove to be a useful resource, and more will come in the future. With more than 50 original works by artists from Dubbo, Narromine, Gilgandra, Sydney, Uralla, and Kiama, the inaugural Hear Our Heart art auction has the potential to become a favourite on the Dubbo cultural calendar. Local artists are always keen to help those less fortunate, and with ear health being a major issue in the region, everyone is invited to support the cause and buy a beautiful painting in the process.” Guests will be able to enjoy wine and cheese tasting at the art auction.
Leading vet to share memorable moments
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003One of the world’s leading veterinary pathologists will talk about some of his most memorable cases at a public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Monday 13 February. The CSU School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences is hosting Dr Claus Buergelt from the University of Florida in the United States. Dr Buergelt will deliver the inaugural presentation in the ‘Serendipitous Seminar Series’ which is jointly arranged between the School and the Riverina Veterinary Association. In his talk, Dr Buergelt will touch on areas of both veterinary and human interest, including avoiding ambush by bandits while investigating cattle deaths in a Guatemalan feedlot. Dr Buergelt will also visit CSU’s modern teaching and research facilities, including the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. CSU’s Professor Peter Chenoweth said it’s an opportunity for veterinarians, students, staff and interested members of the public to attend an entertaining session by a world-renowned scientist.