The 2015 Frank Ponton Memorial Prize has been awarded to Charles Sturt University (CSU) theatre/media student Mr Stefan Elbourne. The annual prize is awarded in memory of the late Mr Frank Ponton, a lecturer in English and theatre at the CSU predecessor institution Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst. Mr Ponton was instrumental in the development of the now renowned CSU theatre/media course, and the former Little Theatre on campus was renamed the Ponton Theatre in his honour. The 2015 Ponton Prize, valued at $300, was presented to Mr Elbourne at an informal ceremony at the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst yesterday by the Head of School, Associate Professor Chika Anyanwu. Professor Anyanwu congratulated Mr Elbourne on his contribution to theatre-making at the University and in the community and urged him to continue his studies and career in theatre. Mr Elbourne thanked the University and his lecturers and said, "It's great to have this acknowledgement of my hard work, and I look forward to continuing to create theatre in its many forms." The Frank Ponton Memorial Prize is awarded to the most academically and professionally promising third-year student who has completed at least two Theatre Studies subjects undertaken through the School of Communication and Creative Industries.

The annual regional RoboCup Junior Australia challenge for school students will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Monday 20 July and CSU in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 22 July.There'll be a record number of participants with over 100 students from schools in the Central West, Blue Mountains and the Riverina competing on each day. The students will compete in three challenges, soccer, dance and rescue, using the robots they have built and programmed since completing workshops with CSU's School of Computing and Mathematics earlier this year."The RoboCup Junior competition aims to develop teamwork and technical skills in an environment of participation, fun and excitement," lecturer in the School of Computing and Mathematics Dr Allen Benter said."It's the culmination of a lot of hard work by students who have built and programmed their robots over the course of the year. It's an opportunity for students to show their ingenuity and creativity to solve complex problems."Robotics is a developing career area and perhaps some of these students will design and build the domestic, industrial and manufacturing robots of the future."The winners of the challenge will receive prizes and have the option to progress to the NSW State Competition in Sydney in August.For more information about RoboCup Junior Australia visit RoboCup's website.

The Bathurst Arts and Theatrical Society (BATS) will present its 2015 winter season at the Ponton Theatre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 July. BATS is a creative forum for second-year students in the theatre/media course in the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. The BATS season features three prod Not So Anderson, a seven-minute film about in Girl in Tan Boots, a delicate and funny play about love and loneliness Venetian Twins, a farcical musical comedy about mistaken identity. Marketing manager for the 2015 BATS season, Ms Erika Vass, said, "This season offers an engaging variety of form and content in the one program. I'm sure audiences will be entertained and satisfied by the talent displayed in these disparate productions." The three productions are presented each evening at 7pm Thursday 16, Friday 17, and Saturday 18 July at the Ponton Theatre (building 1434) at CSU in Bathurst. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at trybooking.com or at the door.

Cyclists are being recruited for Charles Sturt University (CSU) research examining how the brain works during exercise. PhD students Ms Nicole Vargas and Ms Caroline Robertson from CSU's School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst are looking for cyclists aged between 18 and 60, who train for a minimum of two hours per week, to take part in two separate research trials. Ms Robertson's research aims to identify the part of the brain involved in helping a cyclist complete a time trial by regulating pace.  Ms Vargas is investigating how the muscles and organs communicate with the brain to let it know what is happening at any given time during exercise. "It is important to understand how changes in the blood during stress, like that experienced during exercise or disease, can send signals to, and alter the brain," said Ms Vargas. "Researching the different ways that our brain interprets these signals and how to manipulate them could potentially benefit athletes and people suffering disease." The research will take place from now until September and cyclists interested in participating can email Ms Vargas and Ms Robertson.

The growing need for more accessible recreation and tourism events will be discussed at a public seminar at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst this week.Manager of Event Access and Inclusion, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet Mr Paul Nunnari and Director Easy Access Australia Publishing Mr Bruce Cameron will present a three hour seminar on Wednesday 17 June from 9.30am, hosted by the CSU Faculty of Education.The seminar is designed to raise awareness of a growing but largely unrecognised population base of less able people keen to participate in recreation, tourism, social activities, festivals, celebrations and community events. Participants will be introduced to key issues including the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, what constitutes inclusive and accessible recreation, tourism and events, and how to make accessibility a part of business.The seminar is open to the general public, businesses and media. To RSVP email soteoffice@csu.edu.au

Possum skin cloaks and Indigenous art are part of the Marra Marra Badhang exhibition at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst to celebrate 2015 NAIDOC. Head of Campus Professor Jo-Anne Reid invites the community to attend the opening ceremony at 10am Monday 22 June, or visit the exhibition during the week. "NAIDOC is an important annual national event and the University is proud to celebrate it," Professor Reid said. "We are holding it early so as not to conflict with other planned NAIDOC events in July. This will be a very interesting exhibition, and I am delighted to invite the community to participate. It will commence with a 'smoking ceremony' conducted by Aboriginal Elders, and the curator of the CSU Art Collection, Mr Thomas Middlemost, will speak about Indigenous artworks in the University collection at the exhibition opening." The possum skin cloaks that have been made by Elders in Bathurst as a gift to the city for its 200th anniversary were made as part of a partnership project that commenced in November 2014 between Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, the Bathurst Wiradyuri and Community Elders, and Bamirra Arts. The 2015 NAIDOC Marra Marra Badhang exhibition at CSU in Bathurst is open from 10am Monday 22 to Friday 26 June during business hours at The Grange (building 1205) at CSU in Bathurst.

Almost 30 school students from around the state will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 4 June to experience life as a university student. Students from 13 schools will participate in a MyDay for those interested in careers in education and. Students will participate in hands-on workshops, meet CSU students and academics, and tour the campus and accommodation. MyDay events are held across CSU to help future students gather the information and experiences they need to find the best course for them.

Year 9 students from three regional high schools will participate in day-long Future Directions Workshops at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 4 June. Approximately 120 students from Orange High School, Parkes High School, and Kandos High School will share a memorable and interactive taste of university life while exploring ideas for their futures. Future Directions program coordinator for CSU in Bathurst, Mr Ben Morris, said events like this are an excellent way to start a conversation with students about their aspirations for further education. "After their workshop experiences students are often heard to say, 'I never considered university but now I really want to go'," Mr Morris said. The students will tour the campus and residences, explore the university library, and will have lunch in the student dining room. They will participate in two hands-on 80 minute Faculty-based activities delivered by CSU lecturers for courses including paramedics, nursing, theatre/media, personal development-health-physical education (PDHPE), and human movement studies. The students then finish the day with a question and answer session led by the student leader team who understand the transition from school to university. Future Moves is a federally funded initiative, run through Charles Sturt University and aligned with the Australian Blueprint for Career Development.

Project management students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst are helping a local business prepare for the onset of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Students from the School of Marketing and Management will be presenting their ideas for strong brand positioning for Accessible Living Options (ALO) to the Chief Executive Officer Ms Cheryl Keogh and five members of the ALO Board on Wednesday 3 June. "Working on a real project for a real client is the best way for students to learn the intricacies of marketing and project management," adjunct lecturer in Marketing, Communications & Project Management Mr Andrew Mashman said. "With the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme funding at ALO fast approaching it is important for the business to have a strong, viable plan for brand positioning to help their clients get the most of their service." 34 students will present their ideas as six teams on Wednesday 3 June at CSU Bathurst. Local media are invited to attend.