Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Regional Development Australia (RDA) will co-host a beef industry forum in Bathurst on Thursday 30 August to provide cattle producers with the latest production and market trends and intelligence. Dr Karl Behrendt, Director of Agribusiness Research Group at the CSU Faculty of Science said, “Leading experts in beef production and marketing will speak at the Agribusiness Today Forum ‘Profitable Beef in a Challenging Future’, so local cattle producers can hear firsthand about markets and expected returns for this major rural enterprise. Speakers from Queensland will examine production systems, and one of the state’s largest beef processors, Teys, will give a processor’s view. We’ll see how Australian production fits on the international market, and gain ideas on how to improve the performance of herds here on the NSW central tablelands. Speakers involved with the Australian Lot Feeders Association will showcase the latest research about feedlots overseas, and experts from the NSW Department of Primary Industries will provide tips and tools for producing the right beef from herds. A local butcher will discuss consumer feedback about beef products, and there will also be a focus on bulls’ fertility, as well as about using genetics to gain the best results. Mr Tim McRae from Meat and Livestock Australia will present the latest intelligence from the domestic and international markets.”

Following the recent 75th anniversary celebrations to mark the formation of the Dubbo chapter of the Aborigines Progressive Association (APA) in 1937, a photographic display of prominent Aboriginal men and women is on show at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo until 17 December. Mr John Nolan, community relations officer with the CSU Centre for Indigenous Studies in Dubbo, said the exhibition is made available to the University by Dubbo City Council and its Aboriginal liaison officer, Mrs Grace Toomey. “The APA was originally formed in Sydney in 1924, and a Dubbo branch was established at a public meeting on 27 June 1937 in a small cottage in Myall Street, Dubbo North, opposite the school,” Mr Nolan said. “Among those present were William Ferguson, Pearl Gibbs and Jack Patten. At that time, Aboriginal people were under stringent controls by the state government, and many were living on Aboriginal Reserves across NSW, including the Talbragar Reserve just outside Dubbo. Ferguson and Gibbs led a group in the western part of the state, while Patten assembled an alliance of activists in the north-east. Both wings of the APA were involved in political organisation, rallies and protests in Aboriginal communities, reserves and major cities like Sydney, to draw attention to the treatment of Aboriginal people and to the conditions in which they lived.”

An expert in the study of paranormal events from Charles Sturt University (CSU) believes the only scary thing about Halloween is the risk of tooth decay from all the sweets that children have an excuse to guzzle on the day. Dr Krissy Wilson, Head of CSU’s Science of Anomalistic Phenomena research unit, said the celebration of Halloween most likely started as a pagan tradition that coincided with the new harvest. “It later became a Christian celebration of All Hallows or All Saints Day. Modern times have seen it evolve into ‘Halloween’ – which came literally from ‘hallowed’ or ‘holy’ – that typically involves trick or treating, dressing up in silly outfits and watching horror movies!”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will hold a MyDay to provide information to prospective students about nursing, social work, teaching, and business courses on Thursday 16 August. Ms Rebecca Morgan, a CSU prospective student adviser, said, “MyDays are an excellent forum for students to experience aspects of the discipline area they are interested in, and to find out what to expect during the course and how to apply for admission. We presently expect about 70 Year 10 and 11 students from nine schools in seven towns around the region to attend.” Schools attending include Dubbo Christian School, Dubbo College Senior Campus, Gilgandra High School, Gulgong High School, Macquarie Anglican Grammar School, Narromine High School, Mudgee High School, Peak Hill Central School, and Wellington High School.

The independent federal member for New England, Mr Tony Windsor, MP, will be the guest speaker at the biennial Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship Dinner at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Monday 24 September. The Acting Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Patricia Logan, said, “We are delighted that Mr Windsor has agreed to speak at the dinner. As a rural independent like Mr McGrane, Mr Windsor brings a regional perspective and voice to policy deliberations, and his contribution as guest speaker at the dinner will provide insight into some of the topical issues confronting the nation.” Mr McGrane, OAM, was a former Mayor of Dubbo (1991-99) and was subsequently the independent Member for Dubbo in the NSW Parliament. The memorial scholarship fund was established in his name in 2010 to ensure that students from western NSW are able to gain a university education. Tickets for the dinner are on sale for $130 per head. To purchase, please contact Ms Christine Stewart at CSU on (02) 6885 7370.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Regional Development Australia (Central West) will host the Agribusiness Today 2012 forum highlighting opportunities for grain producers at the Forbes Services Memorial Club on Thursday 2 August. Dr Karl Behrendt, director of the Australasian Agribusiness Research Centre at CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, said the forum’s focus is ‘Getting the pulse on cereals and oilseeds’. “Agribusiness Today 2012 is a free day-long forum to update central west grain growers and industry leaders about crop trends in the northern hemisphere and potential demand from Asia for their crops,” Dr Behrendt said. “Participants will hear from a range of experts from the CSIRO, Rabobank, NSW Department of Primary Industries, and others, as well as two international speakers from Argentina, Dr Roberto Peiretti and Ms Cintia Castagnino. Peak Hill farmer Mr Grant Byrne, who is the Conservation Farmer of the Year 2011, will also speak about resilience and adaptive cropping systems.”

Three teacher-chaperones accompanying a delegation of exchange students from Wujiang, Dubbo’s sister-city in China, will tour Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo at 3.30pm on Friday 20 July during their four-day visit to the city. Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, will host and escort the teachers from the Wujiang Experimental Primary School on their tour of the University campus. “I look forward to welcoming the Wujiang teachers to Charles Sturt University and showing them around our growing campus, particularly the new Dental Clinic,” Dr Moriarty said. The 15 primary school students and their teachers are being hosted by Dubbo South Primary School and 10 Dubbo families from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 July. They will be officially welcomed to Dubbo by the Mayor, Councillor Mathew Dickerson, and during their stay they will also visit the Old Dubbo Goal, the Western Plains Zoo, the Dubbo Observatory, and will enjoy an Aussie-style barbeque as well as spend time with the host families.

The 25th Western District National Photographic Exhibition opens at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Thursday 12 July with a display of 100 images by photographers from around Australia. The Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty said, “Charles Sturt University is delighted to again host this vibrant national exhibition approved by the Australian Photographic Society”. The exhibition is coordinated by Dubbo’s Mrs Lorna White from the Western Districts National Committee. “This is one of 17 approved national exhibitions held around Australia each year, open to all photographers in Australia who choose to compete to be exhibited,” Ms White said. “There are images from most states in Australia in five categories; Colour, Monochrome, Nature, People, and Photojournalism. Photographs in each category are assessed by three judges, and the selected images are exhibited with first, second and merits awarded. Some local photographers with works on display include Geoff Wheeler, Brian White, and Margaret Pollard.”

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Regional and Remote Learning Support Team will visit towns around NSW starting on Tuesday 10 July to provide advice and assistance to its new and continuing distance education students. The CSU Regional and Remote Learning Support Team will visit Broken Hill, Parkes, Griffith, Mudgee, Narrabri, Coffs Harbour, Moree, Bega, Bourke, and Cooma. Team manager, Mr James Brann, said, “This is the third study support tour in 2012 to enhance the University’s distance education students’ experience of their courses and their prospects for successful completion. The Regional and Remote Learning Support program provides students who may never visit their campus with access to support and information that students studying on campus may take for granted. The sessions provide group presentations as well as the opportunity for students to make individual face-to-face appointments with staff for support with their studies.”