The Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Communication and Creative Industries will co-host, with the Centre for Media History, a two-day interdisciplinary symposium in Bathurst on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 May to mark the centenary of the ‘bible of the bush’ in NSW, The Land newspaper. Ms Margaret Van Heekeren, lecturer in journalism at the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, said the symposium, titled The Land: Past, Present and Future, will bring together media scholars to reflect on how the media sees rural and regional Australia. “The idea for the symposium was sparked by The Land anniversary but the symposium is really a broader look at how rural and regional areas have been represented in media, and how they interact with media. We have presentations covering newspapers as well as radio and film,” Ms Van Heekeren said. Academics from several universities will present papers on a range of topics related to The Land newspaper, and the general media coverage of issues affecting rural Australia in the last 100 years.

The challenges of working to improve the lives of subsistence farmers in war torn African countries will be featured in a public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 11 May 2011. In the lecture titled Sex, babies, money, violence and genetics, international genetics consultant and adjunct senior lecturer with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Dr Sara McClintock will share her experiences working with the International Livestock Research Centre in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia.  “I was running a lab trying to produce cheap embryos that would produce 95 per cent female calves to increase the profitability of a local farmer’s cow so she could afford to send her children to school and feed them a little milk.” Dr McClintock said in times of civil unrest, crops are often destroyed, seed stocks stolen and farm animals eaten by the tribal militias. “These animals are usually a local breed that has survived in tough conditions, may be worm resistant or have a low feed requirement,” she said. “One of the solutions is to conserve germ plasma, such as semen, in liquid nitrogen but this can be politically sensitive because many developing countries are paranoid about developed countries stealing their genetic material.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU), in association with the Islamic Council of NSW, will present a free screening of documentary In the Footsteps of the Ancestors: Muslims Down Under at CSU in Orange on Friday 13 May. The film captures the ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity of Muslims in Australia, and tells the stories of Muslim pioneers and their descendants, beginning with the pivotal, fundamental role the Afghan camel herders played in the development of outback Australia, to the successful integration Muslims have made into modern Australian society. Documentary producer Ms Nada Roude says the documentary encourages a greater effort in understanding and appreciation of Islam and Muslims where sharing knowledge and stories is one of the most important ways of building a genuine sense of community in Australia. “It strengthens the belief in fairness, equality and respect, the values we aspire to in Australia.”

A new scholarship will be added to the 2011 Charles Sturt University (CSU) Annual Scholarship Day at CSU’s Orange Campus on Friday 20 May. Eighteen scholarships are being awarded in all disciplines ranging from agricultural business and dentistry to pharmacy and physiotherapy. Among a number of new awards is the Abbott Scholarship for Australian Indigenous students of Pharmacy. This is a substantial scholarship to the value of $60,000 over four years. “Charles Sturt University is pleased to acknowledge the generous support of the Abbott Company, which was founded in the United States more than 120 years ago by Dr Wallace C Abbott, a practicing physician and pharmacy proprietor,” says Head of Campus Professor Kevin Parton. “Charles Sturt University is especially grateful to the donors of the many scholarships because, without them, many students would not be able to attend the University.”

The education of teachers has been a core part of Charles Sturt University (CSU) and its predecessor institutions since 1947 with the establishment of the Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College. A public forum will be held on Tuesday 24 May to discuss teachers’ important role in our diverse society. “Everyone's talking about the need for great teachers in every classroom, so how do we produce quality teachers?” asks Head of the School of Education  at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Associate Professor Roslyn Brennan Kemmis. “In our increasingly complex society, it is important that we examine the university subjects offered to education students to ensure we prepare them for a world that is rapidly changing. We need to produce teachers that are lifelong learners and agents of change within the reality of today’s schools and prepare students as 21st century teachers.

Strong prices and demand for prime lambs have seen producers shift their focus from wool production during recent times. But Professor of Animal Production at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Peter Wynn is urging Riverina producers not to lose sight of the importance of wool in their farm business. “Wool production has been the backbone of Australia and will continue to be an integral component of farm business income, particularly across the Riverina,” said Professor Wynn, who is also a member of the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation – an alliance between CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. “It is important producers continue to integrate wool production into their farming practices and not be heavily swayed by current market trends.” The Graham Centre together with the University of Sydney have organised a wool symposium to be held on Wednesday 18 May at Hay. “The symposium will provide an opportunity for wool growers to meet with key industry researchers and future leaders in the industry.” Forty final year animal science students from CSU and the University of Sydney are expected to attend the event. The program is available from the Graham Centre website here.

Born and bred Taralga girl Ms Nikita Corby has left home, and her family band, to follow her dream by moving to Orange and studying Agricultural Business Management  at Charles Sturt University (CSU). One of six children, Ms Corby started playing drums to join her brother, Ben and sister Rhiannon when they started performing as The Corbys three years ago. Now in Orange, Ms Corby even managed to squeeze her drum kit into her room on campus. “It’s an electric kit so I can put on my headphones and practice without bothering my room-mates,” Ms Corby said. In Taralga, Ms Corby worked at a local CRT outlet and, with an interest in the rural community, decided to study a course that would give her a broad knowledge of the agricultural industry. When she isn’t studying, she’s practising for her next gig. “I still go home on weekends and perform with The Corbys, which provides a good mix of study and music.”

Funding has been provided by Charles Sturt University (CSU) to support the full-time release from teaching commitments of 14 key researchers from the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation – an alliance between CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The 14 Graham Centre 2011 Research Centre Fellows were honoured at a special lunch on Monday 16 May. “The 14 Fellows for 2011 will focus on a broad range of research including plant and animal diseases, animal physiology and production, animal reproduction, food security, sustainable pasture systems, weeds, canola, bio-security and environmental health, water, stubble and conservation cropping,” said Graham Centre director Professor Deirdre Lemerle.“The 2011 Research Centre Fellows have been provided $40 000 each for 12 months so they can focus on their research. We are extremely impressed with the high quality of the 29 applications for the 14 Research Centre Fellowships.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Dr Maree Donna Simpson was given high praise at a recent Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak award presentation where she received the Pride of Workmanship Award for her passionate work with CSU Pharmacy students. The Pride of Workmanship Program encourages job satisfaction, and publicly recognises community members for their efforts within their profession. Nominees of the Pride of Workmanship Program are presented with a plaque in recognition of their achievements. On receiving the award Dr Simpson said, “I was honoured to be recognised for my work with Charles Sturt University students and for my dedication to a job I love, which is to provide high quality teaching.” On hearing of Dr Simpson’s award, Pharmacy student Mr Liam Vidler said, “It could not have gone to a more worthy recipient.”