Eight Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from rural NSW communities will be presented with Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) of NSW Foundation scholarships at a celebratory presentation at Duntryleague Orange Golf Club on Thursday 12 July. The Head of Campus at CSU in Orange and the Associate Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Heather Robinson, said, “The University thanks the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation for its support of our students and rural communities. The RAS NSW Foundation scholarships recognise students’ passion for rural issues and their determination to make a positive difference in rural and regional communities. We welcome RAS Foundation Chairman, Mr Michael Millner, and RAS Foundation Executive Officer, Ms Jocellin Jansson, to Orange. Mr Millner will present the scholarships to students who are from Schools and disciplines at CSU campuses in Orange and Bathurst.”

Representatives of Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Mitrataa Foundation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bathurst on Thursday 19 July to support the development of education for women and girls in Nepal. The MoU will be signed by the Vice-Chancellor and President of CSU, Professor Andrew Vann, and Ms Bec Ordish, the founding director of the Mitrataa Foundation. Ms Trisha Poole, lecturer at CSU’s School of Teacher Education in Bathurst, said the agreement lays the foundation for CSU to collaborate with the Mitrataa Foundation to help empower Nepalese women and girls through education and training initiatives. “This collaboration will encourage the organisation of joint educational activities,” Ms Poole said. “In November this year, 12 CSU teacher education students will travel to the capital Kathmandu to undertake their professional experience placements in local schools supported by the Foundation. I will accompany the group and support the students to run professional development workshops for Nepalese teachers.”

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.”

The Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Andrew Vann, will officially open the new Cellar Door at CSU in Orange on Monday 30 July. Mr Justin Byrne, marketing manager at the CSU Winery, said, “The creation of the Cellar Door in Orange by the University is a strategic initiative that recognises the importance of the vineyard as a fruit source for the Charles Sturt University Winery and the importance of the Orange wine region as a small but important player in the Australian wine industry. This new use for the Machinery Centre enhances the building and gives it new life in a very dynamic local industry. The location, opposite the Chardonnay vineyard, is ideal for enhancing the understanding of the connection between the growing of grapes and the making and selling of wine. The 18 hectare vineyard at CSU in Orange is planted with a number of grape varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.”

Staff and students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange will down books to pick up shovels and seedlings to plant new trees and shrubs around the campus on Friday 27 July. Coordinator of the event, Ms Betty-Ann Nannes, said, “The planned tree planting is an initiative of CSU Green, in conjunction with National Tree Day, and is a great opportunity to improve our natural environment and enhance biodiversity on the campus. We expect about 35 students will plant about 500 mostly native trees, many of which are ‘local’ to the area, around the new School of Dentistry and Health Sciences building and new residences known as the Spring Creek Village.” CSU aims to have 20 per cent of University land contributing to increased biodiversity by 2015 to protect native flora and fauna. Participants will meet at car park 5, near Bartlett House, for tree planting from 10am to 2pm on 27 July, followed by a barbeque.

Agriculture and animal science students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will get a head start on job hunting at a student-led career fair tomorrow, Wednesday 1 August. More than 220 students from CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences  will meet with over 30 prospective employers from agribusiness, government departments, research organisations and farming groups. “It’s a chance for potential employers to promote their organisations and provide information about what it takes to pursue a career within these industries,” said member of the organising committee and Bachelor of Animal Science student Mr Isaac Allen. Students from CSU in Wagga Wagga, Orange and Albury-Wodonga will attend the fair which will include a career development workshop and a panel discussion with recent graduates.

Slip-sliding slapstick action will be centre stage at the Ponton Theatre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst when the physical theatre production Too Bloody Right hits the boards from Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 August. The production by second-year theatre/media students is directed by Mr Daniel Aubin, lecturer in theatre/media at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. “Too Bloody Right is the outcome of a five-week process, exploring the role of human rights in our modern society through a mixture of acrobatics, table-sliding, ‘mockumentary’, and food puppetry,” Mr Aubin said. “It uses comedy to look at a serious topic. The show is a lot of fun, and features a spectacular table-sliding circus act.” Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for non-students at the door for a 7.30pm start.

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.

Emeritus Professor John Dwyer, AO, will deliver a public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday 5 September in support of the University’s bid to establish a new rural medical school to boost the supply of ‘doctors for the bush’. Professor Dwyer is the founder of the Australian Health Care Reform, and has been working with CSU to establish a medical school in regional areas. He has championed the resurgence of clinician governance in Australia, is involved in efforts to create structural reform within the Australian health care delivery system, and is adamant that health outcomes for rural Australians are just not acceptable in such a wealthy nation. The Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, will host the free public lecture and says, “Bathurst Campus is delighted to host this presentation by Professor Dwyer – a national leader in health care provision, who speaks with authority on health care outcomes for rural Australians. This is a chance for the Bathurst community to hear first hand about the state of rural health care and what needs to be done - from someone who really knows. I urge everyone with an interest in this issue to attend to hear Professor Dwyer and to have their questions answered.” The public lecture will be at 6pm on Wednesday 5 September at the James Hardie Room, Centre for Professional Development at CSU in Bathurst. Refreshments will be served. RSVP by Friday 31 August to Ms Julie Brabham on (02) 6338 4645 or send an email.