Is agriculture financially risky? Most would agree that it is, but Charles Sturt University School of Marketing and Management lecturer Mark Frost believes it’s not as risky as many would assume. As fiscal stress continues to plague farmers in the region following the ongoing drought, Mr Frost will speak at a Partners In Grain workshop titled Dollars and Sense, aiming to provide valuable financial information to assist in managing finances in the challenging year ahead. “This workshop takes an independent, common sense look at different aspects of farm finances and will equip farmers with the tools to make some sensible business decisions over the next twelve months and beyond,” Mr Frost says. The Partners in Grain Dollars and Sense Workshop will take place at the Coachman Hotel in Parkes on Wednesday 14 March at 9.15am.

India is the new booming economy – surpassing even China in recent economic growth. It is an amazing success story that is much more evident in the cities than the countryside according to Kirsty Hommel, a recent Charles Sturt University (CSU) social science graduate who spent her practicum in rural southern India developing skills she had learnt at CSU. “The area I lived in was very untouched by western influences. The village I was based in was without a road.  Many people in this area live without running water or electricity - they use local wells and designated trees for toilets.” Kirsty says the Healthy Districts program aims “to increase the overall standards of health in the community through addressing poverty.  We used community development to assist the community to generate income. I really enjoyed being there. Even after I met my practicum requirements, I chose to stay another month. I felt very immersed in the community and the culture there.”

A fascinating look at community forest management in India will be the topic of conversation at a Charles Sturt University (CSU) Orange Campus public seminar next Tuesday 20 March. Matthew McNee is a PhD student studying a South American farming system that would have significant conservation and economic benefits if it could be adapted and managed in semi-arid and rain-limited environments. Prior to this he spent six months in India working for The Foundation for Ecological Security as part of an overseas work experience program with a Queensland university. “My role in India was to help develop the staff’s skills in environmental valuation so that the true value of forest resources could be determined for the needs of local village communities,” he explained. Matthew will speak about his discoveries and adventures as part of CSU’s weekly seminar program in Orange on Tuesday 20 March from 1pm to 2pm. For more information on the program contact Michael Kemp on 02 6365 7840.

Staff and students of Charles Sturt University (CSU) helped raise over $65 000 in the fight against cancer at Orange’s Relay for Life held last weekend. CSU’s 19 member team - the Wonder Walkers -  walked continuously for 18 hours to support cancer research through the Cancer Council event. Held at Endeavour Oval in Orange, the Wonder Walkers were encouraged by the thoughts of friends and family affected by cancer. “Our team walked, and ran, their hearts out for cancer research all through Saturday night and the atmosphere at the oval was tremendous,” said CSU team coordinator, Geoff Watson. The event raised a significant amount of money and gave hope to sufferers of the disease. “This is the message from Relay for Life, and it was all around me in the faces of the people who were walking beside me shoulder to shoulder,” Mr Watson said. “It is about life and about the hope that one day we will live in a world that has an answer to cancer.”

No doubt it is a very nice accolade when a national newspaper describes your latest film as “shaping up as the year's top Australian comedy”. However, director and Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate Darren Ashton says, “Although we are really chuffed at the response, at the end of the day the most important thing is that people go and see it”. The idea for Razzle Dazzle grew out of a short story written by Darren’s partner, and fellow CSU graduate, Carolyn Wilson. Described as “a fly-on-the-wall look at the tears, tantrums and tiaras in the world of competitive dance eisteddfods”, it was filmed in the “mockumentary” style because, “The dance world is really heightened, and I wanted to balance that with being observational and understated,” said Darren, whose debut feature film was Thunderstruck. His next project is a wrestling film set in the 1970s.

New South Wales has eight incumbent Independent members of parliament – will that change after the State election on March 24? Charles Sturt University (CSU) politics lecturer Dr Troy Whitford predicts that the number of Independents has plateaued. “But they will always be a main feature of rural elections. Why? Because Independents aim at appealing to a rural and regional mindset called 'countrymindedness'", Dr Whitford explains. “It tends to emphasis the importance of rural Australia and that people in the country have a greater moral compass and a better work ethic than the city, and that politics is always city-centric. ‘Countrymindedness’ suggests rural people are the backbone to the economy, and they should be given special consideration. Old-fashioned ‘countrymindedness’ is apparent in the rhetoric of the Independents representing rural seats.” Dr Whitford predicts Labor will be returned, and says, “I will be very surprised if we see an increase in Independents. I think the Coalition will pick up a couple of seats, but Labor will hang on."

Is Australia up to the standard of France in wine production? Those attending a public seminar at Charles Sturt University’s Orange Campus next Tuesday 3 April will discover one man’s personal exploration into the difference between the wine industry in these two countries. At a seminar titled Grapes, Wines and Terroir, a Franco-Australian Perspective, Frenchman and recently arrived associate lecturer in horticulture production Yann Guisard will talk about grape and wine production, marketing, retail and consumer perceptions. “I found, from a French person’s point of view, that the industry is less controlled in Australia,” Mr Guisard says. “In France the industry is very structured but it's being subjected to change because of the European Union.” The seminar will be held in Lecture Theatre One, Orange Campus on Tuesday 3 April from 1 to 2pm.

Despite numerous community education campaigns, public awareness of the prevention and risks of osteoporosis remains distressingly low, according to Associate Professor Maree Donna Simpson from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Biomedical Sciences. Dr Simpson addressed inland pharmacists at CSU’s latest Pharmacy Continuing Education Session on Sunday 25 March, urging them to look for any signs of the debilitating disease amongst their patients. “Look for the symptoms – a broken bone, those who are particularly slim, very low body weight. For example, one of the easiest viewed indicators of osteoporosis in older women is a body mass of less than 70 kilos.” Professor Simpson says osteoporosis is a “disease of the ‘baby boomers’. But they think it is a disease of their ‘mums and dads’. Risk factors include genetics, medications for asthma or Crohn’s Disease, or having had an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will take over providing all services to its students such as sports clubs, medical, counselling and advisory on Wednesday 4 April. On the Orange Campus, the Head of Campus Professor Geoff Gurr will accept the handover of these services from local CSU Student Association president Andrew Smith. “CSU students will not notice any difference in the level of services they receive at the University with the change,” said Jim Hackett, the CSU Executive Director of Finance who is overseeing the takeover of all student services by the University. “CSU has taken the stand that the student services provided by the CSU Student Association were an important part of the whole university experience, so the University has stepped in to continue these services, which are particularly important on our regional campuses.” The move has occurred as the result of the voluntary student unionism legislation passed last year by the Federal Government.