CSU Media wishes all our readers a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year. The team says a big ‘thank you’ for your support of CSU News during 2008. CSU Media is looking forward to an exciting 2009 when CSU will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Charles Sturt University will be closed from 12.30pm Wednesday 24 December until 9am Monday 5 January 2009.

Having lost contact for decades, two friends will reunite 8 000 kilometres from their homeland, when a visiting Vice-Chancellor of an Indian university and now-Hindu monk meets with Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Dr Anantanarayanan Raman in Orange. A senior lecturer in ecological agriculture, Dr Raman has coordinated the visit of his dear friend Swami Atmapriyananda who is visiting from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Belur Math (near Calcutta), West Bengal, India. During his stay in Orange, Swami Atmapriyananda will give a public lecture at CSU in Orange titled Interfacing Physics with Philosophy: the Spiritual Journey of an Indian Monk. “We used to work together at a university in India,” Dr Raman said. “Since then my friend has become a monk and I have moved to Australia. We haven’t seen each other for decades, so I’m looking forward to taking him to visit ecologically sustainable enterprises in Orange.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Mr Peter Mills is excited about the coming annual Australian National Field Days (ANFD) at Borenore near Orange NSW. He is taking part in the delivery of Science in the Bush at the ANFD high school day on Tuesday 20 October where exciting exhibits, hands-on workshops and engaging talks about what is happening in science today and beyond will be on show. As the outreach partner of this Australian Government initiative, CSU will deliver a workshop titled Super Botany. Based on the highly successful Science in the City at the Australian Museum, Science in the Bush enables local scientists and educators to bring the excitement and discovery of science to school children in rural NSW. Science in the Bush at ANFD is part of the Science in the City Project run by the Australian Museum with Executive Partner the University of Sydney and Outreach Partner CSU.

In the lead up to Orange Wine Week, the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery is holding a wine dinner in Orange on Thursday 8 October to showcase a selection of current, pre-release and museum release wines. The dinner is being held at Union Bank Wine Bar and will be accompanied by a delicious three course dinner. The wines marry grapes from CSU’s Orange and Wagga Wagga campuses under winemaker Mr Andrew Drumm. An integral part of Australia's leading wine and food science school at the forefront of viticultural practices and wine making techniques, the 4.5 star rated Wagga Wagga winery is considering opening a cellar door outlet at the CSU Orange Campus. To book and pay for the $50 per head dinner, please phone Union Bank directly on 1300 721 731.

With several species of blowfly developing a resistance to numerous classes of insecticides, local sheep breeders are to learn how to contain flystrike in their flock when they attend a free flystrike prevention workshop at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Orange this Friday 16 October. Run by the NSW  Department of Industry and Investment, the hands-on workshop is for commercial sheep producers who wish to maintain their skills and knowledge to prevent flystrike. Dr Shevahn Telfser from CSU’s School of Agriculture and Wine Science says, “Sheep producers who attend the workshop will walk away with key tools to help reduce the incidence of flystrike in their flock, and, if a fly wave strikes, how to deal with it swiftly and effectively.” For more information contact Ms Jane Mason, Orange Agricultural Institute on 6391 3967.

Seven Charles Sturt University (CSU) campuses will become rivals on Wednesday 14 October as they compete in a campus challenge as part of National Ride to Work Day. “There are a large number of staff on each campus who are regular and keen bicycle riders, but this is our way of encouraging other staff at Charles Sturt University to give it a go,” said Mr David Tallentire, CSU Manager of Occupational Health and Safety and the campus challenge organiser. “The establishment of CSU Green in 2008 highlighted a commitment to cooperate with communities towards sustainability, and by taking part in the National Ride to Work Day, CSU staff are supporting this commitment.” Twenty-four cyclists have registered for the ride at CSU at Wagga Wagga. Ride to Work is a behaviour change program that encourages workers to feel good and have fun by commuting to work by bicycle and experiencing the health, financial and environmental benefits of cycling.

TAFE students who have enrolled in or recently completed Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses at TAFE Western, the Canberra Institute of Technology and TAFE NSW Riverina Institute can now win scholarships to further their education at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at CSU, Professor Ross Chambers, says applications for the 12 scholarships, each worth $2 500, are available for 2010, with four scholarships available at each institution. “The CSU University Pathway Scholarship Program is part of the University’s ongoing commitment to create strong education pathways and collaboration from TAFE to University in our regional cities and regions,” Professor Chambers said. Acting Institute Director at TAFE Western, Ms Kate Baxter, says each year a number of TAFE Western graduates seek higher qualifications by studying at universities. “These scholarships will provide welcome support and encouragement and expand the opportunities for people in Western NSW to achieve their aspirations,” Ms Baxter said. Applications will close on Friday 27 November, with offers due to be made to successful TAFE students on Friday 11 December.

Aboriginal students considering a tertiary degree are encouraged to apply for Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Koori Admissions Program (KAP) within the next week to ensure they are considered for study in 2010. The annual KAP is an alternative entry program designed specifically for Indigenous students. The KAP provides potential students with a supportive and caring environment to assess whether or not they are likely to be suited to university life. It is free of charge to eligible participants, with travel, meal and accommodation costs funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. Students who successfully complete the KAP will be offered a place in their chosen course at any CSU campus or via distance education. Koori students interested in being part of the program should register their interest with the University’s Indigenous Student Services (ph 6338 4236) in the coming weeks or visit here.

A Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Orange, Mr Jeremy Cummins, was awarded an Australian National Field Days (ANFD) Rugby Player Scholarship at the recent Field Days. Mr Cummins played in the 2009 ANFD Cup with the Orange Aggies and has been rewarded for his off-field efforts in agriculture. Central West Rugby Union chief executive, Mr Peter Veenstra, said Mr Cummins was an outstanding applicant and a worthy recipient of the inaugural scholarship. Mr Cummins came to CSU at Orange from Port Macquarie, and as well as playing in the ANFD Cup has been involved in cattle judging, has taken on a management role at the CSU Rugby Club, and also manages to fit in a 125 per cent student load so he can complete his degree in less than three years.