Orange is set to be the home of a new $10 million planetarium thanks to the hard work of a group of astronomy enthusiasts who will present a public lecture hosted by the Central West Branch of the Royal Society of New South Wales at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange on Friday 18 March. Orange Planetarium Inc. President, Mr Rod Sommerville, and Vice-President, Mr Nat Burgio, will provide a detailed overview of this unique and visionary project, which will help advance community understanding of astronomy, and science generally, and will be a major educational and tourism attraction for the Central West. “The Orange Planetarium group has been planning the Southern Skies Earth and Space Centre for more than eight years and it’s exciting to see the project develop,” said Professor Kevin Parton, Chair of the Central West Branch of the Royal Society of New South Wales and Head of Campus at CSU in Orange. “The public lecture will showcase final design concepts which will include internal and external rendered images of what the facility will look like.”

Students from a range of science degrees at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange will graduate at a ceremony on Friday 25 March. The Head of Campus at CSU in Orange, Professor Kevin Parton, said, “There are 160 students from allied health, medical sciences, and agricultural sciences graduating from Charles Sturt University in Orange this year, and a large proportion of these students will take up employment in regional NSW, contributing to our workforce and communities.” The Occasional Address will be delivered by CSU medical school consultant Professor John Dwyer, AO, with active student Ms Nicole Forbes giving the vote of thanks on behalf of the students. The graduation ceremony starts at 10.30am at the Orange Civic Theatre, Byng Street, Orange.

Members of the Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Ag Club will host a qualifying round for the Royal Agricultural Society’s Young Farmer Challenge on Friday 25 March at CSU in Orange. Students from the Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management are just some of those competing in the event which is designed to promote excellence in farming and showcase the involvement of youth in agriculture. “The Charles Sturt University Ag Club has a team competing in the Young Farmer Challenge but there is also an Orange Fire Brigade team, rugby teams, and students from St Stanislaus and Mackillop colleges taking part,” said CSU Ag Club president Mr Richard Connell. “We’re hoping to have about 40 competitors donating their entry fees to mental health agency Beyond Blue.” The teams of ten will compete in challenges including basic farm skills such as fencing, carting hay and shearing. “We encourage those interested in agriculture to join the CSU Ag Club which is not just for students.  It’s for anyone keen to be part of an agricultural network.”

With numerous Charles Sturt University (CSU) students winning previous Sydney Royal Showgirl competitions, current CSU student Stephanie Tarlinton hopes to be the next. The 24 year old from Cobargo on the far south coast of NSW has been named a state finalist in The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl competition and will attend the 2011 Sydney Royal Easter Show for a week, with the presentation ceremony being held on Saturday 16 April. Ms Tarlinton is a third year Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management student at CSU in Orange. “I’m very excited to be selected as a finalist in the competition,” said Ms Tarlinton, “It’s quite a privilege to represent my family, my community and the wider region. The competition brings together girls from so many different backgrounds but we’re all passionate about agriculture and our community so I’m looking forward to meeting them all and doing well in the competition.” The Sydney Royal Showgirl contestants are judged on personality, confidence, ambition and life goals, general knowledge, rural knowledge, presentation and speech. 

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) vet is warning horse owners to protect their animals from mosquitoes in light of a suspected outbreak of viral neurological disease across three states. More than 135 cases have been reported in horses in NSW and 16 of those have died or been put down. Senior Lecturer in equine medicine with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences,  Dr Kris Hughes, said eight cases have been investigated by staff at the Veterinary Clinical Centre at CSU in Wagga Wagga over recent months. He says Industry & Investment NSW is testing samples from affected horses to determine the exact cause of the condition but it is believed to be a mosquito borne virus. “Affected horses can demonstrate an exaggerated and weak limb movement, lack of coordination, muscle tremors, exaggerated response to stimuli including touch and sound, facial paralysis and behavioural changes,” he said. Dr Hughes recommends rugging, fly veils and using licensed insect repellant treatments along with removing stagnant water where horses are housed to help reduce exposure to mosquitoes.

There is high praise for the professionalism of one pharmacy graduate from Charles Sturt University (CSU). The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) – NSW Branch has named graduate Ms Sally Whiting as the 2010 NSW Intern of the Year. Ms Whiting received the honour during the Society’s 2011 March Weekend Conference held in Sydney on Saturday 26 March. Ms Whiting was awarded her Bachelor of Pharmacy Class 1 Honours  at CSU in Orange in 2010. She completed her 12 month internship, which is required for national registration, at Rozanna’s MediAdvice Pharmacy in Mudgee. Ms Whiting is now employed as a pharmacist at Blooms the Chemist in Orange. In a statement, the PSA said Ms Whiting “quickly established an enviable reputation for her passion in her chosen career which was demonstrated by her compassionate manner, exceptional knowledge and customer service skills”. She was also praised for her proactive management of patient medication and for “assisting them in helping to achieve their quality of life, confidently embracing the expanding role of the pharmacist in providing professional patient-focused services.” In congratulating Ms Whiting, Program Leader of Pharmacy at CSU, Mr George K John said, “It is students and future leaders like Sally that Charles Sturt University and the pharmacy profession are proud of, and would like to have engaging with the community”.

A leading Australian theologian and academic at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has been awarded an honorary doctorate by another national university. Reverend Professor James Haire, AM, KSJ, who is Professor of Theology at CSU and executive director of the CSU Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACC&C) , received the Doctor of the University from the Australian Catholic University in Sydney at its recent graduation ceremony. The citation for the honorary degree noted that Reverend Professor Haire is one of the world’s leading scholars and promoters of interfaith dialogue. It concludes, ‘Australia is indebted to James for his work in encouraging understanding between not only the Christian churches, but between people of different faiths’. Reverend Professor Haire also delivered the occasional address to graduates, and spoke of the need for them to be compassionate and generous in their personal and professional lives. “My experience is that, on balance, unless there is obvious evil, it is worth taking the risk to be generous. If you are generous, you give and you expect trust, and it is trust that is both the Christian way, and in any case makes life worth living,” he said.

Staff and students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are being urged to do their bit for Clean Up Australia Day. CSU Green is calling for volunteers on its five major campuses - Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga - to participate in the national event on Friday 4 March, the day designated for schools. Volunteers are encouraged to register their interest in the clean up on their local campus through the Clean Up Australia Day site here. “We hope to see staff and students and their family and friends turn out between 8am and 11am to pick up rubbish and conserve the local environment,” CSU Green’s Ms Nicole Hyde said. “The event will be a positive start to the commencement of on campus classes during the week. Volunteers are asked to bring along some gloves to wear and of course a hat and sunscreen.”

With children counting down the days until Easter, Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dental and Oral Health Clinic  dentist Dr Ying Shi Chang asks parents to remember the importance of children’s teeth. “Everyone loves indulging in some chocolate at Easter time,” says Dr Chang, “but it’s also a good time to book in a dental check-up for the family.” Dr Chang recommends parents make the most of the CSU Dental and Oral Health Clinic. “The Clinic is large, colourful and friendly so it’s perfect for young children. As well as professional dentists, third year Bachelor of Dental Science students are available to clean children’s teeth and teach the importance of regular brushing and flossing.” To book an appointment at the CSU Dental and Oral Health Clinic call 1300 278 642.