Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will again host educators from Japan during a five-day visit to the Riverina to learn more about the Australian school system. The trip is an initiative of the School of Education at CSU in Wagga Wagga as part of an academic cooperation agreement with Yamagata University (YU). The Japanese delegation will be led by Professor Joe Yamaguchi from the Graduate School of Teacher Training at YU. A reception will be held for the international visitors at 9am on Monday 5 September at the Civic Centre in Baylis Street in Wagga Wagga ahead of a tour of the local botanic gardens and zoo. The delegation will also visit classrooms and meet students at Coolamon Central School on Tuesday 6 September, Wagga Wagga High School on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 September, and South Wagga Wagga Public School on Thursday 8 September.

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.

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.”

More than 40 new veterinary students will leave university for the workforce after taking their professional oath at a ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 3 August. The Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science students will gather in front of family, friends and staff from CSU’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences  to take the Veterinarians’ Oath to practice their profession ‘ethically and conscientiously’.  The keynote address will be delivered by Vice President of the Australian Veterinary Association Dr Peter Gibbs, who will share his experience of running a successful rural practice in Yass, NSW.  The students will be eligible to register as veterinarians on Friday 10 August and will be awarded their degrees during a formal graduation ceremony at CSU at the end of 2012.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic says the recent wide-spread floods in Australia demonstrate the importance of home owners understanding whether their home and contents insurance covers damage caused by flooding. Senior lecturer in law at the CSU School of Accounting, Dr Bede Harris, says, “In many parts of Australia, insurers do not offer flood insurance because the risk is too great, and even where flood insurance is offered, the premiums tend to be high. The type of risks a policy-owner is covered for depends entirely on the wording of their policy, and this can differ from insurer to insurer.” Dr Harris also emphasizes that it is important to note that insurance policies distinguish between damage caused by rising waters (flood) and falling waters (for example, rain leaking through a roof). “In those cases, coverage will depend on what the immediate cause of the damage was,” Dr Harris said.

A survey about weight issues and obesity in Cootamundra by two Charles Sturt University (CSU) students has led to an initiative to encourage men to take practical steps towards a healthier diet. Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) students Ms Alana Hosken and Ms Lara Williams surveyed Cootamundra businesses and health professionals and members of the wider community on their opinions and current knowledge of weight issues and obesity in the Cootamundra population. As a result of their findings, the Cootamundra Community Health delivered a free cooking class on Monday 24 May to encourage men to eat healthier. “In our survey Cootamundra men knew the chronic health issues associated with obesity and agreed some practical cooking skills will help address the problem,” Ms Williams said. “The cooking class was very successful, with 19 people in attendance. The men indicated they learned from the education session and cooking demonstration,” Ms Hosken said.

A free cocktail party will be the backdrop for a gathering of recent and not-so-recent graduates and staff of Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Wednesday 23 May. Hosted by CSU Alumni, the evening will feature CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann, who joined the University at the start of this year. A second guest speaker will be Dr Krissy Wilson, a lecturer and researcher from the School of Psychology at CSU. A renowned sceptic, former actress and airline cabin crew member, Dr Wilson researches why people believe in extraordinary phenomena, or Anomalistic Psychology.  Read more on CSU News about Dr Wilson's new research group here. All CSU alumni are invited to attend the cocktail evening from 6pm to 8pm, Wednesday 23 May at the Country Comfort Motel on the corner of Tarcutta and Morgan Streets, Wagga Wagga.

A 2 000 kilometre journey around the southern tip of New Zealand, at a time when the region was being rocked by earthquake aftershocks, has inspired Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer and photographic artist Mr Christopher Orchard. His new exhibition 15 Days is on display at the Links Gallery at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery and will be launched on Saturday 12 May. An associate lecturer with the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga , Mr Orchard said using digital technologies restricted to darkroom techniques, the images in the exhibition reference the traditions of landscape photography. “The clashing of continental plates, shifting ocean currents, cold polar winds, volcanic eruptions and innumerable other physical forces reshape the soul of the land with each passing second,” he said. “The ultimate accolade for the fine-art photographer is to be able to see work displayed for public viewing, and for the general public to be able to engage with the creative process.”

A celebration of the 2012 grape harvest will be held at the CSU Winery in Wagga Wagga over a Mediterranean-inspired barbecue from 6.30pm on Saturday 12 May. Hosted by CSU Winemaker Mr Andrew Drumm, guests will be introduced to a range of the University’s wines including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling and Merlot. The wines will be matched to Mediterranean food prepared by Mr Toby Perry and his team from CSU’s Food and Beverage Services. Mr Drumm said, “The 2012 harvest was one of the more unusual. Picking began at the end of February and finished just before Anzac Day. The cool growing season in spring and summer developed good flavours on vineyards at Orange and Wagga Wagga. The rain in early March punctuated the season but a long warm autumn has finished things off quite well”. The Harvest Celebration marks the end of the seasonal cycle and the hard work and late nights.