Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Luke Tooze’s Australian Idol odyssey has come to an end. The 21 year old guitarist/singer made the top one-hundred list, but was knocked out of the popular television show at the latest round of auditions in Sydney. Luke, a second year teaching student at CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus, performed the classic Whitlams song Buy Now, Pay Later, a decision that didn’t pay off when the show’s panel of judges axed his act. Luke admits he was disappointed, but adds he has walked away buoyed by the experience, has made a lot of new friends, and says he would encourage other young Australians with aspirations to make it big on the music scene to give the Australian Idol experience a shot. Luke was selected from hundreds of hopefuls during Australian Idol auditions at CSU’s Joyes Hall in April.

Interested in the skill of wine and food matching? Charles Sturt University (CSU) is collaborating with one of Wagga Wagga’s top restaurants to educate the Riverina public’s tastebuds about wine and food matching skills. Dr Anthony Saliba, a sensory scientist at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC), located at CSU Wagga Wagga Campus, will pass on his knowledge and understanding of why certain wine and foods complement each other. Dr Saliba will also discuss the key mistakes consumers often make when designing a dinner party menu with table wines to match. Held at The Three Chefs restaurant, the workshop will include a seven course dinner with wines that complement those dishes. Places are limited to 20 and bookings close on Thursday 28 June.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student has won a $15 000 scholarship to help improve the growth and management of summer pastures in high rainfall areas of south western Victoria. Margaret Raeside is evaluating the benefits of a summer-growing variety of tall fescue grass species called ‘Quantum’ for the EverGraze research project undertaken by CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The project aims to boost profits to wool and livestock producers while reducing groundwater levels and reducing soil salinity. CSU’s Dr Michael Friend is an EverGraze NSW site leader and Ms Raeside’s supervisor. He said the scholarship recognises the importance of Ms Raeside’s work to utilise perennial pastures in grazing systems to improve farm profitability and environmental outcomes. The three year scholarship is from the South Australian-based AW Howard Memorial Trust.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) has been awarded much sought after international quality accreditation. The NWGIC, located at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus, implemented a quality management system for its research activities in 2006.  Following an external review and audit in June 2007, the Centre was awarded accreditation for its implementation of the ISO 9000 Quality Management System. This achievement, driven by Mrs Helen Pan (NWGIC), Mr Chris O'Connell (NSW DPI), Professor Geoff Scollary (CSU), and Mrs Cathy Campbell (NSW DPI), reinforces the NWGIC’s place at the forefront of Australian research facilities. Director of the NWGIC Professor Thomas Henick-Kling says the quality accreditation is a wonderful achievement and shows a commitment to quality. The NWGIC is the home of leading wine industry research activities including the Winegrowing Futures Program.

Academics and other professional staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are being introduced to the next wave of online change. Associate Professor Marian Tulloch, the Director of the Centre for Enhanced Learning and Teaching (CELT), will introduce the new online learning and teaching environment CSU Interact at a series of seminars on CSU’s campuses between 7 May and 16 May. “In early 2008 CSU Interact the new online collaborative scholarly environment will be rolled out across the University for learning and teaching,” Professor Tulloch said. “As part of CSU’s flexible learning strategy it will provide an integrated, enhanced and evolving learning environment for on and off campus students. Because it is a complex and collaborative process, these seminars will provide an opportunity for staff to hear more about the development of CSU Interact, to ask questions, and make suggestions.”

Proving age is no barrier when it comes to further education, Ian Findlay’s thirst for knowledge has seen him earn his fourth university degree at the age of 81. Mr Findlay graduated from Charles Sturt University (CSU) with a Master of Systems Development from the Faculty of Science and Agriculture on Friday 20 April. Seventy years after starting school, Mr Findlay decided to further his studies through the CSU distance education program after being impressed by CSU’s “fabulous reputation and wonderful library”. He already had a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Engineering and a post graduate diploma in Computing Science. Mr Findlay says, “university studies keep my head together; I like to know things”. At this stage he doesn’t intend beginning a fifth university degree, but says his research will continue. CSU’s oldest graduand is Elizabeth Brown who was 82 when she graduated in June 2003 with a Graduate Diploma in Ageing and Pastoral Studies.

An analysis of 14 existing studies on Echinacea, published last week in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, shows that the herbal remedy can cut the risk of catching a cold, and reduce the severity of a cold by up to a day-and-a-half. This comes as no surprise to Dr Philip Kerr, lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry at Charles Sturt University’s Wagga Wagga Campus. “I’m a tincture rather than tablet man myself,” says Dr Kerr. Echinacea supplements are available as tablets, extracts, tincture, tea and even in fresh juice. He adds it should be taken, “At the very first sign of feeling a bit off.” Dr Kerr says to watch for the “tingle on the tongue” as a sign of an effective Echinacea remedy. Echinacea effectiveness can be reduced by “the process by which the plant extract has been prepared, and which variety of the plant has been used,” Dr Kerr said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Sarah Pickthall and 2007 Orientation Week coordinators on the Wagga Wagga Campus recently donated $1 719 to the ”Drought Appeal” held in February on the campus. “We decided to support a local charity during ‘O Week’ as it is an ideal time to get students and their parents involved with the community and ‘Drought Appeal’, which covers the geography of the CSU community,” Sarah said. The money raised from a raffle supported by local businesses was handed to Salvation Army Captain Steve Dorman by Sarah Pickthall and ‘O Week’ team members. Captain Dorman praised the CSU efforts, saying that “The donation will go a long way toward bringing relief to our brothers and sisters on the land and will give us much greater flexibility in identifying the areas of greatest need and making a significant response”.

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.”