The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery Cellar Door at Wagga Wagga has received an Award of Distinction at the 2009 Inland NSW Tourism Awards held in Narrabri, NSW on Saturday 25 July. The Cellar Door sells wine and offers tastings from the University’s own range of premium table, fortified and sparkling wines. “It’s a fantastic achievement to receive this award – one of only five businesses (in addition to the 18 category winners) out of 58 entrants in the state to be commended,” said Cellar Door Manager Mr Richard Lawson. “The award recognises the Winery’s contribution to local and regional tourism, as well as the extensive range of CSU wine, cheese and olive oil products available for tasting and sales. It also recognises the hard work of our dedicated Cellar Door team.”  Since its inception in 1977, the CSU Winery has won numerous trophies and medals in national wine shows.

Once a safe region for mixed farming, the southern NSW district around Wagga Wagga is now enduring an unprecedented period of low rainfall affecting both dryland and irrigated farmers. A public seminar and forum entitled A Dry Argument will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Wednesday 29 July to examine some of the consequences of drought and the difficulties farmers face in adjusting to dry periods. “Agricultural scientists, agribusiness and policy makers are often swept up in the technology of coping with drought and maintaining production, rather than considering their response to the ‘big picture' travails of farmers. The future of farming is a topic worthy of careful consideration,” said CSU organiser Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe. “We’re bringing together experts from Victoria and across the Riverina to share their experience and insight.” The EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (an alliance between CSU and NSW Department of Primary Industries) is hosting the event in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology and Wagga Wagga City Council.

Students and staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga will come together to plant trees on the University campus starting at 10am on Friday 31 July as a contribution to National Tree Day. The planting will be in the James Hagan Court northern garden area. Grounds Supervisor in the Division of Facilities Management at CSU, Mr Simon Cole, said “Charles Sturt University plants hundreds of trees every year on its campuses, and thousands over the years, but we thought it was important to contribute to this annual national event. We will be planting 100 mixed native trees with water storage granules to help them along, and the ground is already prepared to make it quicker and easier on the day. The planting is also a step towards meeting the University’s targets for biodiversity and carbon reduction as specified in its Institutional Development Plan 2007-2011.” The annual National Tree Day is Australia’s biggest community tree planting event and has seen approximately 13 million native trees and shrubs planted since the event was launched in 1996.

Ties between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Connemara Pony’s homeland are set to strengthen when the Ambassador of Ireland, His Excellency Máirtín O'Fainín, visits Wagga Wagga on Friday 7 August to tour the University’s horse breeding and teaching facilities. Also attending is Mr John Dawkins, former federal Treasurer and President of The Connemara Breeder’s Society of Australia, which is collaborating with CSU in a program to improve the breed. CSU is the only university undertaking a program involving the Irish native Connemara Pony. Veterinary science, animal science and equine students learn to handle, train and manage horses as part of their courses, and the Connemara Pony, which is smaller and not as intimidating as larger horses, has proven ideal. “The visit by the Ambassador is a wonderful opportunity to explain our program and to forge a closer relationship with the government of Ireland,” said Head of the School of Veterinary Science at CSU, Professor Kym Abbott. CSU’s Equine Centre is currently leasing four mares and one stallion and the School plans to continue working with The Connemara Breeder’s Society for the benefit of both the students and the breed.

The Dean of the Faculty of Science at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Nick Klomp, a notable science media personality, will present entertaining public talks about science at the University’s various campuses during August. Members of the community, government and industry representatives, and future students are invited to attend to learn about initiatives currently planned or being implemented in various science disciplines at CSU, such as: the opening of dental clinics on five CSU campuses; a recently completed, environmentally sustainable building that has already won building awards and been awarded six green stars as a world class example of building sustainability; new courses and international opportunities for CSU students; the new $44 million state-of-the-art ‘science precinct’; and current science research at CSU that will ultimately contribute to results which significantly improve industries, communities and the environment. Presentations, which will be open to the public, will be held between 4pm and 5pm, followed by refreshments.

Distance education science and policing students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will get hands-on experience with crime scenes this week as part of residential schools held on campus. Four crime scene scenarios have been established for students to build their skills in crime scene management, including the identification and preservation of evidence.  Former police Detective Senior Sergeant turned CSU academic, Mr Pieter Strik, has created the four mock crime scenes. “Students have the chance to develop skills including sketching the scene, preserving evidence from factors like weather and people accessing the area, and working in teams,” Mr Strik said.

The Federal Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, the Hon. Warren Snowdon, MP, will officially open a conference of Indigenous mental health students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga on Friday 18 September. Twenty-one students of the University’s Djirruwang Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Program will travel from across Australia to attend the conference entitled Professional Issues in Aboriginal Mental Health. During the two-day conference, the students will deliver 10-minute presentations as part of their Bachelor of Health Sciences (Mental Health) degree. The Djirruwang program educates Indigenous mental health workers for mainstream mental health, community mental health services, Aboriginal organisations and Aboriginal community controlled health services. “We are delighted the Minister responsible for Indigenous health will be able to see first-hand the quality of our students training to be mental health workers for their communities,” said Director of the Djirruwang program at CSU, Mr Wayne Rigby.

The relevance of art in the age of blockbuster exhibitions, video games and reality television will be explored during a free public lecture in Tumut on Wednesday 30 September by artist, writer, curator and Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic Dr Johannes Klabbers. “Only art which has truth and beauty in equal measures is able to move people,” said Dr Klabbers from the School of Visual and Performing Arts at CSU at Wagga Wagga where he is postgraduate coordinator and course coordinator of the Master of Arts Practice. “The rest is either interior decorating or entertainment.” Dr Klabbers is targeting his informal presentation, ‘Looking at, and Making, Art in the 21st Century’ at art lovers, arts practitioners and those who do not understand art but would like to. The CSU lecturer will also discuss exhibitions he has curated and would like to curate, as well as showing visual and audio documentation of his works. The free public lecture, which is co-hosted by CSU and Tumut Shire Council, will be held from 6pm on Wednesday 30 September in the Montreal Community Theatre, Russell Street, Tumut. CSU wines and cheeses will be served after the lecture.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga is marking the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) with performances, guest speakers and artwork displays on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September. CSU’s Manager of Indigenous Student Services, Mr Ray Eldridge, said NAIDOC is a very significant part of the Australian Aboriginal calendar of events, with its origins in the 1930s when William Ferguson commenced his fight for the rights of Aboriginal people, giving impetus to the May 1967 Referendum. “This year’s celebrations will commence with a Welcome to Country from Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Isabel Reid, and will include didgeridoo playing, poetry readings, performances from Tirkandi Inaburra Cultural and Development Centre, and a display of artworks from students Mr Wayne Simon and Ms Melanie Evans. NAIDOC is a time for reflection and sharing stories with visiting and local Indigenous people.”