Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic and artist Mr Jamie Holcombe will explore his photographic exhibition Civic Melancholy  in a public seminar at CSU at Wagga Wagga from 3.10pm on Wednesday 4 November. The exhibition, which will be officially opened by CSU lecturer Mr David Gilbey at 6pm on Saturday 14 November in the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, focuses on large-scale urban landscapes in the Riverina. During the seminar, the artist will present an overview of the project’s evolution, drawing on his ongoing PhD research into the concept of the melancholy in photography, with particular reference to urban landscape in regional community environments.  “This body of work is a personal response to my surroundings,” said Mr Holcombe. “After a long period of passive observation, this exhibition represents an interchange with the region that I now call home.” Mr Holcombe lectures in photography and digital imaging in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at CSU at Wagga Wagga.

Director of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney and the former Director of the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Dr Dawn Casey, PSM, FAHA has been appointed to the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Council. Dr Casey is the newest member of the University’s governing body following her appointment by the NSW Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Verity Firth, MP, on recommendation from the CSU Council. Dr Casey, who is nationally and internationally recognised for her leadership of the Powerhouse Museum, the National Museum and the Western Australian Museum, has been appointed until June 2011. Dr Casey has made a major contribution to Indigenous policies and programs in Australia as well as to Australia’s cultural heritage, including. the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. She also initiated the joint Commonwealth-State response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody as a senior executive in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Dr Casey’s appointment comes as the University celebrates the 20th anniversary of its establishment through the Charles Sturt University Act 1989. Read more here.

A leading climate change researcher with Charles Sturt University (CSU) believes delaying the emissions trading scheme (ETS) will cost every Australian in the long run. Professor Kevin Parton, a lead researcher with CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society, said the Federal government’s decision to delay the introduction of the scheme until after 2012 to wait and see what the rest of the world will do on carbon emissions was no reason to delay. “The three biggest polluters are USA, China and Europe. China is developing green technologies, and Europe already has an ETS. They are going to be way ahead of Australia,” Professor Parton said. “The media has greatly exaggerated the cost of an ETS to the public, leading to falling public support for the scheme. And the government doesn’t want to take the scheme to its first election.” Professor Parton said under ‘business as usual’ without an ETS, Australia can expect to double its average level of income by 2050. “But with the ETS this income doubling would be delayed only one year.”

The winner of an inaugural national cropping competition has returned to Australia from New Zealand (NZ) to finish his Charles Sturt University (CSU) degree in 2010. Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) student Mr Sandy Middleton, from the School of Agriculture and Wine Sciences at CSU at Wagga Wagga, won the inaugural Australian University Crops Competition late last year. He was one of five top students to travel to NZ in January to learn about that country’s cropping industry. During the fully-funded four-day industry tour, the group met with local university representatives and visited the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, a number of farms and a seed production company. Mr Middleton told Get Farming New Zealand, that the trip was a terrific opportunity to learn about crop production in a completely different environment. "The trip gave us an insight into the issues facing New Zealand's grain producers who farm in a cool environment where water is abundant," Mr Middleton said. The CSU student from the Kyeamba Valley near Wagga Wagga is completing his degree by distance education. He is currently working as an agronomist based in Holbrook.

The work of Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor of Education Stephen Kemmis achieved international recognition in Scandinavia last year. Professor Kemmis, from the School of Education at CSU in Wagga Wagga, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Education from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland and, six months later, an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The Honorary Doctorate in Sweden was in recognition of his international work in education and his involvement in the education of PhD students. Before an audience of about 1 500 people in Gothenburg, Sweden, late last year, Professor Kemmis was also presented the University of Gothenburg’s gold doctoral ring, doctoral hat and laurel crown. His Honorary Doctor of Education from the University of Jyväskylä recognised his work in critical theory and action research. In that ceremony, Professor Kemmis received a top hat with a gold badge and a doctoral sword; styled on the model of the 18th century civilian sword used by Finnish gentlemen. Professor Kemmis is a leading researcher in CSU’s Research Institute for Professional Practice (RIPPLE). In addition to his work at CSU, Professor Kemmis is internationally renowned for his research in the areas of professional practice, approaches to educational research and evaluation, educational curriculum, Indigenous education, and university development.

There has been a welcome start to the new academic year for one of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) residential colleges, St Martin’s College. In a surprise announcement, Richardson Johnson College, a Christian organisation supporting education, has donated $400 000 to St Martin’s College at CSU in Wagga Wagga. The Reverend Jenny Willsher from St Martin’s says the generous donation will enable the College to reduce its debt and offer two Richard Johnson College Scholarships to students each year based on need. One of St Martin’s cottages will also be named after the donor. Last year, St Martin’s opened the Fairfax Centre, a new community centre for the 98 students living in the College’s 12 cottages.

Through a new initiative between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and higher education partners, TAFE graduates have secured scholarships to help them begin study at CSU. Ms Gemma Paul from TAFE NSW Riverina Institute in Wagga Wagga commenced a degree in accounting after completing an Advanced Diploma in Accountancy at Riverina Institute. “Receiving the scholarship is a huge relief as my course requires many books that are quite expensive. University will be an exciting experience for me and this scholarship will keep me motivated and focused,” she said. Ms Paul is one of 10 former TAFE students to win scholarships in 2010 provided by the University through the CSU University Pathways Scholarship, which in partnership with Riverina Institute, Canberra Institute of Technology and TAFE Western.  Riverina Institute’s acting Institute Director, Mr Graeme Stutchbery said, “We are thrilled to be able to offer our students such a brilliant learning pathway.  This partnership is about ensuring students from throughout the Riverina have access to further study and a career of their choice.” CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ross Chambers said the program is part of the University’s ongoing commitment to create strong education pathways and collaboration from TAFE to University in its regions.

Poet and Charles Sturt University (CSU) senior lecturer Mr David Gilbey is an avid observer and consumer of all things Japanese. He has written about Japan for a number of years, having lived and taught there in 1996, 2000, 2007 and more recently at the end of last year. “I am always interested in how what I write engages with the many ‘others’ of Japan: language, culture, geography and social nuance,” said the CSU academic. “And I am also interested in whether the poetry I write delights readers and audiences wherever they may be living.” Mr Gilbey will address the topic, Of sashimi and saké: Writing the Other in Japan in a public seminar on Wednesday 17 March. The event is part of the weekly short seminar series hosted by the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU. The lecture will be held from 3.10pm until 4pm on Wednesday 17 March in the School theatrette, building 21, room 10, near car park 2, Darnell Smith Drive, CSU in Wagga Wagga.

Celebrations have taken place after two Indigenous trainees at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga graduated from the TAFE NSW Riverina Institute. Ms Maggie Lipu and Ms Stacey Anne Gemmell received their certificates in business administration during a ceremony in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 23 March. Ms Lipu completed the course while employed by the University’s School of Education in Wagga Wagga as an Indigenous trainee since the start of 2009. Ms Gemmell finished the same program while working in administration for CSU Training. The traineeships were offered as part of the Australian Indigenous Employment Strategy, which aims to increase the number of Indigenous staff at CSU. Now employed as a casual Administrative Assistant with the School of Education, Ms Lipu is doing a Certificate IV in Community Services at TAFE and hopes to eventually do a CSU degree in social work. Ms Gemmell is considering enrolling in Certificate IV in Frontline Management through CSU Training, then a Diploma of Events Management in the future.