The body of works of final year jewellery students will be on public display in a new exhibition at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. The exhibition titled, Meraki: To put yourself into your work with soul, creativity and love will be held at the HR Gallop Gallery at the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga. It will feature the art of three Bachelor of Arts (Jewellery) students and one Bachelor of Arts (Visual and Performing Arts) (Honours) student. The students are due to graduate during a ceremony in December. “This exhibition is significant for students, as it demonstrates their knowledge and understanding of how jewellery can be used as a powerful tool for creating visual narratives that address social, cultural and political issues and how, once worn, these messages can be disseminated more widely beyond the Gallery walls,” said jewellery lecturer Ms Sabine Pagan. The exhibition will be opened from 6pm on Friday 1 November by Arts and Design Curator at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Ms Eva Czernis-Ryl. The Gallery is also hosting an international touring exhibition of contemporary narrative jewellery, Transplantation: A sense of place and culture. Both exhibitions run from Thursday 31 October to Friday 22 November.  

Researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are seeking male smokers aged 18 to 50 years in the NSW central west to participate in two smoking and exercise studies. The first study consists of four sessions involving smoking or exercise conditions; the second study involves a 14-week exercise training and smoking reduction program. Ms Tegan Kastelein, a PhD student from the School of Human Movement Studies CSU in Bathurst said, “The purpose of the research is firstly to examine the cerebro-vascular and inflammatory responses to both cigarette smoking and exercise, and secondly, to examine the effects of a 14-week exercise training and smoking reduction program on disease risk in a smoker population. It is anticipated that the research findings will enhance our current understanding of the effects of tobacco smoke, the role of exercise in reducing disease risk, and provide the community with alternative methods for smoking reduction and/or cessation.” To find out more about the research and exercise program, please contact Ms Kastelein on (02) 6338 6101 or send an email to: tkastelein@csu.edu.au.

As the weather warms up, what better way is there to wind down than with live music at sunset amongst the greenery of the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens?  On Friday 1 November, Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council will co-host the Music under the leaves recital by members of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. RCM concert administrator, Ms Catherine Holland, said the program will showcase three of the Conservatorium’s vocalists singing a range of jazz and contemporary songs. “Classical guitarist Mr Jeff Donovan will take the audience on a musical tour of Latin America with solo guitar pieces from Argentina, Columbia and Brazil,” she said. The program will also feature Clarinessence and jazz ensemble, Meredith & The ConMen. Refreshments will be served following the recital.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) employee is hoping the local community will give generously to research to prevent bowel cancer as he and his brother prepare to tackle a 100 kilometre marathon. Mitchell Bowen from the University’s Division of Finance and his brother Brent plan to complete the Hume and Hovell Ultra Marathon Run on Saturday 19 October. In doing so, they will be raising money for the Cancer and Bowel Research Trust. They have set themselves a fundraising target of $1 000. The siblings from Wagga Wagga recently finished their first marathon, successfully undertaking the 42 kilometre Glenbrook Trail Marathon in the NSW Blue Mountains.  The brothers will start the marathon at the Henry Angel Trackhead, just south of Tumbarumba, and finish at the Blowering Dam Power Station near Tumut. Their support crew includes volunteers with the NSW State Emergency Service.You can follow their progress on Facebook here or support the brothers by donating here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery will launch a new-look series of labels for its Charles Sturt and Reserve ranges at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 1 October. Marketing manager Mr Justin Byrne said the new labels reflected the University’s history and spirit of exploration. “The labels feature the rivers of regional NSW, the Macquarie, the Murray, the Murrumbidgee and the Darling,” he said. “It was the explorer Charles Sturt who first traced the Murray and the Murrumbidgee, and those journeys are also represented on the labels.” Mr Byrne said Charles Sturt University Winery had been making wine, and winemakers, for more than 35 years. “We own and operate two vineyards, growing warm climate varieties in Wagga Wagga and cool climate varieties in Orange, and also work with growers in other regions. We have two production facilities in Wagga Wagga; a commercial winery producing our three product ranges and an experimental winery producing our student wines.” CSU staff and local business people will attend the launch event and the new labels will be on shelves throughout NSW and Victoria in the coming months.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Council has welcomed the appointment of three new highly successful alumni to its ranks. Mrs Jennifer Hayes from Albury-Wodonga is a former senior executive of the Mars Corporation, including as a senior financial executive in Asia Pacific and Europe.  Ms Saranne Cooke from Bathurst joins the Council from the energy sector and recently led a team working on energy sector reform in NSW.  Ms Cooke is also a Director of the Western Medicare Local.  Mr Jamie Newman from Orange is a member of a number of boards and committees, and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service. He is a descendent of the Kalar tribe of the Wiradjuri nation.  The new appointees join current CSU alumni members Mr Angelos Frangopoulos (CEO of SkyNews Australia and Board Member of the Victor Chang Foundation) and Mr Peter Hayes (a Wine Industry Consultant who has held senior positions with the CRC for Irrigation Futures, CRC for Viticulture and the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation).  The Council also welcomed Mr Robert Fitzpatrick, an external independent appointee, who currently heads up the infrastructure, transport and logistics business with the National Centre of Excellence in ICT Australia and spent 7 years in global consulting for McKinsey in international business and technology. Under the leadership of Chancellor Mr Lawrence Willett, AO, the CSU Council has 15 members.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) dentistry student Ms Jessica Zachar has been recognised for her work raising awareness of rural health issues with a National Rural Health Leadership Award. Ms Zachar received the award from Future Health Leaders during the organisation’s Rural Health Leadership forum, held at CSU in Orange recently. Ms Zachar said she was delighted to receive the award. “I chose to study dentistry at Charles Sturt University because I am a strong supporter of the University’s motto ‘For the Public Good’,” she said. “It is my vision and goal to bridge the gap in oral health education and services for rural communities, not only locally but also nationally.” Ms Zachar was recognised for her involvement in the CSU Student Dental Association and its work, in partnership with the Carevan Foundation, to promote oral hygiene instruction to primary school children in regional and rural communities of New South Wales. “There is still a huge gap in the oral health education in our society,” she said. “Statistics show that by the age of six, 50 per cent of children will have tooth decay. This is quite alarming for a developed country and it is evident that the importance of oral health is undervalued and urgently needs to be addressed.” The first group of Bachelor of Dental Science students will graduate from CSU in Orange in December.  

Third year apprentice chef at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Mr Garrick Pahl was highly commended at the annual Group Training Employment Specialists (GTES) Apprentice and Trainee Awards held in Wagga Wagga on Friday 23  August.  Mr Pahl, a Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) student, was nominated for the 2013 GTES Apprentice and Trainee Awards by his supervisor at CSU. As a finalist in the category of Third Year Apprentice of the Year, Mr Pahl was Highly Commended. CSU is currently a host employer for four trainee staff through GTES. Team Leader of Food and Beverage Services at CSU, Mr Toby Perry said, “This apprenticeship and traineeship scheme is an excellent introduction into the hospitality industry for young local people. Mr Pahl has now finished his apprenticeship and has stayed on with Charles Sturt University in a contract role. Quite a few trainees have been successful in gaining full time positions with the University on the completion of their training.”

TAFE students curious about further study at university will find out what’s involved at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 3 September. The CU@CSU event is an opportunity for prospective students to find out about CSU entry pathways, support services and scholarships. CSU Marketing Officer for Partnerships, Ms Amanda Tarbit, said more than 30 per cent of CSU’s new commencing students are admitted on the basis of previous TAFE qualifications. “We understand the challenges students face in moving from TAFE to university study, we highly value TAFE qualifications, and the fact we offer scholarships of $2 500 demonstrates our commitment to this particular cohort of students.” CSU has a large range of credit arrangements with the TAFE NSW Riverina Institute and offers guaranteed entry into many undergraduate courses for students who have completed a TAFE Diploma or Advanced Diploma. Read more here.