The CSU Media team wishes you a safe and Merry Christmas. We look forward to working with you in the New Year.

One of the special moments during graduation season at Charles Sturt University (CSU) took place when CSU academic, Dr Colin Boylan presented his daughter to the Chancellor Mr Lawrence Willett AO on Tuesday 13 December. A senior lecturer with the School of Education at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Dr Boylan was clearly delighted when he announced his daughter, Amy as she was awarded her double degree, a Bachelor of Exercise Science/ Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) by Mr Willett in Joyes Hall. After four years of study at CSU in Bathurst, Ms Amy Boylan will take up a new position as Student Support Officer at Junee High School in 2012.   Ms Boylan from Coolamon was one of 200 graduates from the Faculty of Education to attend two ceremonies on Tuesday 13 December. “After being at Charles Sturt University for four years, the graduation ceremony was such an exciting event. I realised that I had done it and passed. It was such a surprise to have my Dad present me to the Chancellor, but it was a very special moment and it is definitely a graduation ceremony I'll never forget," said Ms Boylan. Dr Boylan said, “It was a tremendous privilege to present Amy to the Chancellor. I will always remember the special day".

A new lavender variety took pride of place for the first time during graduation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. Developed in the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, the plant was available for sale to graduates and their guests as a memento of the occasion from Monday 12 December to Wednesday 14 December. Proceeds will go towards the support of research students at CSU. The variety, ‘Riverina James’ is an ornamental and hybrid of Lavandula dentata (French lavender).  Lavender breeder and lecturer in animal genetics and gene technologies, Dr Nigel Urwin said, “The plants were produced for us by Plant Growers Australia (PGA) with a special label for Charles Sturt University. The lavender is one of several bred at Charles Sturt University, which are improved in oil yield and quality. Following sales at graduation, we plan to sell other varieties in 2012.” Riverina James can be obtained locally from nurseries and is produced by PGA. Other varieties in the Riverina series can be obtained from Larkman Nurseries in Melbourne. Read more about graduation here.

It was an early start for two students from Condobolin High School who were special guests at a graduation ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 13 December. School captains for 2012 Ms Ebony Davis and Mr Jordon Hall were part of the official academic procession during the ceremony involving graduates from the University’s Faculty of Education. The students, accompanied by their year advisor Ms Katrina Thompson, left Condobolin at 5am in time to lead the academic procession into the University’s Joyes Hall followed by the Chancellor Mr Lawrence Willett AO, CSU academics and other official guests. Condobolin High School was the only school represented during the graduation ceremonies at CSU in Wagga Wagga from Monday 12 December to Wednesday 14 December. Read more about graduation on CSU News here.

Cleaning out his art studio seven years ago provided the inspiration for Dr Denis O’Connor to begin his PhD titled Chances Taken. Opportunity, repercussion, interpretation: Portraits in time and place.  Dr O’Connor has completed his Doctor of Philosophy through the School of Communication and Creative Industries at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga.  "My thesis, which incorporates drawings, also critically examines the early days of the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, specifically the contribution the city has made to the evolution of studio art glass in Australia through the establishment of the National Art Glass Collection,” Dr O'Connor said. "It's also a reflection of my own personal story and journey as an artist.” Dr O’Connor was awarded his PhD by Chancellor Mr Lawrence Willett AO in a ceremony on Monday 12 December. A passion for art history runs in the family, with Dr O’Connor’s daughter, Ms Sophie O’Connor awarded a Bachelor of Arts during the same ceremony.

The value of information resources to social service agencies and communities will be explored in a public lecture hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 14 December.  Associate Professor Lynn Westbrook, from the University of Texas in the United States, has researched information issues surrounding domestic violence and how community agencies work with people in crisis. Professor Westbrook is spending three weeks with the School of Information Studies at CSU. She said information can be a powerful tool if it’s recognised, managed and shared amongst those who need it.  “Information is too important to leave in the hands of a few commercially driven companies,” said Professor Westbrook. “Our communities need useful information tools designed to meet people’s specific needs, especially for use in our social service agencies.”

A young veterinarian who is soon to graduate from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga has found her niche in a practice in rural Victoria. Originally from a mixed farm near Geelong, Dr Stephanie Bullen will be awarded a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Honours Class 1 at a ceremony on Wednesday 14 December. Since taking her professional oath in August, Dr Bullen has been working as an Associate Veterinarian at Maffra Sale Veterinary Centres in Gippsland. “I love working with dairy cows and spending my days out on the road driving through some of Australia’s most picturesque countryside,” she said. “I’ve become not just a member of my practice but the community as a whole, which is very rewarding.”  The ceremony is the culmination of six years of study for the 37 students who will graduate from the veterinary science program at CSU in Wagga Wagga next week.  

The full range of the visual arts at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will be on display as almost 50 local high school students spend four days at CSU in Wagga Wagga next week. Following its postponement in 2010 due to the floods, the Visual Arts Camp at CSU will be held from Monday 5 to Thursday 8 December with 49 teenagers from Years 8 to 11 staying in University student accommodation during the week. Supported by CSU’s School of Communication and Creative Industries and NSW Department of Education and Communities, the camp has attracted teenagers from schools in Albury, Colleambally, Corowa, Deniliquin, Finley, Tumut, Temora, Oaklands and Urana. The camp’s activities include workshops by CSU academics and visual arts practitioners on jewellery, television production, drawing, painting, photography, costume design and animation. There will be an excursion to the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery and also a HSC information session for the senior students. An exhibition of the artwork developed during the camp will be held from 12.30pm on Thursday 8 December. Acting Head of the School of Communication and Creative Students at CSU, Associate Professor Frank Molloy said, “This camp has been almost two years in the planning and is a wonderful opportunity for regional school students to experience the visual arts and life at university.”

More than 540 school leavers who successfully applied for courses at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga through the Principal’s Report Entry Program (PREP) will be acknowledged during a morning tea ceremony on Wednesday 7 December. Coordinator of the early entry PREP scheme, Mr Matthew Evans said the scheme has grown in size and prestige in recent years with Charles Sturt University offering more than 1 360 students a place through PREP in 2011. “We received almost 2 000 applications for the PREP scheme this year and the standard of the applications continues to increase, meaning we can offer degree entry to the best students early and the successful applicants can start preparing for their university education. PREP is an early entry scheme designed to attract academically talented students from high schools and TAFE in non metropolitan areas in NSW, ACT and Victoria.” This is the first year CSU has formally celebrated the PREP offers with a morning tea ceremony.