A community centre for almost 100 Charles Sturt University (CSU) students at Wagga Wagga will be  opened on Monday 18 May at St Martin’s College, a residential college operated by the Anglican Church. The Fairfax Centre at St Martin’s College will  provide a community centre for the College’s 98 students who are studying a range of degrees including pharmacy, education, veterinary science, science, radiography, oral health and television production. The Centre includes a common study and recreational space for students living in the college, a BBQ area, and staff office space. The new space has enabled the previous office and meeting space to return to its original role as a chapel for students. The construction of the Fairfax Centre was made possible by a generous distribution of funds from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation as well as from other donors including the Anglican Diocese of the Riverina and the Anglican Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn and CSU.

Vision Australia has named Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga as a recipient of its ‘Make A Difference Award’ for 2009 for its practical support for people in its community who are blind or have low vision. Now in its fourth year, the ‘Make a Difference Award’ recognises best practice for considering the needs of people who are blind or have low vision. “Charles Sturt University supports Vision Australia’s Talking Newspaper service by donating blank tapes and providing a XL series duplicator,” said Ms Kerry Strauch, from Vision Australia in Wagga Wagga. “Charles Sturt University staff are also volunteer narrators for the service. The University has made alterations to the on-campus accommodation to ensure it is suitable for blind or low vision students.” The alterations include the provision of tactile markings and adequate lighting. “The University is committed to supporting and encouraging students who are blind or have low vision to apply for courses and aspire to the careers of their choice,” said Ms Strauch.  

In one of his final official duties as Head of Campus, Professor David Green will host a scholarship ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 20 May. Ninety-one new and continuing students at CSU at Wagga Wagga are eligible to receive scholarships worth $287 000 through the Charles Sturt Foundation. Similar ceremonies will be held across the University involving a total of 220 students. With the support of the corporate and community sectors, the Charles Sturt Foundation assists students, many of whom would not be in a financial position to undertake their studies without this level of support. A number of new benefactors will be named during the ceremony at CSU at Wagga Wagga. The scholarship ceremony also provides an opportunity for the students to meet their scholarship donors. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, leadership and contribution to the community. Professor Green, who will be Master of Ceremonies, is due to retire from the University on Friday 29 May. Read more here.

The retiring Head of Campus at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga, Professor David Green, has been honoured by being named Wagga Mutual Credit Union’s inaugural Community Champion of the Month. The Board of Wagga Mutual Credit Union presented Professor Green with the honour after learning of his retirement from the University at the end of May. The Board honoured the CSU academic in May for his tireless contribution to the region and the links he has forged between CSU and Wagga Mutual. Professor Green and his family are planning to move to Queensland.

Outstanding Australian and international animated films will be on show this weekend as the sixth Australian International Animation Festival returns to Wagga Wagga. Over 120 animated films, selected from 2 000 world-wide, will feature during the three day festival. There will be sessions for for children, teenagers, international animation and a late night ‘bizarre’ screening Festival organiser and Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Mr Andrew Hagan describes the 2009 program as ‘awe inspiring and unforgettable’. “All of the films selected are exceptional; many have won international awards, some are the most hotly talked about in the global film circuit, and importantly each program is of international standard selected by expert curators.” A feature of the festival is the special children’s program of short animation films which have been carefully selected for appropriateness and entertainment value to appeal to children. “There’ll be premier international screenings and informative seminars, and a surprise screening or two to celebrate this very special art form,” said Mr Hagan.

Outstanding Australian alternative rock outfit Faker will be at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Thurgoona site on Friday 15 May in what has been billed as the biggest concert for Albury in 2009. CSU catering manager in Albury-Wodonga, Mr Tom Hogan said it is hoped the band will attract young people from all over Albury-Wodonga and surrounding districts to the campus off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive for the show, which also includes local Albury band Free Spirits. The support group, which includes students for CSU, will play a lunchtime gig outside the new Learning Commons building on the Thurgoona site at 12noon on Tuesday 12 May, in prepartion for the Faker concert.

The international response to the outbreak of the new virus known as influenza A (H1N1), formerly known as swine flu, reveals the tremendous advances that have been made in monitoring and diagnosis of these new strains of influenza in recent years. “It is very encouraging to see the co-ordinated response to the outbreak by the World Health Organisation and countries around the world, including Australia, to prevent the influenza A (H1N1) becoming a pandemic,” said Dr Heather Cavanagh, a specialist in infectious disease and senior lecturer with the School of Biomedical Sciences at Wagga Wagga. Dr Cavanagh noted that “until we know the exact number of people who have been infected we are unable to determine the exact risk of fatality.  People should not panic at the publicity over this outbreak but should use common sense in avoiding areas where there have been confirmed cases, practice high hygiene standards such as hand-washing and see medical attention if flu-like symptoms persist or appear particularly severe.  This virus is currently responding well to anti-viral drugs, however, there is a need to catch it in time to prevent fatalities.”   Dr Cavanagh says there is nothing unusual in influenza viruses crossing species. “But the concern with this outbreak is due to the unusual combination of species susceptible to it, the fact that it can be passed directly from person-to-person and the potential ability of the virus to further mutate as it passes around the world,”  said Dr Cavanagh.

An excess of supply, extreme weather patterns and increased international competition are some of the current challenges for the Australian wine industry. Professor Emeritus Robert White from the University of Melbourne will examine options that can help growers meet business opportunities facing the wine industry in a seminar on Wednesday 29 April at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) in Wagga Wagga. Professor White will explore what actions can be taken in the vineyard, with a focus on soil and water management. He is an internationally respected soil scientist with a keen interest in viticulture and the wine industry. The Australian launch of Professor White’s latest book Understanding Vineyard Soils, published by Oxford University Press, will follow the seminar. The NWGIC combines research, extension, education and training for the wine industry and is an alliance of CSU, NSW Department of Primary Industries and NSW Wine Industry Association.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) graduation season in Wagga Wagga will kick off with the annual Town and Gown Academic Procession along the city’s main street on Tuesday 31 March. In a spectacle of colour and movement featuring academic regalia, the parade involves CSU graduating students, academic and general staff of CSU, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute and the University of NSW Rural Clinical School, and Wagga Wagga City Councillors. Wiradjuri Elder Mrs Isobel Reid will lead the procession. Mrs Reid will be accompanied by her 11 year old grand-daughter Madison Fisher, who will carry the CSU Message Stick for her grandmother.  They will be followed by the Esquire Bedell, Dr Henry Gardiner, carrying the University Mace, the CSU Chancellor Mr Lawrie Willett, AO, and Wagga Wagga Mayor Councillor Kerry Pascoe. The Riverina Concert Band will escort the procession which commences at 4pm at the corner of Morgan and Baylis Streets and ends outside the Civic Theatre. The CSU Chancellor and the Mayor will host a reception from 4.30pm. Over 2 000 students will graduate from CSU during six ceremonies in Wagga Wagga from Wednesday 1 April to Friday 3 April.