The work of a Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff member to provide high quality accommodation for CSU students has been recognised by the Australasian Association of College and University Housing Officers (AACUHO), the national body for University accommodation professionals. Mr James Kelly, from the CSU Division of Student Services, won the Fran O’Brien Award at the Association’s conference in the National Museum, Canberra in April. Overseeing accommodation for about 1 200 CSU students, Mr Kelly is the Manager of Residential Operations on the University’s Bathurst, Dubbo and Orange campuses. The award recognises and encourages outstanding newcomers to student housing and includes financial support for Mr Kelly to attend the 2009 conference. Mr Kelly joined the University in 2004. “Through his dedication and enthusiasm, James has made a valuable contribution to the development of the residential community at CSU,” said Executive Director of CSU Division of Student Services, Mr Andrew Callander. “James has been able to enhance the community support focus of the residential operations.”

Award-winning poet, Ms Petra White returns to the Albury-Wodonga and Riverina regions in May for public poetry readings and workshops hosted by the Booranga Writers’ Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Her first poetry collection, The Incoming Tide, published by John Leonard Press in 2007 , was short listed for Arts Queensland's Judith Wright Calanthe Prize for Poetry. In 2003, Ms White was joint winner of the Patricia Hackett Prize for her poem 'Grave' and her poems were published in The Best Australian Poems series in 2003 and 2006. “Petra's work was very well received when she came to Wagga Wagga with the Poets-On-Wheels tour last year. This time, as well as reading her poetry, Petra will be running workshops for poets and mentoring a local poet.  Poets of all ages and backgrounds will be able to further develop their writing skills and read their poems in front of an audience,” said the Booranga Writers’ Centre’s Mr David Gilbey. Ms White will read her poetry at the Albury City Library on Thursday 8 May at 5.30pm and at an open mike event at the Wagga Wagga City Library on Monday 12 May at 6.30pm. She will lead poetry writing workshops at Booranga Writers Centre, Wagga Wagga on Saturday 10 May and in Griffith on Sunday 11 May. Ms White is hosted by Booranga Writers’ Centre and her visit is jointly funded by CSU and Arts NSW.

A scientist whose ground breaking research pioneered understanding about drought responses in plants will this week visit the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, a research alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) at Wagga Wagga. On Monday 5 May, Professor John Boyer will share his expertise with researchers at the Centre who are focused on improving agricultural production and environmental conservation through science based research. Professor Boyer's work on maize's tolerance of low rainfall allowed plant breeders to develop improved varieties which remain productive in drought conditions. His research also allowed an extension to the area where the plant can be grown across the world. Professor Boyer hails from the University of Delaware in the United States where he is a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 

The work of five Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics has been recognized by their inclusion in the latest Who’s Who of Australian Women, the book which honours inspirational women from all walks of life. Among the new entries in the 2008 edition are Strategic Research Professor in Professional Practice, Joy Higgs AM, Professor of Social Work and Human Services Margaret Alston, the Head of the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences and chair of the CSU Human Research Ethic Committee, Associate Professor Lyndall Angel, senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education, Ms Tracey Simpson and Associate Dean of Policing and International in the Faculty of Arts, Associate Professor Tracey Green. Published by Crown Content Pty Ltd, the third edition has the theme of Leadership & Beyond and profiles over 6 200 eminent but diverse women, ranging from 104 year old Linda Vipont, OAM to NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir, AC, who is mentioned throughout the publication as an inspiration to many. Launched in 2006, the publication is a celebration and acknowledgment of women and redefined the boundaries of success.

The importance of research into a major Australian agricultural and environmental weed - serrated tussock - has been acknowledged with a national scholarship awarded to Charles Sturt University (CSU) student, Ms Sonia Graham. The PhD student is one of two university students in Australia to be awarded the three year, $15 000 AW Howard Memorial Research Fellowship. Presented to the Canberra-based Ms Graham by AW Howard Memorial Trust chairman, Professor Rob Lewis, the fellowship will be used to assist with her research. Serrated tussock has spread across farming lands making large areas of NSW and Victoria unproductive. Ms Graham’s study looks at the ways farmers and State and local governments work together to control the weed. The AW Howard Memorial Research Fellowship commemorates the unique contribution of the late South Australian farmer, Mr Amos Howard, in the use of subterranean clover as a major pasture plant in Australia. 

Outstanding academic performance by Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate Mr David Waters for his research into the world’s tallest flowering plant, the Mountain Ash, has seen him receive the highly prized Charles Sturt University Medal. Mr Waters, from the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Wagga Wagga, was presented the medal while receiving his first class honours in his Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Horticulture). The medal allows CSU to give special recognition each year to graduates whose academic performances are “superlative”. Mr Waters’ research involved an anatomical examination of the epicormic structure of the Mountain Ash or Eucalyptus regnans. The species regenerates by seed after high intensity fire, in the mountainous regions of Victoria and Tasmania. Previously, there have been suggestions that its poor re-sprouting ability was due to a lack of epicormic buds that have been found in other eucalypts. However, the research proved conclusively that the species has an epicormic structure typical of other eucalypts. “David has provided a unique perspective on why Mountain Ash can resprout in some circumstances but not others,” said CSU senior lecturer and research supervisor, Dr Geoff Burrows.

As part of its commitment to creating a sustainable future, Charles Sturt University (CSU) will open up its ‘Closed-Loop Organic Recycling System’ for public inspection in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 6 May. The open day coincides with ‘International Composting Awareness Week’. Servicing 4 000 staff and students and maintaining 88 hectares of campus grounds, the system collects and processes organic materials from University facilities such as ovals, lawns, horse stalls, the Winery, catering, the CSU farm and offices. CSU’s Division of Facilities Management has worked with the Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) to tackle issues of continual green waste management. “We’ve enabled CSU to become an example of best practice for managing organic waste,” said CSU’s Mr Will Pollack. “The program currently saves around 200 tonnes of waste going into landfill and this figure is continually growing as the program expands.”

‘Get tussock before tussock gets you’ is the topic of a free information session about the destructive weed. Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dr Aaron Simmons has been passionate about pest and weed control since beginning his PhD at the CSU’s Orange Campus in 2003. Now he and fellow associate Ms Linda Ayres, from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, will discuss with farmers the factors associated with successful serrated tussock control. Serrated tussock is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia’s agricultural areas. Because of its invasiveness, it spreads potential economic and environmental impacts costing Australia more than $55 million a year. The information session will be held from 8am to 10am on Tuesday 29 April in the hall at Euchareena, north of Orange. A free breakfast is available. RSVPs are essential. Contact Dr Aaron Simmons on 6365 7630 or send an email.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) theatrical collaboration with an acclaimed international playwright and director has resulted in double success for the University Theatre Ensemble (UTE) at the prestigious Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Awards. Distinguished Russian director, Mr Leonid Verzub was named Best Director of a Play for his production of Stars in the Morning Sky, which ran at the Riverina Playhouse in Wagga Wagga in March 2007. Mr Verzub, who was awarded the title of Honoured Artist of Russia and Theatre Director of the Highest Category in 1979, was invited to CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus by a former student Dr Ashley Wain, who is now a lecturer in acting in the CSU School of Visual and Performing Arts. Ms Liz Jenkinson, a CSU Design for Theatre and Television third year student who worked closely with Mr Verzub, was awarded Best Set Designer (Play).