Charles Sturt University (CSU) wines were praised at a recent luncheon hosted by the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Club Wine & Food Society. CSU winemaker Mr Andrew Drumm was invited to match a selection of CSU wines with food at the monthly dinner and to speak about the characteristics of the wines. The sold out event held on Wednesday 24 February catered for over 170 people and Mr Drumm said it was a great opportunity to showcase CSU wines to an appreciative audience of wine lovers. “The diners were particularly interested in The College Muscat which we served with dessert and this prompted a wide-ranging discussion about which state produces the best port.”

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.

An annual prize to highlight a Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate’s commitment to social justice will be donated to The Edel Quinn Shelter, a homeless support service for men in Wagga Wagga. Bachelor of Social Work graduate Mrs Michelle Knight from Wagga Wagga has been awarded the Lila Kirilik Memorial Social Justice Award  for her project, SHINE - Squalor and Hoarding Integrated Networking Enterprise, adirectory of services and their contacts in Wagga Wagga that can  help during cases of squalor  or hoarding. The project was compiled while Mrs Knight was doing her workplace learning in 2008 at The Forrest Centre, a service for the aged and disabled people in Wagga Wagga. Mrs Knight said, “I am donating the $500 prize to the Edel Quinn Shelter because of the organisation’s help in putting together the network”. The Lila Kirilik Social Action Award was established by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Wagga Wagga in 2004 in honour of the late Ms Lila Kirilik, a senior lecturer in social welfare at CSU.

The effective management of diabetes, one of Australia’s major health problems, will come through input from a range of health professionals, not just a general practitioner (GP), says Professor of Rural and Remote Pharmacy Patrick Ball of Charles Sturt University (CSU). In response to the Federal Government’s plan to keep the growing number of diabetics out of hospital, Professor Ball said one-on-one professional input from diabetes educators, dietitians, pharmacists, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists are needed to tackle the health problem. “While additional resources are welcome, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s plan seems to lack a clear appreciation of how the outcomes will best be delivered, particularly in inland Australia,” Professor Ball said. “While the GP must always be kept in the information loop, routing all the resources through already over-worked general practices is unlikely to be the best way to achieve the outcomes for which the government is aiming.” Professor Ball believes the successful control of Type 2 Diabetes requires that the diabetic takes their prescribed treatment but successful management also requires a change of diet and lifestyle.  “This has to come from the person, the family and the community.  How can one person change their diet if the rest of their household will not?  How can people walk more if we don’t have safe streets and pavements?” questioned Professor Ball.