Artist and Charles Sturt University (CSU) post graduate masters student Ann-Maree Turner provides an insight into her own essence and spirit and encourages others to explore their own personal boundaries and space in her first solo show in the Riverina. The exhibition, titled  Transpersonal Unity Consciousness and on display in CSU’s HR Gallop Gallery, is more than just paintings on canvas and linen. Turner delved deep into the landscape of her own mind using the philosophies of Carl G Jung to create what she describes as “absolute truth from art”. Her series of work Dogs on Boards represents fears, persona and projections. Archetypes for Wendy and Space Painting no 3 are two digital art pieces. Her work Boundaries Fences and… is also displayed at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus library. Transpersonal Unity Consciousness runs until 23 March.

India is the new booming economy – surpassing even China in recent economic growth. It is an amazing success story that is much more evident in the cities than the countryside according to Kirsty Hommel, a recent Charles Sturt University (CSU) social science graduate who spent her practicum in rural southern India developing skills she had learnt at CSU. “The area I lived in was very untouched by western influences. The village I was based in was without a road.  Many people in this area live without running water or electricity - they use local wells and designated trees for toilets.” Kirsty says the Healthy Districts program aims “to increase the overall standards of health in the community through addressing poverty.  We used community development to assist the community to generate income. I really enjoyed being there. Even after I met my practicum requirements, I chose to stay another month. I felt very immersed in the community and the culture there.”

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) reputation for training professionals for inland Australia is attracting some of the nation’s most prestigious employers. In coming weeks, graduate recruitment sessions at the University’s Waaga Wagga Campus will see organisations, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA), Commonwealth Bank, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Westpac Banking Corporation, ComSuper, Smart Teachers and Select Education, outline employment opportunities for 2008 to final year CSU students. CSU Manager for Student Access and Work, Paul Worsfold says interest among graduate employers is high and to facilitate this, the University’s Careers Service has introduced an employer “portal” on its CareerHub website.  Graduate employers can now post jobs and employment information onto a database accessible to all CSU students.   

Continuing the Charles Sturt University ( CSU ) tradition of bringing plays by renowned Russian playwrights to audiences of the NSW Riverina, Stars In The Morning Sky is the first University Theatre Ensemble production for 2007. Directed by Russian, Leonid Verzub, Stars in the Morning Sky, traces part of the lives of four feisty Russian prostitutes, banished from Moscow during the 1980 Olympics, who find themselves in a derelict asylum. In 1979 Verzub was awarded the title of Honoured Artist of Russia and Theatre Director of the Highest Category. He was invited to Wagga by former student Dr Ashley Wain who is now an acting lecturer with CSU ’s School of Visual and Performing Arts. Dr Wain says it’s a rare opportunity for the Wagga theatre community “to see a fantastic play brought to life by such a brilliant director”. Stars In The Morning Sky plays at the Riverina Playhouse from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 March, Thursdays to Saturdays, at 8pm, with a matinee performance on 31 March at 2pm. Tickets can be booked at the Civic Theatre Booking Office or are available at the door.

Do you consider your health when making decisions about your diet? Do your children or other family members influence how you shop and prepare meals? Women aged eighteen and over are invited to take part in an international research study looking at these issues. Barbara Parker, a PhD student at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus, is researching women's perceptions of 'healthy' and 'risky' eating in the Riverina region of NSW and in Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Women can contribute to this research by participating in a one hour interview with Ms Parker, who is available on (02) 6933 2563. The study aims to explore how women living in rural and regional communities understand, experience and make decisions about their food choices.

Imagine looking at a typical wall of wines in a shop. There might be 15 varieties, one hundred different brands and infinite taste variations. For the wine connoisseur this may be appealing, but it could be enough to deter the average wine consumer from purchasing any wine at all. Charles Sturt University (CSU) sensory scientist Anthony Saliba from the School of Food and Wine Science will give the first public lecture for 2007 about logical approaches to selecting an enjoyable wine at the Temora Town Hall on Wednesday 21 March. Dr Saliba works with wine consumers to determine their tastes and then takes those preferences to winemakers so they can create wines that truly appeal to buyers, thus encouraging the wine industry to become more customer focused.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is encouraging students to ‘internationalise’ their CSU degrees through overseas scholarships and student exchange programs. Nuala Grundy from the CSU Office of International Relations says international study gives students insights into other cultures and societies, helps them develop career skills, enhances their employment opportunities and helps them become more maturity, independent and confident. Global study opportunities and study grants will be on show to CSU and local high school students at the CSU International Fair to be held on Wednesday 21 March at the Rivcoll Union, Wagga Wagga Campus. Representatives from the North Dakota State University and the University of North Carolina will outline study opportunities in the US. Representatives from the Embassy of France and the US Educational Advising Centre will also be present.

No doubt it is a very nice accolade when a national newspaper describes your latest film as “shaping up as the year's top Australian comedy”. However, director and Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate Darren Ashton says, “Although we are really chuffed at the response, at the end of the day the most important thing is that people go and see it”. The idea for Razzle Dazzle grew out of a short story written by Darren’s partner, and fellow CSU graduate, Carolyn Wilson. Described as “a fly-on-the-wall look at the tears, tantrums and tiaras in the world of competitive dance eisteddfods”, it was filmed in the “mockumentary” style because, “The dance world is really heightened, and I wanted to balance that with being observational and understated,” said Darren, whose debut feature film was Thunderstruck. His next project is a wrestling film set in the 1970s.

New South Wales has eight incumbent Independent members of parliament – will that change after the State election on March 24? Charles Sturt University (CSU) politics lecturer Dr Troy Whitford predicts that the number of Independents has plateaued. “But they will always be a main feature of rural elections. Why? Because Independents aim at appealing to a rural and regional mindset called 'countrymindedness'", Dr Whitford explains. “It tends to emphasis the importance of rural Australia and that people in the country have a greater moral compass and a better work ethic than the city, and that politics is always city-centric. ‘Countrymindedness’ suggests rural people are the backbone to the economy, and they should be given special consideration. Old-fashioned ‘countrymindedness’ is apparent in the rhetoric of the Independents representing rural seats.” Dr Whitford predicts Labor will be returned, and says, “I will be very surprised if we see an increase in Independents. I think the Coalition will pick up a couple of seats, but Labor will hang on."