Three students from All Saints College in Bathurst have taken out the local prize in the 2013 Game On competition for Year 10 and 11 students enrolled in commerce, economics, legal studies and other related subjects in central NSW. Three All Saints students - James Keech, Alex Mitton and Juan Kritzinger - built and operated their own ‘virtual’ business, titled ‘AJJG Smart Tech’, in a computer simulated market and competition hosted by CSU’s Faculty of Business. Local Game On coordinator and Head of School of Management and Marketing Associate Professor Mark Frost said, “The exercise aims to help students develop skills in finance, human resource management, marketing and operations that are relevant to the real world. The game complements the Stage 6 NSW Business Studies curriculum.” The simulation ran from May until September 2013 with eight rounds of competition between over 550 students from 23 NSW high schools from Port Macquarie to Albury, including 24 teams in the central west. It enables students to learn through hands-on experience and encourages students to apply these key business principles to their own ‘virtual’ business.

Students living on campus at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will present $6 500 to the Wagga Wagga and Region Suicide Prevention Network following the students’ fund-raising efforts in 2013.  Manager of the University’s Residence Life Mr Peter Bell said, “The money was raised during events organised by Residential Advisors (RA). The students living on campus would donate a gold coin to attend the activities. Given the financial pressures on university students, the donation is a generous one to a very worthy local charity.”  On Thursday 31 October at 10.30am, the RAs and Wagga Wagga Head of Campus, Ms Miriam Dayhew will present a cheque valued at $6 500 to Wagga Wagga and Region Suicide Prevention Network member Mr Daniel Hayes. “This generous donation will help us to continue promoting what people can do to help themselves and each other in times of need,” said Mr Hayes. “We will also be able to further train community members in being able to help others and look a new way to provide local solutions.” Read more about the Wagga Wagga and Region Suicide Prevention Network and where to get help here.

Advances in medical imaging to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer will be discussed when two internationally acclaimed radiologists meet with medical specialists on the Mid North Coast. Hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Healthcare Imaging Services, the education session in Port Macquarie on Thursday 31 October, will provide local GPs and specialists with the opportunity to learn from two of the world’s most highly respected radiologists, Professors Barry and Marilyn Siegel. “It is the regional referrers and subsequently the patients of the Mid North Coast who will benefit most from the visit of such esteemed Professors in their diagnostic imaging field,” said Healthcare Imaging Services National Business Development Manager - Nuclear Medicine and PET, Mr Matt Ayers. The radiologists are Australia as invited guest speakers at the annual Integrative Imaging Symposium  in Sydney on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November. In its 10th year, the conference for nuclear medicine and radiology professionals is organised in partnership between CSU, Macquarie University and the Rural Alliance in Nuclear Scintigraphy. Symposium convener and Associate Professor in Medical Radiation Science at CSU, Geoff Currie said, “Despite being located in Sydney, the conference is aimed at rural and regional communities so we ensure we engage with our local community in Port Macquarie to support the great partnerships we have with radiology and nuclear medicine departments”. From 2013, Mid North Coast students have been able to study a Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science locally, at CSU in Port Macquarie. Professors Marilyn and Barry Siegal will address an evening clinical seminar for local health in Port Macquarie on Thursday 31 October. 

The body of works of final year jewellery students will be on public display in a new exhibition at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. The exhibition titled, Meraki: To put yourself into your work with soul, creativity and love will be held at the HR Gallop Gallery at the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga. It will feature the art of three Bachelor of Arts (Jewellery) students and one Bachelor of Arts (Visual and Performing Arts) (Honours) student. The students are due to graduate during a ceremony in December. “This exhibition is significant for students, as it demonstrates their knowledge and understanding of how jewellery can be used as a powerful tool for creating visual narratives that address social, cultural and political issues and how, once worn, these messages can be disseminated more widely beyond the Gallery walls,” said jewellery lecturer Ms Sabine Pagan. The exhibition will be opened from 6pm on Friday 1 November by Arts and Design Curator at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Ms Eva Czernis-Ryl. The Gallery is also hosting an international touring exhibition of contemporary narrative jewellery, Transplantation: A sense of place and culture. Both exhibitions run from Thursday 31 October to Friday 22 November.  

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery will launch a new-look series of labels for its Charles Sturt and Reserve ranges at CSU in Orange on Wednesday 30 October. CSU Winery Marketing Manager Mr Justin Byrne said the new labels reflect the University’s history and spirit of exploration. “The labels feature the rivers of regional NSW, the Macquarie, the Murray, the Murrumbidgee and the Darling,” he said. “It was the explorer, Charles Sturt who first traced the Murray and the Murrumbidgee, and those journeys are also represented on the labels.” Mr Byrne said. Charles Sturt University Winery had been making wine, and winemakers, for more than 35 years. “We own and operate two vineyards, growing warm climate varieties in Wagga Wagga and cool climate varieties in Orange, and also work with growers in other regions. We have two production facilities in Wagga Wagga; a commercial winery producing our three product ranges and an experimental winery producing our student wines.” CSU staff and local business people will attend the launch event and the new labels will be on shelves throughout NSW and Victoria in the coming months. Read more on CSU News here.

Researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are seeking male smokers aged 18 to 50 years in the NSW central west to participate in two smoking and exercise studies. The first study consists of four sessions involving smoking or exercise conditions; the second study involves a 14-week exercise training and smoking reduction program. Ms Tegan Kastelein, a PhD student from the School of Human Movement Studies CSU in Bathurst said, “The purpose of the research is firstly to examine the cerebro-vascular and inflammatory responses to both cigarette smoking and exercise, and secondly, to examine the effects of a 14-week exercise training and smoking reduction program on disease risk in a smoker population. It is anticipated that the research findings will enhance our current understanding of the effects of tobacco smoke, the role of exercise in reducing disease risk, and provide the community with alternative methods for smoking reduction and/or cessation.” To find out more about the research and exercise program, please contact Ms Kastelein on (02) 6338 6101 or send an email to: tkastelein@csu.edu.au.

The planning and design phase of the new campus for Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie has opened for student input. Last week, students, and some staff, took part in workshops run by the architects in charge of the final look and feel of the new campus, which is due for completion at the end of 2015.The workshops and feedback give students ownership of the campus and provide a sense of belonging to the CSU community, Port Macquarie Campus Director Dr Muyesser Durur said. “Student input and contribution to the development of the learning and teaching environment, and the overall campus, is an important element in the creation of Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie. We have an opportunity to further engage with our students,” Dr Durur said. The workshop highlighted several priorities for students, including, collaborative spaces, outdoor spaces, places for quiet study, sustainable construction and management, and coffee shop, bar and student facilities. There are currently more than 200 students studying eight courses at CSU in Port Macquarie. Student numbers are expected to grow to about 700 by 2015 with more courses to be added. Read more about the new campus on CSU News here.

As the weather warms up, what better way is there to wind down than with live music at sunset amongst the greenery of the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens?  On Friday 1 November, Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council will co-host the Music under the leaves recital by members of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. RCM concert administrator, Ms Catherine Holland, said the program will showcase three of the Conservatorium’s vocalists singing a range of jazz and contemporary songs. “Classical guitarist Mr Jeff Donovan will take the audience on a musical tour of Latin America with solo guitar pieces from Argentina, Columbia and Brazil,” she said. The program will also feature Clarinessence and jazz ensemble, Meredith & The ConMen. Refreshments will be served following the recital.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) employee is hoping the local community will give generously to research to prevent bowel cancer as he and his brother prepare to tackle a 100 kilometre marathon. Mitchell Bowen from the University’s Division of Finance and his brother Brent plan to complete the Hume and Hovell Ultra Marathon Run on Saturday 19 October. In doing so, they will be raising money for the Cancer and Bowel Research Trust. They have set themselves a fundraising target of $1 000. The siblings from Wagga Wagga recently finished their first marathon, successfully undertaking the 42 kilometre Glenbrook Trail Marathon in the NSW Blue Mountains.  The brothers will start the marathon at the Henry Angel Trackhead, just south of Tumbarumba, and finish at the Blowering Dam Power Station near Tumut. Their support crew includes volunteers with the NSW State Emergency Service.You can follow their progress on Facebook here or support the brothers by donating here.