Students from Melrose Primary School in Wodonga think the city is a fun, safe place with friendly caring people. To reflect this attitude a number of students from Year 5/6 are painting a mural. The students will take half a day on Thursday 14 May to complete the mural in the grounds of Melrose Primary, as part of a collaborative project between Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Murray School of Education, Wodonga City Council and Wodonga early childhood services, primary and high schools. The mural designed is based on discussions held by the students over the past three weeks, based on the theme 'Wodonga: a child-friendly city'. Project coordinator Professor Sue Dockett said this project “encourages children to focus on their community, what they value and expect and the ways in which they engage with the community”.

Is it possible to exercise to improve thinking skills? This is being investigated by researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU). “The high school jock stereotype is not usually associated with great intelligence, but maybe they are smarter than if they didn’t exercise,” explained Dr Matthew Thomas from the School of Social Science and Liberal Studies at CSU at Bathurst. “We know there are benefits in aspects of mental processing from a short bout of exercise and also for people who exercise over several months. What we want to test in this study is whether there is an effect on the mental performance of healthy young and middle-age adults with just four weeks of exercise.” Residents of Coffs Harbour and Bellingen in northern NSW are being invited to participate in this new study. “We’re looking for people who don’t usually exercise. Couch potatoes if you like,” said Dr Thomas. Assessments of participants’ mental processing will be conducted by local resident, Ms Jenny Grant, as part of her Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology). “It’s like having your brain fitness tested,” said Ms Grant.

It’s hoped a trip to the Philippines will contribute knowledge towards research currently underway into plant breeding for disease resistance. E H Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation research student Mr Ray Cowley will travel to the major rice producing country this Saturday 16 May to participate in a three-week workshop into the practical aspects of plant breeding at the headquarters of the International Rice Research Institute. “The challenges faced by plant breeders are common across many agricultural crops and I’m hoping to learn the practical aspects of plant breeding and genetics and how they manage the breeding and plant selection process in rice,” Mr Cowley said. “Despite focusing on lupins, the research addresses universal problems relating to breeding crops which are disease resistant.” He said the outcome of this type of research can mean the development of better plant varieties which leads to improved crop yields, which in turn improves the livelihood of farmers, not only in Australia but overseas.

Residents around Albury-Wodonga with peripheral vascular disease – a common complication of diabetes - are sought to assess an early detection system being developed by Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers. With diabetes now the most likely chronic disease to affect people over 50 years old, for the past 10 years Dr Herbert Jelinek and his team have been studying new and more accessible methods for detecting diabetes in patients in regional Australia. “Peripheral vascular disease constricts blood flow in the extremities of our bodies, particularly feet,” said Dr Jelinek.”We are assessing the use of a simple, hand held instrument to measure blood flow into feet and so detect this condition before nasty complications, such as infections and gangrene, can develop.” The study is being conducted through the Diabetes Complications Research Initiative at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. People already affected by peripheral vascular disease and who would like to take part in the study should contact Ms Bev de Jong on 02 6051 6858.  

On International Nurses Day on Tuesday 12 May, lecturers and students at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Nursing and Midwifery at Dubbo have marked the contribution nurses make to the community. “Nursing is an increasingly important profession which plays a vital role in the health care of individuals and communities,” said Head of School, Professor Elaine Duffy. “On International Nurses Day, I am proud to say that CSU, as the University of inland Australia, plays a major role educating nurses who can work in rural regions throughout the nation or anywhere in the world.” Ms Lyn Croxon, lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Dubbo, said the Bachelor of Nursing course has been running at CSU at Dubbo for nearly ten years and students undertake their clinical placements in a variety of rural and metropolitan settings. “Each year graduates commence work in regional hospitals to boost the nursing workforce in country areas,” said Ms Croxon. “The first year nursing students are about to embark on their first clinical placement in rural community health settings.”

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.