A group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will host a Mini Relay For Life at the University on Saturday 26 May to raise awareness and funds for the Cancer Council, and they invite the Bathurst community to join in. The students, Ms Jenna Campbell, Ms Sarah Dowling, Mr Jerrod Alexander and Ms Ella Dumbrell, have organised the event with the support of the Cancer Council to raise money for cancer research, support and education programs. Ms Campbell said, “Relay For Life is a fun, outdoor fundraising event where teams of 10-15 people take turns to walk or run around an oval to honour the lives of people touched by cancer. Teams are encouraged to theme their outfits and tents and do something about cancer in their community in a simple and social way. It’s a great team-building fun event!” The CSU Mini Relay For Life will be staged at the CSU soccer field from 4pm-10pm Saturday 26 May. For more information, contact Ms Jenna Campbell on 0430 490 865.

Third-year theatre/media students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will stage their production of a new play, Reductio Ad, which premieres at the Ponton Theatre on Wednesday 23 May. Reductio Ad was written by award-winning screenwriter and playwright Mr Ray Harding, and is directed by Ms Kate Smith, both lecturers at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. Reductio Ad is a black comedy that tracks one day in the life of a dysfunctional family living in the year 2027 as the last survivors on Earth, or so they think. Ms Smith said, "This play explores our reliance on technology, celebrity, and religion to solve life's inexplicable mysteries in the face of annihilation. Ray Harding has created a landscape inhabited by a barely functioning family - Bazza, Beryl and their four adult children - who cling to their sanity as they seek refuge inside an abandoned detention centre as they seemingly ignore the harsh reality of their existence in a world destroyed by the impacts of climate change. This comic and at times paradoxical portrait of Australian society in the face of massive global change is off-beat and deeply provocative.”

The Australian University Sports (AUS) association has conferred an award on a Charles Sturt University (CSU) student support officer at Bathurst in recognition of her dedication to advancing participation in university sports. Ms Jean Ryan received the Service to Sport Award from AUS Life Member, Ms Ann Mitchell, at a special dinner at the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach in Sydney on Thursday 17 May as part of the annual AUS conference. “I am surprised and delighted to receive this award, but the successes of Charles Sturt University sport is only achieved through the talent and enthusiasm of our students,” Ms Ryan said. The award citation states, ‘Jean has held numerous roles in the sports sector both within the University and the local community, and was the sole contributor to the organisation of CSU sport in Bathurst for at least 15 years.’

One of Australia’s largest banks Westpac will announce an agreement with Charles Sturt University (CSU) to produce regular agribusinesses reports for all Australia’s regions. CSU’s Western Research Institute will produce quarterly reports for Westpac on the health of farming and related businesses in all Australia’s States and territories, starting in 2007. This will be the first such report on each and all regions of the nation.The official announcement will be made during a Business and Community Reception to be hosted by CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter. The reception will start at 5pm on Thursday 7 December on the University’s Albury-Wodonga Campus at Thurgoona.

The Australian and Argentinian wine industries opened doors to closer collaboration when Charles Sturt University (CSU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Instituto Nacional de Vitiviniculture (INV) of Argentina last month. The MOU links the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC), based on CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus, and INV, which is responsible for coordinating and overseeing grape growing and winemaking in Argentina. The agreement was signed by CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter and INV President Lic. Raúl Guiñazú in Canberra. NWGIC director Professor Geoff Scollary said, “Our wine industries have a lot in common, so there is much we can learn from each other. We are also discussing collaborative programs in wine business, research and law as well as student and staff exchange programs. This will place NWGIC in an ideal position to collaborate on issues facing the world wine community”.

A fascinating look at community forest management in India will be the topic of conversation at a Charles Sturt University (CSU) Orange Campus public seminar next Tuesday 20 March. Matthew McNee is a PhD student studying a South American farming system that would have significant conservation and economic benefits if it could be adapted and managed in semi-arid and rain-limited environments. Prior to this he spent six months in India working for The Foundation for Ecological Security as part of an overseas work experience program with a Queensland university. “My role in India was to help develop the staff’s skills in environmental valuation so that the true value of forest resources could be determined for the needs of local village communities,” he explained. Matthew will speak about his discoveries and adventures as part of CSU’s weekly seminar program in Orange on Tuesday 20 March from 1pm to 2pm. For more information on the program contact Michael Kemp on 02 6365 7840.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Council last week inducted four new members. Ms Geraldine Kennett is currently enrolled at CSU in the Doctorate of Business Administration course. “I am originally from the country, so an inland University appeals to me. CSU is in a position to address some of the skills shortages and population and demographic issues in regional Australia.” Ms Kennett is the Membership Strategy Manager at the Australian Industry Group and an affiliate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The other new Council members are Dr Robert Macklin, an elected staff member from the Faculty of Commerce, Ms Heather Bell who is Acting Head of CSU’s Dubbo Campus, and primary education student Mr Mitchell Elks, who said 'as an undergraduate student living on campus, I want to have a voice, and being on the Council helps me do that. I also want to ensure that the best interests of CSU students are being considered in the University’s decisions.”

Early childhood education students from Europe have joined six other international students from as far as Canada, Ghana and Korea to commence their studies in the second academic session at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga. Ms Ines Suhonjic from Sweden and Ms Louise Nedergaard Rathleff from Denmark will study subjects from the University’s degree in early childhood and primary education for four months, using scholarships they won under a new European U Mobility project, which encourages the exchange of undergraduate students between three European and three Australian universities, including CSU. Both students said they always dreamed of coming to Australia, but could only afford it with the help of the scholarship. Ms Nedergaard Rathleff, from the Danish town of Hjorring, said she wanted to see regional Australia rather than the cities as she was more used to outgoing country people and having nature around her. The second academic session at CSU commenced on Monday 11 July and continues to Friday 28 October.

Australian insects and their relationship with eucalypt trees is part of Ms Anamika Sharma’s studies for her PhD in entomology at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange. Originally from a city in Rajasthan in India, Ms Sharma has always been fascinated with insects and their role in the environment. “I used to work at a forest institute so I have a vast knowledge of trees and insects but this is the first time I’ve worked with Eucalypts and Australian insects so I have a lot to learn.” Ms Sharma will work with academics at CSU and staff at the Orange Agricultural Institute to put together a proposal for her research. “It’s a matter of narrowing down my research to one or two specific species of insects and their relationship with one or two species of Eucalyptus. Then I hope to study their physiological, chemical and molecular interaction to help develop some resistant species of eucalypts.” Ms Sharma has left behind a close family including two elder brothers but is enjoying her time in Orange. “It’s a beautiful place.”