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."

More than 50 participants from universities around Australia and overseas are expected to attend The Future of Fatigue symposium hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst between Monday 22 and Wednesday 24 August. Conference chair and Associate Dean of Research for CSU’s Faculty of Education, Professor Frank Marino, said, “Fatigue is central to how ordinary people manage their daily activities, and to how athletes perform and recover in any sport, particularly the elite. This symposium will discuss the latest research and developments in the field, and will help to define research areas that could increase human capacity for exertion and how we recover from it. The University’s School of Human Movement Studies is at the forefront of this research. Following the success of the first symposium in 2009, the School has attracted the best speakers in the field and will generate research for years to come.” Presentations at the symposium will examine such issues as muscle wasting disorders, neurophysiology, older athletes, cycling, and decision making by athletes and umpires.

Black and white photography taken by Albury-based historian and photographer Associate Professor Dirk Spennemann from Charles Sturt University (CSU) highlights the splendour of architecture from the Art Deco period found throughout Albury. His exhibition, Light Lines – architecture for a modern age, is a key feature of an extensive Art Deco exhibition on show until Saturday 8 October in the Albury Library Museum, Kiewa Street, Albury, and Albury Regional Art Gallery in Dean Street. Professor Spennemann will speak about his exhibition, which re-frames details of Art Deco architecture in Albury and the region using mainly Art Deco-period cameras, at a public lecture starting at 1.30pm on Sunday 21 August at the Albury Library Museum. He is also a presenter at an Art Deco Talkfest to be held at the Albury Library Museum, between 1.30 and 4pm on Sunday 28 August. For more information about the exhibition and other activities, including bus tours and film nights, visit here.

In a bid to promote health and fitness, Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff will take part in the annual ‘Lake to Lagoon fun run and family cycle’ in Wagga Wagga on Sunday 11 September. Nearly 40 staff and their families will run, walk or cycle the 9.5 kilometres from Lake Albert to the Civic Centre at Wollundry Lagoon. The Occupational Health and Safety Committee for the University’s Wagga Wagga Campus is co-ordinating the CSU team for the event. Committee secretary, Ms Katie Richardson, said the event highlights the University’s commitment to health and safety while supporting the community. “It’s a great opportunity for staff and students to meet outside of work or study,” she said. “It also provides a chance to form networks within the Wagga community.”  CSU encourages staff and students to maintain a healthy lifestyle with gym and pool facilities, influenza vaccination programs and up-to-date health information and advice.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo is only weeks away from having new sports and recreational facilities. The $ 2.5 million project will boast a 400 square metre indoor area plus sports courts. “Charles Sturt University in Dubbo continues to expand with this construction,” says Head of Campus, Dr Beverley Moriarty. “The facility will not only contribute to the student experience Dubbo but will also enable us to hold larger functions and community events on campus.” CSU already boasts a networked library, clinical and nursing laboratories and an interactive learning centre which is an award-winning architectural achievement. Rawson Constructions began building the new facilities in March. The project is funded by CSU and the Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' Voluntary Student Unionism Transition Fund for Sporting and Recreation Facilities.  

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.

From bouncing balls to lava lamps, teenage sleep deprivation to what makes plants grow – 100 school students have put their scientific theories to the test at a competition held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. The Science Investigation Awards were held by the Primary Industries Centre for Science Education, in partnership with CSU, on Friday 16 September. The major prize, the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation’s Science Investigation Award, was won by Jasmine Garland, a Year 10 student from Mount Austin High School in Wagga Wagga, for her project looking at plant tolerance to acid, salt and grey water. The effect of different liquids on plants was also a topic explored by Year 6 students Tayla Fisher and Jack Langley from St Joseph’s Primary School in Narrandera. “Science is fun and I’ve learned a lot of things I didn’t know before,” said Jack. “We saw how white carnations turned different colours when we put them in coloured water.” Jack and Tayla won the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s Earth and Environment Award.

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.

The US Consul General in Australia, Mr Niels Marquardt, will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Tuesday 4 October. Mr Marquardt will arrive at 1pm to be welcomed by Ms Louise Haberecht from the CSU Office of International Relations, and will meet a group of CSU students who have been on study exchange to the US. He will then meet CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, and the Head of Campus in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, to discuss developments at the University. They will tour the campus, accompanied by Ms Maree Neary, Project Manager with the CSU Division of Facilities Management, to inspect some of the new facilities, including the Dental and Oral Health Clinic, the Model Digital Learning Modules ‘Contemporary Classroom’, the Regional Inter-Professional Clinical Simulation Centre, and the Learning Commons. The Consul General will return to the campus on Wednesday 5 October to meet with CSU journalism lecturer Mr Chris McGillion and students to do interviews for the campus-based community radio station 2MCE.