Three Charles Sturt University (CSU) students with the School of Animal Science and Veterinary Science are making last minute preparations as they head off to the United States for international meat judging competitions and a meat industry study tour. In 2012, Mr Isaac Allen from Forbes, Ms Vanessa Campbell from Rutherglen, who is currently living and working in Wagga Wagga, and Ms Jordon Hoban from near Macksville in Northern NSW were named in the five-member Australian team to compete in two meat judging competitions in the USA. It follows their success last July at the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) and at a subsequent intensive Meat & Livestock Australia training program in Brisbane. The team is due to leave Australia for a three-week industry tour of the USA on Friday 11 January and return on Thursday 7 February. Ms Campbell said the trio is all very excited about the trip. “This is a really great opportunity because, as a fourth year vet science student, it gives me a chance to make international meat industry contacts and to see the industry differences between America and the way we do things back home,” she said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter thanked several CSU staff members for their tremendous contributions to the University at the annual 20/30-year medal presentation luncheon in Bathurst on Friday 4 August. Recipients of the 30-year service medals were Gwen Edwards from the Division of Student Services, Doreen Casey from the Faculty of Health Studies, and Bill Blaike, Senior Lecturer in the School of Communication. Head of the School, Dr Tom Watson said Mr Blaikie inspired “immense loyalty” among his former students. Recipients of the 20-year service medal were Gerard Boland, also from the School of Communications, Dr Jayne Bisman, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Commerce, Julie Clulow from the Division of Library Services, Suellen Piper-Nagy from the Learning Materials Centre and Lorraine Stephens, a Client Services Officer in the Division of Information Technology.

Ms Isobel Colson, an Honours student in ecology at Charles Sturt University (CSU), has won the Terry Hillman Honours Educational Prize for 2013. Ms Colson will receive her $3 000 prize from Professor Hillman on Wednesday 26 June at the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC) in Wodonga at 10.30am. The prize, named after former MDFRC director Professor Terry Hillman, was established in honour of Professor Hillman’s contribution to freshwater ecology around Albury-Wodonga. The MDFRC has given the annual award since 2006 to support and encourage students in freshwater ecology. Ms Colson, who has nearly completed her Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management with Honours at CSU and MDFRC, is investigating the impacts of temperature, ultraviolet radiation, and billabong characteristics on the termination of zooplankton hibernation. She is supervised by Dr Paul Humphries and Dr Nicole McCasker from CSU’s School of Environmental Sciences and Dr Daryl Nielsen from MDFRC.

Budding writers in Year-12 at several Albury high schools will have the support of families and friends, and some critical feedback, when they present their HSC major works to a supportive audience at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday evening, 27 June. CSU academic and former English Head Teacher, Mr Paul Grover, will coordinate the event where audience members will assess the presentation of major works by students studying English Extension 2 for their HSC in local high schools. “The audience will hear the voice of the author as they read from the major play, poem, author study or short story they have spent twelve months planning and composing for their HSC examination. These talented student writers will receive valuable feedback to include in their final writing and revision process”, Mr Grover said. This public event will be held at 6pm on Thursday 27 June at the CD Blake Lecture Theatre, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona. To attend, contact Mr Grover on telephone (02) 6051 9707 or send an email.

Sixty Year 5 school students from the central west will participate in a ‘Check It Out’ Day at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 27 June as part of the University’s Future Moves program to encourage aspiration for higher education. The participating schools are Bathurst South Public School, Portland Central School, and Parkes Christian School. Ms Tonya Graham, CSU Future Moves coordinator, said, “Future Moves creates opportunities for school students from regional NSW and Victoria to visit Charles Sturt University campuses and interact with students and staff. The program targets students who have the potential to succeed in tertiary education and who come from families with little or no experience of higher education. By introducing young people to the world of university study we hope to encourage them to become more engaged in school studies and more confident to consider tertiary study as a realistic option. Students often say, ‘I never considered university, but now I really want to go’. Events like ‘Check It Out’ are a great way to start a conversation with students and their families about what options are available to them after school.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers are investigating what rural and regional Australians know about common, everyday health risks and activities. “Health authorities across Australia are constantly sending out messages to help Australians make better health choices. But residents in Australia’s rural areas have been shown to have greater trouble understanding health messages than people in metropolitan areas,” said project coordinator Dr Andrea Crampton, based in the Faculty of Science at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “We want to see what people actually know about common activities that might pose short and longterm health risks.”  Dr Crampton is conducting the research with her CSU colleague and social scientist Dr Angela Ragusa.  The researchers are seeking metropolitan and rural participants and are especially keen to hear from those in more remote locations across Australia. See the online survey here. For more information on the survey, call Dr Andrea Crampton at the Faculty of Science on (02) 6933 4032 or send her an email.

Fine food expertly matched with selected Charles Sturt University (CSU) wines will be celebrated at the inaugural Bathurst Winter Feast at the University on Friday 5 July. Head of Campus, Mr Col Sharp will host the event, and CSU winemaker, Mr Andrew Drumm, will introduce the wines that accompany the special degustation menu prepared by the CSU catering team. Mr Sharp said, “The Charles Sturt University Winery produces quality wines and was rated four and a half stars in the 2013 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion. The Bathurst Winter Feast will feature new and old wines, including the 2012 ‘PG’ Pinot Gris, the first from the University’s vineyard in Orange, and the new 2012 ‘T’ Tempranillo. I encourage food and wine lovers from the Bathurst region to come along for a night of enjoyment and excellent fare.” Dress is ‘smart casual with a touch of Winter’ and tickets are $90 each by booking on (02) 6365 7643 or send an email csuwinery@csu.edu.au. The inaugural Bathurst Winter Feast starts at 6pm on Friday 5 July at The Rafters (in building C4, car park P10) at CSU in Bathurst.

The introduction of four hundred mixed recycling bins at Charles Sturt University (CSU)  in Bathurst has helped the University achieve its largest increase in recycling rates since it set targets in 2006. An assessment of CSU’s waste management in 2012 showed 35 per cent of waste was recycled, up from 28 per cent in 2011. “This significant increase is mostly due to the roll-out of mixed recycling bins on the Bathurst campus,” CSU Green Acting Energy Manager Christopher O’Connor said. Additional bins with signage were purchased for kitchens and common rooms in residences to promote separation of waste materials as part of the scheme. Meanwhile, a trial system of office waste collection using colour-coded bins reduced landfill waste volume by 30 per cent. The system is now used at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Orange and Bathurst and is due to be rolled-out at CSU in Dubbo and Wagga Wagga in July. CSU Green is also looking into further recycling infrastructure in common areas, such as teaching spaces, and is investigating ways of separating organic waste from general waste, with an overall target of a 70 per cent recycling rate by 2014. “While it will be a challenge, I believe that with appropriate resources and with the right projects CSU can achieve this target,” Mr O’Connor said.

More than 500 Riverina Year 12 science students will be guided, challenged and encouraged to achieve their best in the Higher School Certificate at a one-day event on Friday 21 June at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. The students are from 15 schools, from Barham High in the west to Junee High in the north and east to Tumbarumba High and local Albury schools. Presenters are former HSC senior examiners and markers in Senior Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as Senior Science, and Ms Lindy Billing from the NSW Board of Secondary Studies will also present tips on how students can maximise their marks in HSC exams. The Albury and District Science Teachers Association have organised the two day event, with a similar session being held at Yanco Agricultural High School on Thursday 20 June for Riverina students.