Rings, bangles, pendants and brooches created from precious metals as well as other materials such as silicon and polyurethane are on display at an exhibition of work by Charles Sturt University's (CSU) graduating Bachelor of Arts in Jewellery students. Lecturer Sabine Pagan says the students used both traditional and contemporary skills in the manufacture of their innovative designs. She says the highlight of the exhibition is seeing how the students worked within themes such as evolution, space, and body armour. “These themes have guided the seven students in their creation of truly unique works," Ms Pagan said. Executive Director of Craft ACT Barbara McConchie will officially open the exhibition at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery on Friday 17 November at 6.30pm.

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.’

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.”

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.

Are you passionate about our local native animals and wonder how scientists research and monitor our wildlife? Border residents can take part in monitoring our local endangered animals in the upcoming Thurgoona Bioblitz 2012, a community wildlife event to be held on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 May in and around Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga. These free events will involve wildlife surveys to be conducted around Thurgoona, including spotlighting nest boxes for Squirrel Gliders, trapping bats and small animals, bird watching, identifying frog calls, and searching for lizards. The surveys will be led by expert ecologists from CSU and other organisations, and the collected data will be added to the Atlas of Living Australia, an online national database of Australia’s flora and fauna. Organised by the Slopes2Summit partnership, which includes CSU, and the Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group, the Friday event will be for school students, while events scheduled for Friday evening and Saturday will involve the wider community. Slopes2Summit facilitator Mr Sam Niedra said the Bioblitz allows schools and the general community to experience and learn about Thurgoona’s rich diversity of animal species, while collecting records “to improve our knowledge of what’s happening in the Thurgoona landscape, and be better informed about how these animals can be conserved into the future”.

Treatment for the blood cancers multiple myeloma and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma currently require some patients living in regional and rural Australia to travel considerable distances and stay for a period of time in major regional and metropolitan centres. Charles Sturt University (CSU) Honours student Ms Kerry Wagland is investigating how mothers living in regional areas with dependent children, and who have contracted these rare cancers, cope with their disease and treatment. Ms Wagland, with the support of CSU’s School of Psychology, is interviewing rural and regional women who have these diseases to understand how they impact on the mother’s daily life and her relationships. “I am seeking to gain insights into the challenges faced by these women, especially when they have to travel to and stay at a major treatment centre. I am hoping this will lead to improved support for these women,” Ms Wagland said. The interviews, to be carried out for up to one hour face-to-face or via telephone, will be conducted until 31 August 2012.

"Shebang" is slang for "the whole lot" and a fitting title for the graduation show of Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Graphic Design and Multimedia students, according to course coordinator Michael Agzarian. "The students have each created a very large piece of artwork, so with over 30 pieces, the resulting exhibition is stunning," he said. Multimedia screenings will also showcase a variety of styles, from simple two dimensional work though to complex 3-D animation. "I have given the students carte blanche to show off their style and skills and the final product represents great diversity, innovation and creativity," Agzarian said.

Last year, environmental science students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Mr Charlie Rothnie-Jones and his friend Mr Nathaniel Oliver started up a community garden in Thurgoona to promote sustainable living, which was recently recognised when they won the 2012 David Battersby Awards for Student Citizenship at CSU. The Kerr Sustainability Centre on CSU’s Thurgoona site allows CSU students to grow food for free and hosts workshop events aimed at sharing knowledge and skills. Members of the garden are from Thurgoona and surrounding areas, from all walks of life. The centre provides space for garden beds for community members and allows people with similar interests and gardening goals to meet and share. The students’ interests complement each other, with Mr Oliver following vegetables from sowing to eating, while Mr Rothnie-Jones communicates extensively with local community centres. “Mr Rothnie-Jones and Mr Oliver deserve their success to date and it is a pleasure to recognise their leadership in the Charles Sturt University community through these prestigious awards,” said the Head of Campus for CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Ms Sue Moloney.

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are known to affect our daily lives in many ways, but little study has been carried out on their effects on the brain. With assistance from Border residents, Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers led by Dr Herbert Jelinek from the School of Community Health will investigate how our thinking changes if we contract diabetes and its complications, such as cardiovascular disease. “We invite members of the Albury-Wodonga community, with and without diabetes or heart disease, to participate in our project, which will start mid-July,” Dr Jelinek said. “We will be testing all participants for eye, heart, foot and kidney function as well as undertaking a number of tests to investigate brain function.” Anyone interested in participating should contact Dr Herbert Jelinek, coordinator of the CSU Diabetes Complications Research Initiative, on mobile 0427 681 754.