A self-described Sydney-centric says Dubbo has been the “best four years” of his life. Darren Oen will graduate with Bachelor of Education (Primary) Honours on Thursday 24 May at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dubbo Campus. He says he and the Campus have grown up together. “I arrived in February 2003 and had to stay in the caravan park for two weeks because my student residence wasn’t quite ready. I have watched the campus grow - double in size, car parks and new buildings, landscaping and paths.” CSU Dubbo’s Cath Smith says Darren “has made a big impact on the Campus, so seeing him complete his Honours is a proud moment for many of the staff members”. Darren begins teaching at a private school in Sydney city next term. And his advice to high school students considering a move to the country for tertiary study? “I’d definitely recommend it. You learn to see things a little bit differently. My way of looking at life now is more balanced and more just. It’s very personally enriching. You grow up a lot. It was a great experience.”

One of the loudest applause during the recent graduation ceremonies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) was saved for lecturer Mr Bruce Gater from the Faculty of Arts at CSU in Wagga Wagga. He was awarded a Master of Visual and Performing Arts on Thursday 31 March by the Chancellor Mr Lawrence Willett, AO. A lecturer for the past nine years, Mr Gater received his postgraduate degree in front of about 30 of his former students in the Bachelor Arts (Television Production) course. Other academics from the Faculty of Arts in Wagga Wagga to be awarded postgraduate degrees on Thursday 31 March were: Dr Karen Bell with a Doctor of Philosophy; Associate Professor Jennifer McKinnon with a Doctor of Philosophy; Mr Damian Candusso with a Master of Arts Practice with Distinction; and Ms Kim Hardwick with a Master of Arts Practice. During an inspirational occasional address, Macau-based General Stage Manager of the world’s largest aquatic show, The House of Dancing Water, Ms Anna Robb reminded the graduates of their fortune and urged them to take risks. Click here to read the speech.

There is high praise for the professionalism of one pharmacy graduate from Charles Sturt University (CSU). The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) – NSW Branch has named graduate Ms Sally Whiting as the 2010 NSW Intern of the Year. Ms Whiting received the honour during the Society’s 2011 March Weekend Conference held in Sydney on Saturday 26 March. Ms Whiting was awarded her Bachelor of Pharmacy Class 1 Honours  at CSU in Orange in 2010. She completed her 12 month internship, which is required for national registration, at Rozanna’s MediAdvice Pharmacy in Mudgee. Ms Whiting is now employed as a pharmacist at Blooms the Chemist in Orange. In a statement, the PSA said Ms Whiting “quickly established an enviable reputation for her passion in her chosen career which was demonstrated by her compassionate manner, exceptional knowledge and customer service skills”. She was also praised for her proactive management of patient medication and for “assisting them in helping to achieve their quality of life, confidently embracing the expanding role of the pharmacist in providing professional patient-focused services.” In congratulating Ms Whiting, Program Leader of Pharmacy at CSU, Mr George K John said, “It is students and future leaders like Sally that Charles Sturt University and the pharmacy profession are proud of, and would like to have engaging with the community”.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) vet is warning horse owners to protect their animals from mosquitoes in light of a suspected outbreak of viral neurological disease across three states. More than 135 cases have been reported in horses in NSW and 16 of those have died or been put down. Senior Lecturer in equine medicine with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences,  Dr Kris Hughes, said eight cases have been investigated by staff at the Veterinary Clinical Centre at CSU in Wagga Wagga over recent months. He says Industry & Investment NSW is testing samples from affected horses to determine the exact cause of the condition but it is believed to be a mosquito borne virus. “Affected horses can demonstrate an exaggerated and weak limb movement, lack of coordination, muscle tremors, exaggerated response to stimuli including touch and sound, facial paralysis and behavioural changes,” he said. Dr Hughes recommends rugging, fly veils and using licensed insect repellant treatments along with removing stagnant water where horses are housed to help reduce exposure to mosquitoes.

With numerous Charles Sturt University (CSU) students winning previous Sydney Royal Showgirl competitions, current CSU student Stephanie Tarlinton hopes to be the next. The 24 year old from Cobargo on the far south coast of NSW has been named a state finalist in The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl competition and will attend the 2011 Sydney Royal Easter Show for a week, with the presentation ceremony being held on Saturday 16 April. Ms Tarlinton is a third year Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management student at CSU in Orange. “I’m very excited to be selected as a finalist in the competition,” said Ms Tarlinton, “It’s quite a privilege to represent my family, my community and the wider region. The competition brings together girls from so many different backgrounds but we’re all passionate about agriculture and our community so I’m looking forward to meeting them all and doing well in the competition.” The Sydney Royal Showgirl contestants are judged on personality, confidence, ambition and life goals, general knowledge, rural knowledge, presentation and speech. 

One Charles Sturt University (CSU) student is holding onto her surf life saving club membership despite her move to inland Australia to complete her studies. Ms Bec Thomson, a Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science student at CSU in Wagga Wagga, is pursuing her chosen sport - surf life saving - with a passion, setting her sights on the coming national championships on the Gold Coast early next month. Originally from the small town of Ulverstone in northwest Tasmania, Ms Thomson transferred from a university in her home state to the medical radiation science program at CSU in Wagga Wagga in 2011. During the State Surf Championships held on Tasmania’s Clifton Beach on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March, Ms Thomson won four out of the five individual races. They included the surf race, board race, ski and tube rescue races. Representing the Devonport Surf Life Saving Club, Ms Thomson also won the mixed double ski event and was a member of the winning relay teams. The CSU student took home eight gold and four silver medals. “Given that my sport is in the sea, I used to spend every day at the beach. So now being four hours inland has certainly been a bit of a change,” Ms Thomson said. “I swapped my surf ski for a kayak. I paddle with the Wagga Wagga Bidgee Canoe Club on the Murrumbidgee River three or four times a week. I also swim four times a week at the local aquatic centre.”

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Community Health will give high school students from around Albury-Wodonga a personal experience of study at CSU on Thursday 7 April. Over 90 students will work with CSU undergraduate students and staff for the day, following them through lectures, laboratory study and fieldwork, as the CSU students go about a ‘normal day’ in their studies as part of the University’s MyDay program. Head of the School of Community Health, Dr Gayle Smythe, said open days can only show a snapshot of university life, but “you have to ‘be a student for a day’ to see what it is really like. This is particularly important for the University’s degrees that are highly focussed on the allied health professions.” The Year 11 and 12 students are from 20 high schools from as far as North East Victoria, the Riverina and Central West NSW, as well as local Border schools.

The winner of the first Veterinary Science Medal at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has endorsed the veterinary science program. “The course, which began in 2005, has achieved what it set out to do,” said the recently graduated veterinarian, Dr Greg Dale. “That is, produce veterinarians who want to live and work in regional Australia to deliver veterinary services.” Dr Dale should know. “I grew up in Sydney and I have no desire to return to the big smoke. I have recently accepted a job at Kempsey in regional NSW. Members of the inaugural veterinary science class at Charles Sturt University secured jobs prior to their graduation last week and everyone is working in regional Australia. The highlights of the new program include its practical component. Not just working in clinics, but spending time on farms has broadened our experience, and given us a better understanding of animal production systems. I believe this has provided us with the grounding to offer relevant advice and practical solutions to producers.” Dr Dale also praised the new purpose-built facilities at CSU, including the Kay Hull Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Veterinary Clinical Centre.   

Senior police officers from Hyderabad in India are visiting NSW as part of a two-week study tour at the conclusion of their postgraduate studies at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Australian Graduate School of Policing. As part of the second of three annual academic training courses for Indian police officers to be delivered by the AGSP, 114 senior officers will attend special lectures and visit a range of facilities to hear from senior Australian officers and academics, including CSU’s Associate Professor Nick O’Brien and Mr Mick Keelty, the former Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. The officers, facilitated by invaluable support from NSW Police, will visit key operational facilities, see leading technologies, systems and best practices in Australian policing. They will visit the CSU School of Policing Studies in Goulburn to inspect the facilities, examine the training course, and attend their graduation.