Former Australian Governor-General, Sir William Deane, will participate in officially opening a garden with 148 plants represented in The Bible in the grounds of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACCC) in Canberra at 2pm on Sunday 3 August. ACCC Director and Chairman of the Global Network for Public Theology (GNPT), the Reverend Professor James Haire, said that the ‘Bible Garden’ was established with a benevolent grant from The Bible Garden Trust, a perpetual trust established by the late Mr Gerald Hercules Robinson. “The aims to create and maintain gardens that featured the botany that is described in the Holy Bible, and through this activity to educate Christians, particularly young Christians, in the Scriptures. The shape of the garden resembles The Menorah, which is said to represent the burning bush where Moses saw the angel who told him to lead the Israelites to the land of milk and honey.” Construction of the garden commenced in 2007 and final planting is due to be completed before Spring 2008.

Agriculture has long been accused of contributing to air pollution through the practice of stubble burning, but a new Charles Sturt University (CSU) research project underway in the Riverina is aiming to quantify the extent of the practice. Using 30 years of satellite data, the project is investigating where stubble burning has occurred in the past, where it is carried out now and whether management practices have changed over time. The project is an initiative of the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, an alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Department of Primary Industries based at Wagga Wagga. Researcher and spatial science expert Dr Remy DeHaan said, “With spatial science technology we can map 30 years of land management and show whether the practice has increased or decreased. Using satellite maps and historical knowledge means we can quantify the changes in management practices and provide an accurate picture of the extent of the burning.”  Initially, Dr DeHaan is mapping an area covering the Wagga Wagga, Albury and Lake Cargelligo regions but there is potential for the project to expand Australia-wide.

A strong advocate of the pharmacy program at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has been elected President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW Branch). Mr Peter Gissing, from Wagga Wagga, accepted the position in July. The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW Branch) is the professional organisation for all pharmacists in the state, providing education and advocacy to support pharmacists in their vital work. From 2004 until 2007, Mr Gissing was foundation Chairman of the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation which was established to support the University pharmacy program on its Wagga Wagga and Orange campuses and its ongoing work to provide skilled pharmacists, particularly for inland Australia. Mr Gissing has owned two large community pharmacies in Wagga Wagga and works as a locum pharmacist and industry consultant. “Peter’s new position as President of the Society’s NSW branch is further demonstration of his unflinching commitment to the development of the profession,” said Head of the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences, Associate Professor Lyn Angel. “CSU has been a direct beneficiary of his long-term commitment.” Read more about the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation here.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic has proven his endurance skills go beyond the lecture theatre when he successfully participated in the gruelling Upper Murray Challenge at Khancoban in October. Dr Bruce Graham was part of the three-member Team Wagga which secured second place in the Open Men’s Team Division and third place overall. The challenge, held on Saturday 4 October, involved a 38 kilometre mountain bike ride, 26 kilometre paddle and 25 kilometre run. Dr Graham completed his paddle in the third fastest time of 1 hour 34 minutes and 25 seconds. The other Team Wagga members were Mr Ashleigh Smith, who completed the cycle, and Mr Robert Sharpe, a 1998 graduate of the CSU Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), who completed the gruelling run. Dr Graham lectures in human anatomy and physiology in the School of Biomedical Sciences in Wagga Wagga.

Mr Petero Civoniceva, who plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League competition, was the special guest at a presentation of Telstra sponsorship to the Charles Sturt University (CSU) rugby league team and other local Bathurst sporting teams on Wednesday 8 October. Four representatives of the CSU rugby league club on the Bathurst Campus – Joel Begnell, Kurt Dickinson, Alistair Murphy and John Killey – received the sponsorship and met Mr Civoniceva at the presentation in the Rafters Bar in the Student Union. The sponsorship to the CSU rugby league team, valued at $1 500, consisted of tackle bags, kit bags, first aide kits, a water drum and water bottles. In 2008 the Telstra Assistance Fund has provided $1.25 million in equipment to 1 282 local sporting clubs involved in football (soccer), surf life saving, swimming, rugby league and Australian Rules.

Students and staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will mark Mental Health Week NSW 2008 with a series of activities on the Wagga Wagga Campus on Tuesday 21 October. The activities are being organised by the Health Promotion Service in the CSU Division of Student Services. Riverina headspace - a federal Government mental health youth initiative - will attend the awareness day along with a representative of the local mental health rehabilitation facility, Sunflower House. There will be a barbeque, mural and canvas painting as well as stress balls and bubbles to help students relieve tensions. Students will have the chance to purchase sunflower cut outs to plant at CSU. All money raised during the activities will go to Sunflower House.

Prospective students interested in a career in education, and their parents and partners, are invited to an information session for Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Teacher Education at its Dubbo Campus on Tuesday 21 October. The information session provides information on courses, accommodation, facilities, fees, scholarships and financial assistance. Associate Head of the School of Teacher Education at Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, said the CSU Dubbo Campus offers the residents of western NSW the opportunity to study closer to home and within the region. “With the spiralling costs of travel and living, Charles Sturt University provides a national standard of education for the professions and our graduates can work anywhere in Australia or around the world.” Representatives from Centrelink and other support agencies will be available to talk about study assistance and future employment possibilities.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is lending its expertise to a recruitment campaign with a difference. Instead of targeting prospective students, this campaign is targeting pet dogs. In partnership with the Sydney Animal Behavioural Service and the company HomeoPet, CSU is recruiting 150 dogs from across Australia to participate in research into the treatment of anxious animals. The study will examine the effect on dogs of the homeopathic remedy known as Anxiety. “We would like to hear from anyone who has a pet dog which reacts to thunderstorms,” said Dr Jacqui Ley from the Sydney Animal Behavioural Service. “The anxiety may be demonstrated in behaviour ranging from destructive activities to simply barking at a storm.” “Through its veterinary science program, CSU will be supporting the research by analysis of the data,” said Head of the CSU School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Professor Kym Abbott.

The proper management of the frail aged is vital if elderly people are to maintain the ability to live independently and keep out of institutions. A program, developed by Charles Sturt University (CSU), the University of South Australia and the Greater Southern Area Health Service, aimed at demonstrating improved management of frailty has seen a series of workshops being held in regional areas in NSW and South Australia in the past two years. A workshop will be held on Saturday 18 October in Albury-Wodonga as part of the program. “The workshops are important in rural areas where the support facilities are lacking, distances are great and moving into care may well remove people from friends and family,” said CSU Professor of Rural Pharmacy Patrick Ball. The workshop is designed for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who are actively involved in the management of frail elderly people. The workshops are funded by the Federal Government under the Rural Health Support Education and Training program. Read more about the workshops here.