The important work of midwives around the globe will be celebrated by Charles Sturt University (CSU) – a key educator of the health professions on International Midwives Day 2010, Wednesday 5 May. At CSU in Wagga Wagga, the day will be celebrated with a meeting of over 100 University midwifery graduates, nursing academics and midwifery practitioners and the launch of the book, No Births on Monday written by Wagga Wagga midwife Dr Mavis Gaff-Smith. Launching the book is one of the key developers of the postgraduate midwifery program at CSU, Dr Joanne Gray. Dr Gray is currently Director of Midwifery Education at the University of Technology Sydney. CSU is celebrating 20 years of educating midwifery students. Through its School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, the University offers a Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery by distance education to Registered Nurses in both metropolitan and rural areas.

'Tragical, Comical, Fantastical, Musical' are the catch-cries for the 2010 season of the University Theatre Ensemble (UTE). The new performance season will be launched from 7pm on Wednesday 5 May at the Riverina Playhouse in Cross Street, Wagga Wagga. Staff and students from the School of Communication and Creative Industries at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will join members of the wider community for the season launch by Director Mr John Saunders. With a strong reputation in providing quality and diverse theatre in Wagga Wagga, UTE productions draw final year students from the Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage), and Bachelor of Arts (Design for Theatre and Television).

Bathurst residents will have the opportunity to hear from, and view some of the work of, Mr Mervyn Bishop, the celebrated photographer and Indigenous photojournalist, when he speaks at the Ponton Theatre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 6 May. Dr Jane Mills, Associate Professor of Communication in the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, said, “Mervyn Bishop is an outstanding photographer who has chronicled the life and times of the nation since he joined the Sydney Morning Herald as its first Indigenous cadet photographer in 1962. He also worked for the then-Department of Aboriginal Affairs from 1974-80 and took the famous photo of then-Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pouring soil into the hands of traditional owner Vincent Lingiari in 1975, which symbolically marked the start of Indigenous land rights in Australia. His photos have been featured in numerous exhibitions. We are extremely fortunate to have Mervyn come to Bathurst to speak to Charles Sturt University students and graduates this week.”

A regional TV news presenter and journalist well-known to many in the Central West will discuss career options with senior high school students from across the region and beyond as guest speaker at the MyDay communication studies information sessions at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 6 May. Ms Fran Dwyer, a Prospective Student Adviser at CSU, said she expects about 40 students from the Hunter, Sydney, Cowra, Bathurst, Katoomba, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange and Parkes to attend the School of Communication and Creative Industries MyDay sessions. “These students will hear from special guest Mr Hugh Whitfeld, a 2008 graduate of the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries who is now a journalist and news presenter with Prime TV News in Orange,” Ms Dwyer said. The students will be involved in interactive activities with CSU academics and current students who will showcase CSU facilities such as the Media Centre, National Radio News, Kajulu Advertising Agency, and W9, the theatre/media workshop and rehearsal facility.

Senior high school students from Bathurst, Katoomba, Lithgow, Oberon, Parkes and Yeoval with an interest in computing and information technology (IT) will explore career options at the MyDay event at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 6 May. CSU prospective student adviser, Ms Fran Dwyer, said this MyDay is separate from the communications event, and she expects about 20 students to attend the IT MyDay. The students will interact with CSU academics and current students to undertake activities such as writing programs for mobile phone games, robotics, and computer vision, and they will explore the University’s state-of-the-art facilities such as the computer and games technology labs,” Ms Dwyer said. The courses to be showcased are: Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Computer Science (Games Technology), Bachelor of Information Technology, and Bachelor of Information Technology (Business Services).

Local science enthusiasts are over the moon to hear the newest branch of Australia’s oldest scientific society will hold its inaugural free public lecture on how Australian radio-astronomy will solve the origin of the galaxies. The Royal Society of NSW was the first scientific society formed in the colony of NSW in June 1821. Initially named the Philosophical Society of Australasia, “with a view to enquiring into the various branches of physical science of this vast continent (Australia) and its adjacent regions”, the Royal Society of NSW now has a Central West branch. “A program of meetings, guest speakers and other activities is being compiled,” says local branch president and Head of Campus at Charles Sturt University in Orange, Professor Kevin Parton. “Essentially the Society exists for the promotion of science, art, literature and philosophy. Many local scientists and researchers have already joined the Central West branch but more are expected to do so once regular meetings begin. We welcome anyone with an interest in science to attend the first public lecture.”

Interested in the skill of wine and food matching? Charles Sturt University (CSU) is collaborating with one of Wagga Wagga’s top restaurants to educate the Riverina public’s tastebuds about wine and food matching skills. Dr Anthony Saliba, a sensory scientist at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC), located at CSU Wagga Wagga Campus, will pass on his knowledge and understanding of why certain wine and foods complement each other. Dr Saliba will also discuss the key mistakes consumers often make when designing a dinner party menu with table wines to match. Held at The Three Chefs restaurant, the workshop will include a seven course dinner with wines that complement those dishes. Places are limited to 20 and bookings close on Thursday 28 June.

Twenty-two high-achieving students will receive scholarships and prizes at a presentation ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Tuesday 4 May. The Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, will welcome the students and their guests, and the 11 scholarships and 12 prizes will be presented by Dr David Tien, a member of the University Council, who will represent the University’s Chancellor, Mr Lawrie Willett, AO. This year, seven out of the 11 scholarships will be awarded to first year students. Four awards will also be presented from the Faculty of Business 2009 Dean’s List to students studying accounting, finance and business studies. Growing up in Narromine and completing high school and university while living in Dubbo, Ms Fallon Wheeler, a third-year student completing a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary), will receive a scholarship and a two prizes. Ms Wheeler also received scholarships for the past two years and was the CSU Dubbo Orientation Week coordinator this year.

High-achieving Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in the Faculty of Business will receive prizes and awards at the Dean’s List presentation ceremony for the 2009 academic year on Tuesday 4 May at the University in Bathurst. The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business, Associate Professor Ken Dillon, said, “The Faculty of Business is able to award more than 80 individual prizes for the 2009 academic year to graduating and continuing students in the School of Accounting, the School of Business, and the School of Computing and Mathematics. Students who have achieved a Distinction or High Distinction in every subject undertaken during a session (or over two sessions if they are part-time students) are nominated for inclusion on the Dean’s List. For the 2009 academic year, a total of 124 students were nominated across all the University’s campuses for inclusion on the Dean’s List, and 32 of these will be attending the presentation luncheon to receive their certificates. Unfortunately, not all students are able to attend the ceremony, and a number of prizes acknowledging outstanding academic achievement will be awarded to graduating students at the graduation ceremonies in Bathurst this week. The remaining prizes have been won by continuing students.”