Charles Sturt University (CSU) can boast that it breeds both top graduates and champion horses. At a recent dressage championship event in Bathurst, nine horses associated with the breeding program at CSU in Orange competed with all placing credibly in their classes. Some won champion and reserve championship awards. “These horses were purchased at auction a few years ago and they are now coming of age and competing,” said CSU Orange Equine Management Centre  technical officer Ms Cheryl Gander. “What is exciting is that, the horses are not only proving to be trainable and worth working with, but many of them are showing super talent. It is not unusual to see one of our ’Harvest Horses’ competing and winning against some of the very best horses. The Charles Sturt University horses have the reputation of being talented, well-handled, quiet and affordable.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Luke Tooze’s Australian Idol odyssey has come to an end. The 21 year old guitarist/singer made the top one-hundred list, but was knocked out of the popular television show at the latest round of auditions in Sydney. Luke, a second year teaching student at CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus, performed the classic Whitlams song Buy Now, Pay Later, a decision that didn’t pay off when the show’s panel of judges axed his act. Luke admits he was disappointed, but adds he has walked away buoyed by the experience, has made a lot of new friends, and says he would encourage other young Australians with aspirations to make it big on the music scene to give the Australian Idol experience a shot. Luke was selected from hundreds of hopefuls during Australian Idol auditions at CSU’s Joyes Hall in April.

Starting school is an important time for young children, their families and communities. Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor of Education, Bob Perry, will present a public lecture hosted by CSU on what children think is important to them when starting school. Much material in his lecture, titled ‘So many people…’, arises from research carried out locally and around Australia by researchers in the CSU Murray School of Education in Albury-Wodonga, particularly on what children have to say about starting school. These perceptions were investigated through discussions, drawings, photo journals, student-led tours and other approaches. Professor Perry will also highlight the implications of these perceptions for adults, particularly parents and educators, and for education policy. The public lecture will start at 6pm on Wednesday 2 June in the Nowik Auditorium, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Guinea Street in Albury.

A contingent of police from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf, were the guests at a special graduation ceremony and dinner at the Australian Graduate School of Policing (AGSP) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Manly on Wednesday 19 May. Ten officers from a group of 14 travelled to Manly especially for the ceremony to receive their Master of Arts (Criminal Intelligence) and Graduate Diplomas (Criminal Intelligence). CSU’s Mr Patrick Walsh, the course co-ordinator, said, “These officers were unable to attend the main policing graduation, but I am very pleased that the School was able to provide a special graduation dinner for them which the University’s Chancellor, Mr Lawrie Willett, AO, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ross Chambers, attended with Associate Professor Tracey Green, the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts (Policing and International). This ceremony was smaller than the usual CSU graduation, but it’s very special as the students have flown all the way from Abu Dhabi. They are accompanied by senior officers from Abu Dhabi Police, including the head of their training department. The AGSP and Abu Dhabi Police will meet before the ceremony to discuss how to expand this program.”

A palliative care forum at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo, on Saturday 29 May is being co-organised by lecturing staff in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo. Lecturer Ms Maria Bennet said, “Our aim is to raise awareness of key palliative care issues for Dubbo and the region through the various public speakers and debate. The forum will include a debate by students from Dubbo College Senior Campus (topic, Palliative care is better provided in hospital), a series of short public speeches by prominent local and visiting identities, including local general practitioners, guest speaker specialists in the field of palliative care, and an open forum discussion.” Guest speakers include Mr Warren Mundine, Ms Jenni George, Dr Frank Brennan, Mr Peter Davis, Ms Joan Ryan, Ms Lyn Sykes and the CSU Foundation Professor of Rural Pharmacy, Professor Patrick Ball.

Work on a pig farm in southern NSW during student placements from 2005 to 2008 encouraged a Charles Sturt University (CSU) veterinary science student’s interest in the pork industry and has led to her being awarded an all-expenses paid study trip to Canada. Fifth-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science student Ms Jill Groat has been named the winner of the Australian pork industry’s biennial Doug Ross Travel and Study Award. Supported by Australian Pork Ltd, the award honours the late veterinarian Mr Doug Ross and his work for the pig industry. Ms Groat is the first student to win the award, which she will use to attend the International Pig Veterinary Society Congress in Vancouver, Canada, from Sunday 18 to Tuesday 20 July, and to build contacts in the industry. From the small town of Rankins Springs in the Riverina, Ms Groat gained her first experience working with pigs during voluntary work experience at a piggery at Young the year before she began the veterinary science course at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “The award is very exciting and I particularly hope to bring back knowledge about the management of pigs in cold climates,” Ms Groat said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will be the venue for the annual FACTS Day (Facts About Careers and Tertiary Study) to be staged by the Central West Careers Advisers Association on Thursday 27 May. Approximately 1 000 Year 12 students from schools in Bathurst, Lithgow, Kandos, Oberon, Blayney, Cowra, Orange and Molong will have the opportunity to obtain information from approximately 120 representatives from more than 60 career and employer organisations, including universities, private providers, TAFE, Centrelink, police and other government agencies. Ms Fran Dwyer, a CSU Prospective Student Adviser, said, “This day offers our regional final-year high school students the opportunity to experience our University by attending the campus. It incorporates access to educational providers and a motivational speaker, and some schools will also take the opportunity while here to tour the campus.”

The new Dental and Oral Health Clinic at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga is fulfilling its mission to address the rural dental shortage. Following the Clinic’s official opening at the end of 2009, the first intake of oral health students are treating patients under the tutoring of Clinic Director, Ms Helen Tane, lecturer Ms Simone Alexander, with supervision by Dr Kathleen Matthews. “The students in the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene) are currently treating teenagers from local high schools and will soon move on to treat primary school-aged children,” Ms Tane said. “The free consultations for the paediatric patients include a routine check-up, X-rays, and the implementation of an oral health plan if necessary. There are appointments available and Charles Sturt University would welcome any younger patients.” The Clinic is also accepting adult patients, who are required to see the qualified CSU Dentist Dr Kathleen Matthews before they’re referred to an oral health student under supervision. Clinic appointments can be made by telephoning 1300 278 642.

Interest in the 7th annual Australian International Animation Festival has reached unprecedented levels with more than 2 200 submissions received from 40 countries for the event in regional NSW. Hosted by the Animation and Visual Effects program at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga, the Festival will be held from Friday 14 May to Sunday 16 May at the Forum 6 Cinema in Wagga Wagga. The program includes international films, digital animation, stop motion and Australian made films. Young children are catered for in the Festival line-up as well as a ‘Late Night Bizarre’ show. There will also be free talks and workshops from local and international filmmakers. The full program can be found here.