Students enrolled in Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) equine science degree have received a Wagga Mutual Credit Union Safety Awareness Award for improving safety for students engaged in the high risk activity of ‘breaking in’ young horses at the University’s Equine Centre on the Wagga Wagga Campus. Injuries to ‘horse breakers’, which include the students, can be significantly reduced by having a mature and steady horse - a ‘lead pony’ - to accompany and settle the younger horses. The Centre had a suitable horse on loan, but could not afford the $4 000 needed to purchase the pony, named Buck. Undaunted, 50 students worked together to raise the funds by producing a promotional CD about Buck and the ‘breakers’, obtaining donations, running a chocolate drive and hosting a trivia night. The students raised over half of Buck’s purchase price in short time, while the University provided the balance. Equine Centre manager Mr John Smart said the University’s safety culture was enhanced by the student team as they resolved what could have been a long-term safety issue. Buck now lives at the Centre. A second safety award was presented to a team of Educational Designers from the University’s Centre for Education, Learning and Teaching.

The youngest student to ever study at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will receive a special award to mark her participation in the first year university level Information Technology (IT) subject in Wagga Wagga this week. Fourteen year old Ms Kaitlin Salzke, from Wagga Wagga High School, is on the verge of completing the subject. She studied through the Gifted and Talented program run by CSU’s Faculty of Business. “This program targets talented high school students and gives them an opportunity to study a university subject,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Business, Professor John Hicks. Also from Wagga Wagga High School, Year 12 student Ms Isabelle Walsh, is due to complete a first year mathematics subject through the same program. Professor Hicks, along with Associate Professor Irfan Altas, the Head of the CSU School of Computing and Mathematics in Wagga Wagga and Ms Lorran Hall, the Manager of the Division of Student Administration, will visit Wagga Wagga High School on Wednesday 25 June for a special presentation to the two teenagers. The Department of Education and Training’s Regional Director, Mr Colin Parker will also attend.

A presentation made to a Canberra conference recently about youth suicide awareness training has resulted in professional accolades for Mr Peter Bell, Manager of Residential Operations at Charles Sturt University (CSU). He was recognised for presenting the best member paper at the national conference of the Australasian Association of College and University Housing Officers, the national body for tertiary education student accommodation. Mr Bell will receive a contribution towards the cost of attending the Association’s international conference in the USA in 2009. He will present and lead discussion on suicide awareness in university and colleges at the international event. “Peter Bell is recognised as a national leader in suicide training and the provision of youth residential community support,” said Mr Andrew Callander, Executive Director of the CSU Division of Student Services. “The current large scale development of additional student accommodation across CSU is underpinned by a highly professional supportive care program.”

Oscar-winning animation producer, Ms Marcy Page will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) next week to share the secrets of her success with visual effects and animation students and lecturers in the University’s School of Visual & Performing Arts. Ms Page works for the National Film Board of Canada and has been responsible for bringing a range of animated films to the big screen. The acclaimed producer will show a collection of her finest films including Oscar winners ‘The Danish Poet’ and ‘Ryan’ and this year’s Oscar nominee ‘Madam Tutli-Putli’, and will share the secrets of how to make award-winning films and what makes them so good.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has enlisted the talents of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dr Chris Blanchard by appointing the academic to its Southern Panel for three years. It is the first time Dr Blanchard has sat on the GRDC Southern Panel which is chaired by South Australian (SA) grower Mr David Shannon. In welcoming Dr Blanchard to the body, Mr Shannon said the academic brought considerable research credentials to the Panel. Dr Blanchard is one of only two NSW representatives on the Panel which plays a key role in determining the Corporation’s research priorities for southern Australia. Dr Blanchard is a senior lecturer with the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences, based in Wagga Wagga. He is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and has worked on projects in areas such as genetic engineering for virus resistance, food science, phylogenetic analysis and human genetic disease.

Students from around Australia and overseas will gather with families and friends at Parramatta in western Sydney on Friday 13 June to graduate from the Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Theology. Almost 100 students will receive their undergraduate and postgraduate awards from CSU, which is the largest provider of theological studies in the Asia Pacific region. Professor Tom Frame, Head of the School of Theology said that the University has become a premier venue for theological learning and research in Australia. “The collaboration between St Mark’s National Theological Centre in Canberra and the United Theological College brings a very significant ecumenical focus to bear on a range of disciplines including biblical studies, ethical reflection and pastoral care. The increasing number of students graduating with postgraduate degrees is particularly encouraging as we seek to meet the needs of Australian churches, educational institutions, welfare organisations and the health care sector,” he said. CSU Chancellor, Mr Lawrence Willett, AO, will preside over the graduation ceremony. The Occasional Address will be delivered by theologian Emeritus Professor Peter Matheson, of Knox Theological Hall, Otago, New Zealand. The Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Councillor Paul Barber, will be a special guest at the ceremony.

Microscopes have been enlisted in the fight against the summer perennial weed Silverleaf Nightshade. Researchers at the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, an alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, are half way through a project to look for innovative solutions to tackle the invasive weed. Silverleaf nightshade is estimated to cost agriculture millions of dollars every year in reduced crop and pasture production. Project leader Dr Rex Stanton says new research has shown that trichomes, or fine hairs, on the underside of the leaves may hold the key to tackling the invasive weed."Under a microscope the hair like structures are visible and they penetrate deep into the leaf, so understanding the basic anatomy of the plant may help us come up with better techniques to manage it," said Dr Stanton. The researcher is about to start planting trials with pasture species such as lucerne, phalaris, coxfoot and biserrula at sites across NSW. The project is funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

Identifying animal bones and testing the quality of vegetable oils are just some of the activities on offer to almost 100 Riverina school students who will attend this year’s Agriculture Enrichment Day on Friday 13 June in Wagga Wagga. Hosted by the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, an alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the day will give the high school students access to some of the state’s leading agricultural and veterinary scientists. The EH Graham Centre's Director, Professor Deirdre Lemerle, says the day has many benefits for the school students and she hopes it will encourage them to consider a career in agricultural science. Students from Years 10 and 11 can choose between various hands-on research activities, including selecting wheat for disease resistance, sheep breeding, quality assurance in vegetable oil, bone identification and detecting fungi on ryegrass seed.

Eight Charles Sturt University (CSU) teacher education students leave this week for a one month exchange program with Hannam University at Daejeon in central South Korea. This is the second annual exchange of teacher education students with Hannam University. “The exchange emphasises the University’s commitment to providing enriching experiences for its students so they are better rounded and better able to work professionally in classrooms anywhere,” said  Professor Toni Downes, Dean of the CSU Faculty of Education. “Three weeks are spent on a cultural tour and one week is spent doing a placement in a local school. The students have to apply to go and are chosen by the Faculty based on the criteria of good academic results combined with the right personalities to be representing the University,” Professor Downes said. There are six students from the CSU Bathurst Campus, one from Wagga Wagga Campus and one from Albury-Wodonga Campus. They leave Australia on Sunday 15 June and return in the middle of July.