The 2015 Frank Ponton Memorial Prize has been awarded to Charles Sturt University (CSU) theatre/media student Mr Stefan Elbourne. The annual prize is awarded in memory of the late Mr Frank Ponton, a lecturer in English and theatre at the CSU predecessor institution Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst. Mr Ponton was instrumental in the development of the now renowned CSU theatre/media course, and the former Little Theatre on campus was renamed the Ponton Theatre in his honour. The 2015 Ponton Prize, valued at $300, was presented to Mr Elbourne at an informal ceremony at the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst yesterday by the Head of School, Associate Professor Chika Anyanwu. Professor Anyanwu congratulated Mr Elbourne on his contribution to theatre-making at the University and in the community and urged him to continue his studies and career in theatre. Mr Elbourne thanked the University and his lecturers and said, "It's great to have this acknowledgement of my hard work, and I look forward to continuing to create theatre in its many forms." The Frank Ponton Memorial Prize is awarded to the most academically and professionally promising third-year student who has completed at least two Theatre Studies subjects undertaken through the School of Communication and Creative Industries.

Farmers across the Central West of New South Wales will have an exciting opportunity to hear and discuss first-hand the latest developments in the cropping and livestock industries when a two day forum and farm tour is held in Forbes.The Agribusiness Today Mixed Farming Forum on Thursday 13 August will look out over the horizon at options and opportunities in an ever changing agricultural environment and how farmers may embrace new technology. The Forum will be followed by a livestock and cropping field trip on Friday 14 August.Senior lecturer in agribusiness at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dr Karl Behrendt said the forum and farm tour will showcase current prices and market information for crops and livestock but also provides some forward thinking about the future possibilities for agriculture in the region."We're examining how to remain profitable in an ever changing cropping and livestock environment, and also offering an opportunity for grain producers and graziers to hear first-hand about the latest innovations in their industries," Dr Behrendt said."It's also hands on with the second day allowing producers to venture into the paddock to see how some of these innovations are being put into practice on farms.The Forum will bring together a range of speakers looking at diverse issues such as tropical grass in a central west environment, future technologies in mixed farming systems, the current state of play for grain and livestock markets, the influencer's in these markets and the outlooks.The field trip will travel to the Wirrinya Trial site to examine lime and stubble projects, cereal and canola trials and managing mice in crops. The focus will then turn to the Mattiske's shearing shed to focus on developing more efficient livestock management systems.The event is being organised by CSU, Regional Development Australia Central West, Central West Local Land Services and Central West Farming Systems.Further information, including the program, can be found here.

Breaches at four private Sydney dental clinics have put infection control into the spotlight and dental students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange will today hear from a world authority on HIV and the mouth. The guest lecture by Honorary Professor of dental research at the Menzies Health Institute in Queensland and Adjunct Professor of Dental and Oral Health at CSU, Newell Johnson is being hosted by CSU's School of Dentistry and Health Sciences. CSU Professor of Dentistry David Wilson said Professor Johnson specialises in tooth disease and disease that affect the mouth such as oral cancer and HIV/AIDS. "The talk on HIV/AIDS is particularly topical in view of the recently reported dental infection control breaches in New South Wales which highlight the clinical responsibilities of dental practitioners and their duty to be able to recognise signs of HIV/AIDS in the mouth, as these may be the first manifestation of the disease in a patient." The lecture, The Mouth and AIDS: A continuing global challenge will be held from 5:15pm in the lecture theatre 1004.120 at CSU in Orange.

Agricultural employers are being encouraged to look to the future and engage with the next generation of workers at a student-led event at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 22 July. More than 200 students from CSU's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences are expected to attend the annual careers fair, under the new banner Approaching Ag. Organiser and Bachelor of Agricultural Science student Ms Amy Walker said it's an important opportunity for students to make connections and gather information to help tailor subject choices in their final years of study. "The Australian agricultural industry is diverse, vibrant and progressive and we really want our fair to reflect that," she said. "Our message to the industry is to get involved to secure the future of your business or organisation."During the event students will meet with industry representatives and hear from CSU graduates who will share their experience of the workforce. Guest speaker Ms Alison Hamilton, a NSW runner up in the 2010 RIRDC Rural Women's Award, will talk about the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector.

The annual regional RoboCup Junior Australia challenge for school students will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Monday 20 July and CSU in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 22 July.There'll be a record number of participants with over 100 students from schools in the Central West, Blue Mountains and the Riverina competing on each day. The students will compete in three challenges, soccer, dance and rescue, using the robots they have built and programmed since completing workshops with CSU's School of Computing and Mathematics earlier this year."The RoboCup Junior competition aims to develop teamwork and technical skills in an environment of participation, fun and excitement," lecturer in the School of Computing and Mathematics Dr Allen Benter said."It's the culmination of a lot of hard work by students who have built and programmed their robots over the course of the year. It's an opportunity for students to show their ingenuity and creativity to solve complex problems."Robotics is a developing career area and perhaps some of these students will design and build the domestic, industrial and manufacturing robots of the future."The winners of the challenge will receive prizes and have the option to progress to the NSW State Competition in Sydney in August.For more information about RoboCup Junior Australia visit RoboCup's website.

A group of female students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are using their vision for Australian agriculture to organise a networking event for women in agriculture.The CSU Wagga Wagga Agricultural Club (WAC) and the NSW Farmers will co-host a Women in Ag Day, Brunch with a View at the city's Country Club at 9am on Sunday 26 July.One of the organisers and Bachelor of Agricultural Science student Ms Alexandra Trinder said, "The event will celebrate, empower and unit both current and future women leaders in agriculture."It is also an opportunity to create awareness about domestic violence with all funds raised going to the organisation, White Ribbon."Speakers include: ABC Landline presenter Ms Pip Courtney; 2014 The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl and CSU graduate Ms Brodie Chester; Southern Cotton General Manger Ms Kate O'Callaghan; lamb and wool producer Ms Vicky Geddes; and wool classer and trainer Ms Fiona Raleigh.A workshop will also be presented by Ms Courtney and AgriFood Skills Australia Business Development Manager Ms Margo Andrae on networking and the use of social media to empower women in the agricultural sector.Lecturer from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences Ms Caroline Love will be MC at the event.The Women in Ag Day, Brunch with a View is being organised by a committee of agricultural science students at CSU in Wagga Wagga including Ms Trinder, Ms Sally Poole, Ms Mikaela Baker, Ms Monica Ley, Ms Laura Bruce and Ms Ella Steinfort. Tickets are $30 for WAC members and $40 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased online here.

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) student meat judges, Ms Jessica McGrath and Ms Nikita Roberts, have been selected in the national training squad following the Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) Competition in Wagga Wagga. It caps off a successful event for the CSU team which placed third in the overall ICMJ competition and won the lamb judging and eating quality evaluation classes. Bachelor of Animal Science student Ms McGrath from Bathurst and Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science student Ms Roberts from Maitland now have the chance to be selected in a team to compete in the United States in 2016. CSU Adjunct Associate Professor Peter Wynn was also recognised with a life membership of the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association. Professor Wynn has trained more than 200 students through the program over the past 21 years and was the architect of the format for the current program. It provides the next generation of young meat scientists with four days of national training and competition in Wagga Wagga. "I've been so pleased over the past two decades to see a small competition, which previously benefitted a limited number of trainees, grow into an internationally recognised program for graduates. This development is essential for Australia's flourishing meat industries," said Professor Wynn. In 2015, 130 students from 11 Australian universities and four international teams took part in the ICMJ competition which is designed to promote careers in the meat industry.

The Bathurst Arts and Theatrical Society (BATS) will present its 2015 winter season at the Ponton Theatre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 July. BATS is a creative forum for second-year students in the theatre/media course in the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. The BATS season features three prod Not So Anderson, a seven-minute film about in Girl in Tan Boots, a delicate and funny play about love and loneliness Venetian Twins, a farcical musical comedy about mistaken identity. Marketing manager for the 2015 BATS season, Ms Erika Vass, said, "This season offers an engaging variety of form and content in the one program. I'm sure audiences will be entertained and satisfied by the talent displayed in these disparate productions." The three productions are presented each evening at 7pm Thursday 16, Friday 17, and Saturday 18 July at the Ponton Theatre (building 1434) at CSU in Bathurst. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at trybooking.com or at the door.

The Centre for Engagement and Wellness at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga will throw open its doors to the public on Monday 20 July to put its new physiotherapy facilities on display.The Open Day will be held from 10am to 1pm. It will include a free trial of two new classes, Falls Prevention Class from 10am to 11am and Smiling Spine Fitness Class from 12pm to 1pm.Clinical Supervisor Ms Rebecca Piazza said, "The Falls Prevention Class is for senior members of the community who have previously fallen or are at risk of falls. It is a fun, group session with various stations aimed at improving strength, cardiovascular fitness and balance. "We would welcome staff and students from Charles Sturt University as well as members of the local community to the spine fitness class. It is for those who sit for prolonged periods during the day, are subject to heavy or repetitive lifting, or have a history or predisposition to back pain."Both classes will run over 10 weeks from Monday 27 July at a cost of $10 per class. Bookings can be made on (02) 6051 9299 or email ahrecep@csu.edu.au.The classes involve Bachelor of Physiotherapy students under supervision of qualified practitioners. The Centre is part of the University's School of Community Health and offers podiatry and physiotherapy services to the public.Read more in CSU News here.