Tickets are on sale for the annual Somerville Lecture to be delivered this year by leading Australian scientist Professor Michael Archer, AM, in Bathurst on Tuesday 26 October. Lecture organiser Dr Peter Wilson, from the School of Teacher Education at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst, said the lecture, titled ‘The extraordinary nature of the Australian fossil record in a global context’, is an opportunity to hear one of Australia’s leading scientists. “Professor Archer is an author, teacher, researcher and a leading authority on the Australian fossil record. He is also a friend of Professor Warren Somerville, who the lecture honours for the world-class fossil and mineral collection now housed at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Howick St in Bathurst.” Tickets can be purchased from the lecture venue, the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, William St, Bathurst, or by phone on (02) 6333 6161. CSU is a major sponsor of the Somerville Collection and the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum.

Final year physiotherapy student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga, Ms Ellie O’Kane, has streaked away to comfortably win the 10 000 metre event on the athletics track at the Australian University Games currently underway in Perth. CSU student support officer, Mr Nick Granger, said Ms O’Kane finished nearly a lap ahead of her nearest rival, and “is really looking forward to repeating her winning performance in the 5 000 metre race on Thursday 30 September. She would love to win the long-distance double, but expects stiffer.” Over 40 CSU students are participating in the annual event, which draws competitors from 41 universities across Australia.

Research into the behaviour of the world’s fastest bird cannot continue without state-of-the-art equipment, according to researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange, which has gained intimate access to the Peregrine Falcon. “The Peregrine Falcon is one of the world’s most iconic species and we believe our research will provide the closest 24 hour surveillance of this creature available anywhere on the globe,” says CSU’s Dr Cilla Kinross. A family of Peregrine Falcons is enjoying its third year of nesting in a specially-built box placed in the University’s water tower and, with the dedication of Dr Kinross and information technology specialist Mr Scott Banks, concealed camera equipment has been set up next to the bird’s nest. “We can view the birds’ behaviour, but we need more sophisticated equipment, including recording software, if we are to take the next step in our research,” Dr Kinross said. “We can gather fundamental information on these creatures that will be internationally regarded, but we need the right tools to do it.” Better equipment will also enable the public to watch the birds on the Internet.

The Macquarie Matrons have joined with Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dubbo Campus to offer an annual prize through the Charles Sturt Foundation for a female student from the local area to study at CSU in Dubbo. The $1 500 prize will be open to new and continuing female students from the Macquarie Valley, who can use the money for textbooks, travel and living expenses while studying. The Macquarie Matrons hope that their commitment will help make the dream of attending university more of a reality for one local student each year. “The Charles Sturt Foundation is always grateful to organisations willing to provide support to our students,” said Dr Beverley Moriarty, the Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo. “I applaud the Macquarie Matrons for their generosity and eagerness to give back to the towns they live in by creating this prize for a local student.”

A team of seven physiotherapy, nursing and paramedic students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) repeated last year’s medical assistance to mountain bike riders in the Tour de Timor race around Timor Leste. CSU physiotherapy lecturer Mr Tim Retchford led the students in their provision of medical support for the mountainous race. “Last year we treated up to 60 patients a day for everything from knee and back strains to dislocations, abrasions and fractures,” Mr Retchford said. “We dine with the competitors each morning, travel ahead of them to the finish to set up our mobile clinic, and help ‘patch them up’ at the end of the day so the riders can get back into the race the next day. Our students gain invaluable professional experience treating injured athletes as well as witnessing this amazing country and bicycle race. It is a fantastic experience.” The 410 kilometre Tour de Timor started in the capital Dili on Monday 13 September and finished back in Dili on Friday 17 September.

A two week visit to Timor Leste has brought together practice and theory in a unique cultural experience for eight students in the final year of their ecotourism degree at Charles Sturt University (CSU). The students, led by Dr Rik Thwaites from the School of Environmental Sciences at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, investigated the daily challenges faced by tourism planners, managers, operators and small Timorese communities in tourism enterprises. “Visiting a developing country and seeing the everyday activities undertaken by local people and how they lived their lives was an indescribable experience. The land, sea and local people are beautiful - so friendly, polite and welcoming,” said CSU ecotourism student, Mr Martin Hill. Fellow student, Ms Kimberley Kliska, said,  “I connected with local people and learned about their culture while participating in fun and educative experiences such as traditional cooking classes and home-stays, as well as trekking and snorkelling in places of astounding beauty. We studied ecotourism through direct experience and learned how it’s applied to a developing country while having an unforgettable experience with beautiful people in an amazing place.”

Students of Australia’s largest inland university Charles Sturt University (CSU) have been awarded seven of the nine Pharmacy Guild of Australia 2007 scholarships as part of the Guild’s Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme. Faculty of Science Dean Professor Mark Burton was “thrilled” with the announcement. “It’s a testament to our health-based courses at CSU that our students receive such positive recognition. The scholarships encourage recipients to seek work in rural and remote areas which ties in with CSU’s commitment to providing trained professionals who will enhance rural communities,” said Professor Burton. To be eligible, Pharmacy students must be from a regional, rural or remote area. The students then make a presentation to the scholarship committee. Each scholarship is worth $40 000 per student over four years.

Having recently returned from a tour of the United Kingdom (UK) through the myOE Travel Scholarship program, Charles Sturt University (CSU) communication student Mr Angus Rutherford has begun his first job even before finishing his studies. “I think the trip to the UK was a great addition to my overall university experience,” Mr Rutherford said. “As part of the scholarship I made a video which showcases my skills in that area. I showed it to [employer] Coxinall Communications and now they have me doing some visual media work as part of my role.” Scholarships like myOE are giving CSU students the ability to discover the possibilities of working professionally overseas after graduating from university. “It was good to see how easily you could get set up in the UK if you wanted to work there,” Mr Rutherford said. For now, Mr Rutherford, from Wellington, NSW, is completing his studies and enjoying his second week of full-time employment in Australia.

Twenty theatre/media students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will stage A Night In The Never Never, an outdoor flea market with music and performers, on the William Street side of Machattie Park in Bathurst on Friday evening 15 October. Event coordinator, Mr Tom Griffiths, said, “A Night In The Never Never is part of the SPRUNG Festival collection of final year theatre/media students’ major projects, and will bring together the cultures of the University and the local community in a unique atmosphere that combines elements of carnival and vaudeville in an elemental array of light and shadow, sound and silence, fire, circus and a little bit of magic. The stalls are a combination of local businesses, artists and community groups. There are some community art projects that the public can add to and these are facilitated by the students. The event aims to take the audience on a visual and auditory journey stimulated by a transformed local landmark with roving characters and performance, culminating in a loud and comedic show at the end of the night.”