There has been strong interest in the third Education for Sustainability Conference: connecting classrooms and communities to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 29 October. One of the conference organisers, Ms Jan Page, lecturer at the CSU School of Teacher Education in Bathurst, said, “We have received many registrations for the 2010 conference, but anyone interested can attend on the day. The program explores ways to live lightly on the earth, with presentations by highly-regarded permaculturalist Ms Rosemary Morrow. Other topics include: transition towns, a way communities are meeting the challenges of global warming and peak oil; achieving sustainability through kitchen gardens; eco-literacy – what we need to know; empowering children; and how to build support for your programs. The conference also offers networking opportunities and a range of displays.”

Staff and students of Charles Sturt University (CSU) helped raise over $65 000 in the fight against cancer at Orange’s Relay for Life held last weekend. CSU’s 19 member team - the Wonder Walkers -  walked continuously for 18 hours to support cancer research through the Cancer Council event. Held at Endeavour Oval in Orange, the Wonder Walkers were encouraged by the thoughts of friends and family affected by cancer. “Our team walked, and ran, their hearts out for cancer research all through Saturday night and the atmosphere at the oval was tremendous,” said CSU team coordinator, Geoff Watson. The event raised a significant amount of money and gave hope to sufferers of the disease. “This is the message from Relay for Life, and it was all around me in the faces of the people who were walking beside me shoulder to shoulder,” Mr Watson said. “It is about life and about the hope that one day we will live in a world that has an answer to cancer.”

The addition of a basketball hoop to encourage recycling in the Dining Room for Charles Sturt University (CSU) students living on campus in Wagga Wagga is proving popular. The brainchild of the Catering team within the University’s Division of Student Services, the students are able to shoot goals using recyclable items. “The students have enthusiastically embraced the concept of using the recycling bin a lot as a result of the new basketball hoop,” Catering Team Leader, Mr Toby Perry, said. “The rate of recycling by the students has increased substantially. So much so, that the Division of Student Services may have to organise an additional recycling pick-up.” Also contributing to the initiative is CSU Green which was established in 2008 to promote sustainable practices at CSU. “As a result of its success in the Dining Hall, it is hoped that the idea will be extended to other student spaces next year including in the Noshpit, the student canteen area in Wagga Wagga, and at the Gums Café at the University’s Thurgoona site,” CSU Green Manager Mr William Adlong said.

An introduced pest bird, the Common Myna, is trying to make its home in Orange, an occurrence that Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic Dr Cilla Kinross is attempting to prevent. Setting traps for this major pest of national significance and removing nests is Ms Kinross’ answer to these birds. “We have spotted them nesting in and around Bunnings and Lone Pine Avenue,” Dr Kinross said. “Bunnings have been supportive of their removal and we will set traps to capture and euthanise them humanely.” A successful trapping program was started earlier this year and is about to recommence to try and catch those missed in the first round. A project run with volunteers of the Orange Field Naturalist and Conservation Society, and supported by the Orange City Council and the Central West Catchment Management Authority, was set up in the hope that the situation of these pests becoming a serious problem as seen nearby in Bathurst can be prevented. In Bathurst the Common Myna has had a negative effect on native wildlife, both birds and mammals. In many areas this species has come to totally dominate the birdlife and few natives are seen. “We can prevent the spread of these pests but we need to be vigilant and ask anyone who sees a Myna bird in their garden to contact Dr Cilla Kinross on 6365 7651,” Dr Kinross said.

Already well known for its locally produced wine, cheese and olive oil, Charles Sturt University (CSU) can add lavender to its repertoire. Known as Riverina James, the lavender was bred by Dr Nigel Urwin, a lecturer in animal genetics and gene technologies at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “Riverina James is a garden ornamental bred as a sturdy, fast growing and water-wise plant,” Dr Urwin said. “It emits a strong and pleasant fragrance from its green foliage and is a plant suitable for hedges as well as for cut flowers due to their long vase life.” Riverina James is one of five new lavender varieties bred by Dr Urwin at CSU with four others developed specially for the essential oil industry to be high oil yielding varieties. Riverina James is produced and marketed by Plant Growers Australia and is on sale through Plant Plus in Wagga Wagga and will be available next year from Bunnings as part of their Lavender Patch collection.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) dentistry student Mr Mike Azer will travel to the Northern Territory in his holidays to provide dental care in Indigenous communities. A qualified dental therapist, and in his second year of his Bachelor of Dentistry degree at CSU, Mr Azer will spend six weeks working with an assistant to help ease the pain of patients. “It’s a great way to get some life experience and also assist those who normally don’t see a dentist in their community,” Mr Azer said. When he visited the same region last year, Mr Azar experienced life in a remote area. “I see people who are in a lot of pain so I do what I can to help them and try to educate them to take better care of their oral health.” Mr Azar plans to provide similar dental care when he travels to East Timor with a group of CSU dentistry students in 2011.

As 2010 draws to a close, the lectures and exams are at an end for many students at Charles Sturt University (CSU). However a group of social work students is preparing to embark on a trip to India later this month. “This first trip to India by social work students at Charles Sturt University aims to give the students valuable international field experience working with social workers in villages between the major metropolitan centres of Mumbai and Pune in the country’s south,” said Dr Bill Anscombe, senior lecturer from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “The local social workers are very skilled at field work and work in a variety of challenging situations. It is a great opportunity for our students to see and experience international social work. The 19 students from Charles Sturt University will assist the local staff with reporting and monitoring, and experience reality there and learn about development programs.” The itinerary includes field trips to orphanages, mobile health vans, disability services, a leprosy disability institution, as well as providing opportunities to learn about micro-credits and micro-finance programmes, women’s empowerment programmes and child protection programmes. During the trip the students plan to donate to building accommodation at an orphanage in the Malvali-Lonavala district.

The Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Ian Goulter, and CSU senior executives will meet with Mr Barry O’Farrell, MP, Leader of the NSW Opposition, and Mr Andrew Stoner, MP, Leader of the Nationals, at the University in Bathurst on Wednesday 3 November. Councillor Paul Toole, the Mayor of Bathurst, will also attend in his capacity as the National Party candidate for the seat of Bathurst at the NSW state election in March 2011. The meeting will discuss strategic priorities for rural and regional NSW in the lead up to the State election including: the rural doctor shortage and CSU’s proposal to establish a rural Medical School; future collaboration on meeting State workforce needs; regional development; and, decentralisation of government services.

Continuing the Charles Sturt University ( CSU ) tradition of bringing plays by renowned Russian playwrights to audiences of the NSW Riverina, Stars In The Morning Sky is the first University Theatre Ensemble production for 2007. Directed by Russian, Leonid Verzub, Stars in the Morning Sky, traces part of the lives of four feisty Russian prostitutes, banished from Moscow during the 1980 Olympics, who find themselves in a derelict asylum. In 1979 Verzub was awarded the title of Honoured Artist of Russia and Theatre Director of the Highest Category. He was invited to Wagga by former student Dr Ashley Wain who is now an acting lecturer with CSU ’s School of Visual and Performing Arts. Dr Wain says it’s a rare opportunity for the Wagga theatre community “to see a fantastic play brought to life by such a brilliant director”. Stars In The Morning Sky plays at the Riverina Playhouse from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 March, Thursdays to Saturdays, at 8pm, with a matinee performance on 31 March at 2pm. Tickets can be booked at the Civic Theatre Booking Office or are available at the door.