Events
Staff from the Palmerston Campus will be promoting various Charles Darwin University (CDU) courses at the Palmerston Festival on 3 June. The CDU presence is being assisted by the Community and Access team.
The university was represented at the opening of the new Palmerston City Library on Sunday 23 April. The ceremony paid tribute to the dedication of the many stakeholders who took it from a concept seven years ago to the great community resource it is today.
We also had representation on April 5 at the 2006 charter signing ceremony at Palmerston High School – as part of the Palmerston Futures initiative. This initiative is supported by the Beacon Foundation and assists year 10 students to start thinking and planning for their future.
On Wednesday 3 May, the campus hosted a number of fun activities to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation and its ongoing research into leukemia related illness. Brave volunteers undertook hair cuts, shaves and hair dyes for the cause, including Jedda the Jack Russell. Neville Wiggins from Casuarina Campus (Centre for Access and English as a Second Language) undertook his Master of Ceremony duties with great ‘gusto’. Judy Goodwin-Roach from the School of Tourism and Hospitality is to be congratulated for organising this event.
Some students from the courses in business and meetings and event management are organising a fundraising masquerade dinner for Wednesday 7 June commencing 6pm at the Karawa restaurant on Palmerston Campus. The dinner will showcase our students, their organisational abilities and value to prospective employers within the Palmerston community and its surrounds. We are encouraging local businesses and industry representatives to book in groups, which will create networking opportunities and also highlight the courses available and the benefits of employing CDU students. Tickets are $30.00 per person and bookings can be made by phoning Tracey on 8946 7842.
CDU’s Palmerston Campus library at will host a morning tea for students, staff and the community on 25 May as part of National Library Week. The library is running a photographic competition for the campus community with the chance of winning dinner for two at Karawa. The competition is open to all and particularly encouraging entries from students doing the digital camera course, and the library studies multimedia course. For further information, contact Jayshree Mamtora, Palmerston Campus library, on 8946 7881 or email jayshree.mamtora@cdu.edu.au.
Courses
The next responsible service of alcohol course commences Monday 26 June, 9am to 3pm at the Palmerston Campus. The course will be held the following day in Katherine at the Katherine Training Centre. Enquiries to Oliver Budack on 8946 7864 or email oliver.budack@cdu.edu.au.
Members of Darwin and Top End Slow Food and other participants teamed up on 13 May with chef David Taylor for a cooking class with a difference. The group met in the kitchens of the School of Tourism and Hospitality at Palmerston Campus and prepared local Top End produce using the commercial turbo woks for cooking. Fundamental to the Slow Food philosophy is the appreciation and exploration of local and seasonal produce within the Northern Territory. After the cooking was finalised, the participants enjoyed the fruits of their labours! For more information on Slow Food go to www.slowfooddarwin.com.au
Karawa restaurant face-lift
The restaurant has recently undergone a face lift including a widening of the bar top, new carpet, colour scheme, PA system and the installation of climatised wine storage. The face-lift has given the restaurant a new lease of life so come and have a look.
Staff movements
Welcome back to lecturer Karen Sinclair, who is returning as a lecturer to the School of Education this semester after having been on extended leave. The campus also has Georgie Walton and Cynthia Coyne working on a shared basis as Indigenous lecturer support to the students. Welcome to both staff members. Charmaine Busch has commenced as a School Based Apprentice. Charmaine will be supervised by Nyree Terry, and will be assisted on the job by other administrative staff. Jason Wilkes has commenced as a cookery lecturer with the School of Tourism and Hospitality. Welcome back to Community and Access administrative officer Annabel Tink, who has returned after undertaking her Bachelor of Education practicum at Girraween Primary School. Farewell to retail lecturer Kathy Robertson who has left to take up work with Electro Group Training. Thanks to Kathy for her dedication to the students and assistance to others. We wish her the best in her new employment.
Student news
Thank you to tourism and hospitality student Michael Halkitis, who volunteered his hospitality services to the community for the opening of the Palmerston City Library on Sunday 23 April. Michael said he was grateful to have this opportunity as he felt it assisted him in honing his practical skills in the course.
Community and Access administration team news
Special thanks to Andrew Watters, the campus facilities officer. His duty of care, understanding about infrastructure, resources and people safety was a great relief for the staff and students preparing for Cyclone Monica. The administrative team are currently finalizing their corporate strategic plan and their Way-Ahead plan for Community and Access – engagement and interaction. The Occupational Health and Safety Group (now called Workplace Advisory Group) has been finalised, with a number of campus staff volunteering to sit on this group. They have developed their charter and have initiated some help lists and checklists to assist people with safety issues.
Report by Nyree Terry, Campus Administrator