INSIDE: Coming Events, R U Ok? Day, Spotlight on Staff, SRC30 Free Feedback Lunch, Northern Uni Games.
USQ Fraser Coast students Ross Wright and Candice Drysdale are presented with their National Volunteer Week prizes by USQ’s Jenny Gunn (left) and Elle Green (right).
NURSING STUDENT ON NEPAL MISSION THE $50 fuel voucher Ross Wright won in a National Volunteers Week quiz recently won’t be enough to get him back to India and Nepal but the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) nursing degree he is doing probably will. “I started at USQ Fraser Coast mid-year so I’m in my first semester of my first year and it’s just great, I love it here,” the Maryborough Buddhist and yachtsman said. “It’s a dream come true; it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and it’s falling into place for me now.”
About three years ago the former Fraser Coast disability worker embarked on a spiritual journey through the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) to the Buddhist Kopan Monastery in Nepal. “While there I found out about a teaching and community health centre about 1000km from Delhi in northern India near the sacred Bodhi tree where Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment more than 2500 years ago,” Mr Wright said. “FPMT society runs the community centre with funds donated by people
such as myself. “After I finished at the Kopan Monastery, I went down to India to volunteer at the hospital for sick kids. It’s in Biha, a state with more than 85 million people in an area about the size of south-east Queensland and where one child under the age of one dies every hour. “I was there two months working with kids affected by HIV/AIDS and Cerebral Palsy, helping to make leg braces and other mobility aids alongside two New York Continued Page 2
This publication does not necessarily represent the views of University of Southern Queensland
Coming Events R U OK? Day
Thursday September 11, 11.30-12.30
R U OK? Day is a national event which inspires people to take the time to ask “Are you ok?” and listen. A conversation could change a life particularly amongst people struggling with feeling connected to others. Students will be able to decorate cupcakes in the campus café and win great prizes, but most importantly, have a conversation with someone. (Brought to you by your Student Amenities Fee.)
USQ Golden Key Chapter Information Session Wednesday September 17, 12.30pm, A139
GOLDEN Key is an international honour society that connects members with global leadership programs, partnerships, awards and opportunities. The USQ chapter of Golden Key has over 1000 alumni and current student members. Find out more about the USQ Chapter at this information session.
Paintball Challenge: Fraser Coast vs Springfield
What’s on SRC30 table? MANY pizzas were demolished and enjoyed at the last SRC 30. It was great to see everyone letting their hair down and laughing as they releaxed with others. The SRC 30 is monthly event for all students (on and off campus) and is just one of the many ways the Student Representative Council (SRC) uses your SA Fees. SRC also provides other great fun activities and entertainment throughout the year. At SRC 30, representatives mingle and ask you to answer a couple of quick questions.
This month we polled on food and drink choices as well as activites and events. On the food and drink scale, pizza won hands down, closley followed by sushi. Drink preferences were a mix of juice, water and soft drink. Many activities were suggested and there is a discussion happening now to determine the next fun-filled student event (at no extra cost to you). Come on down and catch us at SRC 30 on the last Tuesday of the month. - Sally Cripps
‘Families sleep in the streets’ From Page 1
nurses and a pharmacist and two physiotherapists from Spain. “It was an extraordinary lifechanging experience. Ever since, I’ve just wanted to go back to help these people who have little or nothing; families sleep in the streets, on railway platforms and roadsides on nothing more than cardboard or hessian bags.” Mr Wright said that about six months ago he suddenly realised nursing was his true calling. “I was almost going to go back to India and Nepal as a monk but one morning about 3am I woke up and thought ‘I’ll be a nurse!’” Listing all his diploma and certificate qualifications as well as
previous work experience, he applied for direct entry at USQ Fraser Coast and received his email letter of congratulations soon after. “I have no doubt this is what I want to do,” he said. “After I do three years’ nursing studies and graduate from USQ, I’ll work for a while to gain nursing experience, even sailing up and down the east coast to find work if needed. “Then I’ll go back to India on a volunteer’s visa for six months, then Nepal for three months, and later commute between the two.” Danielle Pascoe and Heppy Bosustow also won fuel vouchers in the USQ Fraser Coast National Volunteer Week quiz. Candice Drysdale won an iPod.
Wednesday September 24, All Day, Brisbane
THE Fraser Coast and Springfield campuses will again “duel it out” at the Annual Inter-Campus Paintball challenge, to be held on Wednesday September 24 at Tactical Operations Paintball in Brisbane. Tickets are $10.00 and free bus transport will be provided.
SRC Awards Night Friday November 14, 6pm.
KEEP an eye out for 2015 tickets!
Contact The Ashes For enquiries and newsletter contributions, email to FraserCoast.SRC@usq.edu.au
This publication does not necessarily represent the views of University of Southern Queensland
SPOTLIGHT ON STAFF
Have a chat, save a life
USQ FRASER Coast students and staff are being urged to ask friends, family and co-workers if they are ok. USQ proudly supports R U OK?Day, held annually on the second Thursday of September and encourages Australians to check in with anyone struggling with life issues. In acknowledgement of R U OK?Day, USQ Student Services and Phoenix Central be holding a morning tea for students and staff at USQ Fraser Coast on Thursday, September 11 from 11.30am to 12.30pm. The event’s aim is to promote the R U OK? campaign by helping to create a culture that fosters open dialogue about personal, emotional and mental health issues that all people in the community will encounter at some point in their lives. Participants can participate in the
activities and build on their skills to initiate connections with others. USQ student experience officer Elle Green said it was incredibly important for everyone to have regular, meaningful conversations. “There’s an emerging body of research which links supportive social relationships and a sense of social connection with protective factors in suicide prevention.” Ms Green said the R U Ok? Day event gives the USQ an opportunity to showcase the supportive community it has developed for students and staff. “This sense of community allows people to feel comfortable in approaching others when they notice that they may not be doing OK and provide the support that they may need.” For more information about R U OK?Day, please visit www.ruokday. com.
Meet Sphero at tech challenge WHO knows what or who Sphero is? Want to know what Sphero can do? Visit the USQ Fraser Coast marquee at this year’s RACQ Technology Challenge in Maryborough on September 13 and 14 and you can meet Sphero and possibly even take Sphero home. USQ Fraser Coast Executive Manager Brett Langabeer said Sphero was an interactive and engaging app-controlled robot
that worked with iOS, Android, and Windows devices and brought programming off the computer and into real life. “A whole new world of gameplay from virtual car races to playing your favourite music is waiting to be discovered with Sphero. Anyone who visits the marquee can play with a Sphero robot and enter a competition to win one of their own.” Introducing Sphero is just one of the many activities USQ will host.
Name: Meredith Young Position: Welfare Officer Tell us about your position: I help students with financial support, accommodation and tenancy advice, emergency finance and accommodation, legal referrals, and community connections. If you’re not sure if I can help you, come and see me anyway – I may know someone else who can if your situation out of my realm. How long have you worked for USQ Fraser Coast? Four years in a few different roles. Hobbies: Scrapbooking and other assorted crafts - I like to make things. I also like fishing and 4WDing. What would your superpower be? If I could choose a superpower it would be to have all of the individual superpowers combined into one super superpower. Tell us a joke. Question: What do you call an alligator dressed in a vest? Answer: An investigator. How you can contact me: You can email me at welfare@usq. edu.au or phone me or make an appointment to see me on 4194 3125.
This publication does not necessarily represent the views of University of Southern Queensland
CALL TO ARMS
PLACING third overall in women’s volleyball was the highlight of our mid-year trip to the Sunshine Coast for the Northern University Games. We also competed in women’s netball but our team finished in 10th place, ahead of two teams. It was a tough competition at the Caloundra Indoor Stadium where we played nine games and won one against USC. In the finals we won one game against USC2 and lost against Griffith University Gold Coast (GUGC). The Northern University Games
consist of various sports from netball to Ultimate Frisbee. Next year we’d like to have our own team from USQ Fraser Coast competing in the Northern University Games at Toowoomba so we urge as many students as possible to get involved. There are also various other sporting teams you can join if you wish. For more information, ask at Phoenix Central in A Block, or see any of the team captains. - Aileen McKay
USQ Fraser Coast netballers give it their best shot at the Northern University Games.
Plea to help kids in poverty smile USQ FRASER Coast Student Kristina Aylott is collecting donations of hygiene and educational supplies and used children’s clothes, shoes and toys on behalf of Smiling Hearts Association for Children (SHAC), which provides free classes to children in a non-government school in Cambodia. Kristina said the school was founded in November 2010 by Somalay (Aly) San, who grew up as an orphan in poverished conditions. “Through her own merits, Aly
overcame poverty and hardships and now devotes her life to helping underprivileged children,” she said. “English is taught to children to improve their chances of gaining employment in the region’s growing tourism sector. “Classes are held in a stable and caring environment where children can escape the negative influences their current situations bring and allows them the freedom to experience and express joy for at least a couple of hours a day.
“Lessons are run twice a day, teaching children English from kindergarten to a grade 6. Aly also instructs on hygiene, art, song and child protection policies. “The school relies solely on the generosity of others through donations and volunteers.” To donate goods, please contact Kristina via email (u1057195@umail. usq.edu.au) or drop donations into the ‘Give to SHAC’ box at Phoenix Central. For more information visit www.shac-smilinghearts.org.
This publication does not necessarily represent the views of University of Southern Queensland