Charles Sturt Foundation Trust - Impact report 2020

Foundation

2020 Donor Impact Report Building hope, change and a brighter future

Third-year accounting student Callum Wesley benefited from a Charles Sturt University Bushfire Scholarship after twice having to evacuate from the Mid North Coast bushfires.

“When I was evacuated, I had to sleep in my car with my two dogs, which wasn’t very comfortable. The roads to my hometown kept opening and closing, and some days I couldn’t get to work. When I found out I’d received a scholarship, at first I couldn’t believe it. It has made a massive difference. The funds did not just buy material items, like new equipment.

They also inspired me to keep dreaming and achieving goals.”

Contents Director’s statement

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What we achieved in 2020

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Building resilience and strengthening the Mid North Coast

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New initiative encourages First Nations students into agriculture

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Lifelong passion leads to investment in groundbreaking research

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Memorial scholarship honours a love of land and country

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Helping students keep going after devastating fires

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New scholarships 2020

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Scholarships boost possibilities

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Investment in doctors and in our future

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Alumni creating a world worth living in

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Past students help vets of the future

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The difference you can make – in the most challenging times

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Reflections on generosity

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Honour roll

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2020 Donor Impact Report

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Thank you Every donation to the Charles Sturt University Foundation is an act of generosity that creates change, empowers individuals and strengthens communities.

We know the generous gifts by our donors can far exceed their dollar value. More than providing financial backing, each gift is an active show of support, extending a hand to help students up and giving them the encouragement to keep going.

For these reasons we do not underestimate or undervalue the act of giving.

Director’s statement Generating hope in challenging times 2020 threw up significant challenges for most people and our students were certainly no exception. A month or so into the university year, our on-campus students had to return home and adapt to studying independently, while many online students faced their own challenges juggling study with working from home and home schooling their children.

And all this coming so soon after one of the worst bushfire seasons in our history. Some students lost their homes and possessions to the fires while others were unable to support their study as people were stood down and casual jobs ceased due to COVID-19. This led to a myriad of other social pressures and mental health issues that always escalate in difficult times.

As a Foundation we were acutely aware of the need for additional support, and with your generosity we were once again able to help many of those in need. Despite many of our donors facing issues of their own, we managed to retain almost all of our existing scholarships and were able to add another twenty-seven, valued at $276,000. We cannot thank you enough for this.

We also saw donors support other areas of need, including research and enhancing our academic programs. We received an incredible donation of $400,000 from Chris and Gina Grubb to establish a fund to support research into the distribution and habitats of wetlands birds, to better ensure the natural biodiversity they need to thrive.

I will remember 2020 as the year that everyone across our communities stepped up to help: through the generosity of some of our local councils we raised more than $150,000 in scholarships for our Graduate Certificate in Community Leadership and Resilience; as a Foundation we were able to establish new funds to assist students facing financial difficulty following the national bushfires and the outbreak of COVID-19; our staff raised more than $100,000 through staff giving and another $68,000 through the Wagga Wagga Staff Social Club; and through our alumni body we raised more than $58,550 for scholarships and for our Veterinary Clinic, which provided care for horses injured in the bushfires. Not only did people donate generously in the moment, many have made plans for future gifts through our bequest program. See page 26 for full details of Foundation gifts.

We know that challenging times bring out the very best in people and we were certainly witness to that in 2020.

I hope this report does justice to the impact you have had collectively, as supporters of our Foundation and as always, I thank you for your ongoing generosity.

Sarah Ansell Director, Advancement Office CEO, Charles Sturt Foundation Trust

In another act of wonderful generosity Alf Salter gifted $100,000 to kick-start a major project to embed First Nations agricultural practices into our agriculture degrees and establish scholarships for our First Nations students in this field.

2020 Donor Impact Report

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What we achieved in 2020 Scholarships

Appeals

Donations and gifts

$1,065,051

$650,861

16 gifts worth

27 new scholarships worth $440,300

4

$571,598.40

Active funds

Staff giving

Bequests

$543,363

$107,498.06

$20,000

2020 Donor Impact Report

481 total active donors 266 staff donors 112 new donors 38 alumni donors 15 new alumni donors 13 international donors 5 foundations and trusts

2020 Donor Impact Report

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Building resilience and strengthening the Mid North Coast By supporting residents to pursue higher education, the program aims to inspire people in the workplace, community and voluntary organisations, and help recipients to lead positive change – fostering resilience and stronger community connections to build a brighter future.

General Manager of Bellingen Shire Council Ms Liz Jeremy said, “The Mid North Coast Joint Organisation of Councils has committed to understanding each of our communities’ priorities and concerns.

Director of External Engagement, Kate Wood-Foye (second from left), with representatives from the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation

By establishing 39 new scholarships in partnership with local council, donors to Charles Sturt University are playing a vital role in rebuilding communities on the Mid North Coast of NSW hit by the devastating effects of drought, bushfire, floods and COVID-19.

“Our region has weathered a range of challenges across recent times around years of drought, fires, floods and now COVID-19, which highlights an understanding of the need to work in a much more focused way around the environmental social and economic impacts Bellingen faces now and into the future.

“The Community Leadership and Resilience Network project is a key enabler to responding to what our communities have told us about what is important, enhancing council and community capacity, and creating a cohort with expertise in what continues to be imperatives for the ongoing wellbeing of our communities.”

Together, Charles Sturt and the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation have created 39 MidCoast Council Community Leadership and Resilience Scholarships, worth $1200 each, for current and aspiring community members to build leadership capacity and develop collaborative strategies for the region’s recovery.

Scholarship recipients do not need to be current students at Charles Sturt but must complete two micro-subjects from Charles Sturt’s Graduate Certificate in Community Leadership and Resilience – Building Community Resilience and Leading Change – which were developed in consultation with the local community.

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2020 Donor Impact Report

Director of External Engagement, Kate Wood-Foye (second from left), with recipients from the first cohort of the Community Leadership and Resilience support scholarships

New initiative encourages First Nations students into agriculture “We think the Indigenous Agriculture Project at Charles Sturt’s Wagga campus is a very practical approach to not only educating young aborigines in agricultural management practices but also sharing their experiences which have been developed over 60,000 years. Fire management in native forests is one very obvious area in which Indigenous Elders could teach more effective methods of undergrowth control - starting immediately.

“With the assistance of the Charles Sturt Foundation, we have developed a proposal and are actively seeking additional financial support for the initiative beyond the initial contributions we have received from Indigenous organisations and other benefactors.”

Emeritus Professor Jim Pratley and PhD candidate Josh Gilbert

Australian agriculture cannot afford to ignore the learning of First Nations people, who have been managing the land for thousands of years.

This is the central belief of Charles Sturt University’s Indigenous Agriculture Initiative, which will support First Nations students to pursue a career in agriculture and contribute to research about Indigenous agricultural and land management practices.

The initiative was inspired by Emeritus Professor Jim Pratley’s observations of the low number of Indigenous graduates in agricultural science Australia-wide and the under-representation of First Nations people in the agricultural sector for generations.

Professor Pratley also acknowledged that while Charles Sturt was the leader in both First Nations student enrolments and in agricultural graduates, there were few First Nations agriculture graduates.

“There needs to be a systematic approach to create a continuous cohort of Indigenous undergraduates leading to industry employment,” Professor Pratley said.

Foundation Donor, Alf Salter heard Jim speak at an event about the initiative and was compelled to assist.

“My wife Mari and I recognise our good fortune and the gap that exists between indigenous communities and white communities. The federal government has failed miserably in ‘bringing the gap’ and frankly, we believe it is up to each of us to create more opportunities for indigenous people.

Alf and Mari Salter

The inaugural research higher degree student in the program is Worimi man, Josh Gilbert.

Australian Geographic 2016 Young Conservationist of the Year, Josh said he has been inspired by Charles Sturt’s ability to lead the dialogue about First Nations agriculture.

“Over the past few months, the university has shown a deep empathy to work with our communities and listen to our experiences and dreams.

“This program has the potential for Australian agriculture to leapfrog our thinking and discussions in this area, particularly to empower Indigenous peoples in the space to speak on our own behalf.”

If you’re passionate about agriculture and First Nations outcomes, the university has set an ambitious fundraising goal to deliver this important initiative. Read more here: csu.edu.au/office/advancement/giving-to-csu/active-funds/ indigenous-agriculture-initiative 2020 Donor Impact Report

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Lifelong passion leads to investment in groundbreaking research

Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus)

Wetlands support approximately 40 per cent of the world’s biodiversity.

They play a critical role in the health of humans and the planet as a whole.

But to protect them we must first understand them. Chris and Gina Grubb know this well, generously donating $400,000 to new research that will improve our understanding of these valuable ecosystems.

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2020 Donor Impact Report

Chris and Gina Grubb are driven by a desire to ensure future generations can appreciate nature and biodiversity, as they have.

Growing up in South Africa, Chris dreamed of becoming a farmer or a veterinarian. But life had other plans and instead of working with animals, he entered the financial sector. He now has more than 40 years’ experience as an investment fund manager in Asia and Australia.

However, his love of the natural world never left him.

Through the years, he has been involved in the Bush Heritage Board, including three years as its president.

Chris and Gina continue to give their time and money to various conservation efforts – now including a new Charles Sturt-led research that will help build a better understanding of Australia’s wetland birds.

“It was during my student days, when camping and birding, that I first developed an appreciation of how growing human populations and resource extraction threatened many of the world’s ecosystems. I realise that even a small contribution in money or kind could still make a difference, and it made me feel good to be contributing.

This project will also inform new ways of dealing with big data. The process of harnessing artificial intelligence to crunch through vast datasets looking for a single ‘squeak’ or ‘squark’ has applications far beyond this project – from remote medical diagnostics to the interpretation of satellite imagery.

“The primary aim of the research we are supporting is to enhance knowledge of a relatively hidden aspect of the bird world, so we know better what destroying wetlands is costing the environment and its species. The second aim is to apply groundbreaking Australian technology to bird monitoring, which we hope will have global application.”

“Nature is not just a source of inspiration for us. It also provides mental and physical therapy in an increasingly busy and congested world. Our aim is to contribute to better understanding nature so we can appreciate more fully its complexity and wonder, which will hopefully help us learn to protect and care for it better and not just see it as something to be exploited or conquered.”

By combining ecology and computer science to identify the distribution of wetland birds by monitoring their sounds, it’s hoped that the research will vastly improve our understanding of breeding in response to climatic and seasonal factors and improve on-ground management of both private and public wetlands across Australia.

If you’re interested in learning more or helping this vital research to continue, visit csu.edu.au/office/advancement/giving-to-csu/ active-funds/eavesdropping-on-wetland-birds

Gina and Chris Grubb

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Memorial scholarship honours a love of land and country Leslie James Symonds was born in July 1920, the third son of James and Ruth Symonds. Brother to Bobby, Kath, Alex and Ron, Leslie grew up on the family farm, Ellerslie Park, near Willow Tree in NSW. From an early age he had a love of the land and animals.

After completing his Leaving Certificate at Hurlstone Agricultural High in 1939, Leslie enrolled to study veterinary science at Sydney University in 1940. After just two years of his course, he enlisted with the RAAF, in September 1942.

Leslie completed many missions as an aircrewman in the RAAF until his plane was shot down near Royan, France, on 5 January 1945.

Nephew Geoff Symonds said the family had always kept the memory of his uncle alive but wanted another way to commemorate Leslie’s life and service to his country – something that was a fitting tribute to his interests.

“Every year around ANZAC Day, I have thought of doing something in the way of remembrance.

“My father fondly remembered his brother and maintained a connection with the Sydney Uni vet association for many years because of Leslie.

Leslie James Symonds

country, we feel we have honoured the memory of Les, who had hoped to realise that same dream when he returned home at the end of the war.”

“The Les Symonds Memorial Scholarship is offered to an individual from our local community (a resident of the Liverpool Plains Shire) to complete a course in veterinary or animal science at Charles Sturt. If we can help a young person fulfil the dreams of continuing along the lines of vet or animal science and possibly remain in our part of the 10

2020 Donor Impact Report

A memorial scholarship is a fitting way to honour the memory of a loved one. Charles Sturt University Advancement Office is on hand to assist you through this process. If you wish to learn more about establishing your own legacy, please email advancement@csu.edu.au or call Kirstie Grady on 02 6338 4834.

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Helping students keep going after devastating fires As bushfires ravaged much of Australia’s east coast in late 2019, the Charles Sturt Foundation responded in the best way it could, establishing a Regional Impact Fund to provide vital support and alleviate the financial burden on fire-affected students.

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2020 Donor Impact Report

Georgia’s world changed overnight Georgia Terlich was one of six students to receive a Charles Sturt Bushfire Scholarship worth $5,000.

Georgia received the scholarship in 2020 while completing her Bachelor of Nursing in Bathurst. It was to be one of the hardest years of her life so far.

“I was 10 days into finally being 18, and excited about being an adult and enjoying all the things in life that comes with finding your place in the world, and all that great stuff they tell you about. But yeah, 10 days in and I lost everything that was my childhood and everything that I knew overnight.

“COVID hit and campuses closed, and we all had to go back home. With that I lost my employment, and also as a farm kid, I am not eligible for any government support, mainly because we own too much land and that’s considered an asset. So, when the fires happened, the land is income, but you lose the land, so there’s no income, but yet it’s still an asset.”

Georgia acknowledges that the scholarship provided a safety net in a time of great uncertainty.

“The Charles Sturt Bushfire Scholarship made a significant difference to start off my education, clearly financially. It allowed me to allocate certain expenses to all aspects of my learning, but to also have a safety net, which was so important at the time, not having that in the first place. To feel like I wasn’t a burden on the family. I needed that independence and to just focus.”

Callum vows to make an impact Like Georgia, third-year accounting student Callum Wesley benefited from a Charles Sturt University Bushfire Scholarship, twice having to evacuate from the Mid North Coast bushfires and sleep in his car with his two dogs.

“At the time of the bushfires I was living at a property in Tinonee on the banks of the Manning River near Taree. The Hillville bushfire, only 12 kilometres from Tinonee, was one of the biggest fires in the state at the time, and it didn’t take long for it to spread.

“The entire bushland in Tinonee was burnt out, but thanks to the Rural Fire Service and the Fire and Rescue Squad all houses were saved. Unfortunately, in surrounding areas such as Rainbow Flat, Bobin, and Hillville many people lost their homes.”

Callum describes it as an emotionally draining time made especially difficult not knowing what was happening at home and trying to juggle the demands of “normal life”.

“When I evacuated, I had to sleep in my car with my two dogs, which wasn’t very comfortable. The roads to Tinonee kept opening and closing, and some days I couldn’t get to work.

“When I found out I’d received a scholarship, at first I couldn’t believe it. It has made a massive difference.

I moved out of the Tinonee bushland where the fire occurred into Taree where I feel more protected. The scholarship allowed me to set up a study space and the new equipment makes me even more motivated to study, and I’m able to do so comfortably.

“The funds did not just buy material items, they inspired me to keep dreaming and achieving goals. I feel as though I owe something back to my scholarship donors and I believe that through striving and being the best student that I can possibly be, I will make an impact.”

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New scholarships 2020 Whenever a donor offers a new scholarship, we are humbled, grateful and more than a little excited.

Charles Sturt University Reddies Scholarship

One in five regional students regularly go without food and are juggling full-time study with an average of 30 hours paid work each week, which can compromise their ability to meet their potential.

The Hayes Scholarship

We get excited about new scholarships because that means we have more ways to give Charles Sturt University students the freedom to concentrate on their studies knowing their necessary expenses – accommodation, living costs, text books and computers – are covered.

In some instances, a scholarship is the only thing that makes starting or completing university education possible. Beyond relieving financial pressure, we hear time and again from our grateful scholarship recipients that a greater reward is knowing someone believes in them.

Our thanks to our donors who provided the following new scholarships in 2020.

NSW Public Libraries Association Scholarship Department of Primary Industries Scholarship Rotary Club of Hall Scholarship

Angel Family Scholarship Chris and Gina Grubb Ornithology Scholarship Boyce Chartered Accountants Scholarship Community Resilience Scholarships • Albury City Council • Kempsey Shire Council • Port Macquarie-Hastings Council • Bellingen Shire Council Cotton Australia Scholarship Laurel Trinidad Conservation and Research Scholarship Central NSW Joint Organisation of Councils Medicine Scholarships James McInerney Memorial Scholarship Australian News Channel Pty Ltd - Sky News Scholarships McDonalds Young Farmers Scholarship Rotary Club of Liverpool West Scholarship Les Symonds Memorial Scholarship

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Scholarships boost possibilities Indymarra Prize in her third year. These funds allowed her to buy a new laptop and pay for a babysitter to look after her two children, which helped ease the pressures of studying and provided much-needed encouragement.

“Apart from the financial side of things, the scholarships really boosted my confidence. I tend to not have a lot of faith in my own abilities, so to know that someone thought I was doing well enough to fund my studies really helped to boost my confidence in continuing. I thank them for being my motivation to keep going. I pushed myself that bit more because I knew people had invested in me.”

Sophie Pitt

A proud Erub woman from the Torres Strait, and the first in her family to attend university, Sophie Pitt knows hard work and determination. She also knows that a bit of help from scholarships can provide a powerful boost to what’s possible.

When Sophie Pitt was growing up, she never dreamt she’d go to university, let alone receive a University Medal for her outstanding scholarly results.

“My mum is from Parkes and my dad is from Far North Queensland, but I grew up in Shellharbour. In my early thirties, I got a position as an Aboriginal mental health trainee and pursuing the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) at Charles Sturt was part of the job. I didn’t finish high school, so study took some getting used to but because I enjoyed the content of the course so much, it made it a lot easier to keep up with everything.”

Sophie’s aptitude for study and drive to succeed were recognised when she received the Moya Crowe Memorial Scholarship in the second year of her studies and the

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2020 Donor Impact Report

Graduating in 2020 with distinction, Sophie said receiving the University Medal in recognition of her results was like a dream and she was shocked when she was notified she had won.

“I didn’t even know university medals were a thing!

I was surprised and proud of myself, which doesn’t happen very often. My family were just as proud but less surprised. They saw how much uni took it out of me and they were proud that I was being acknowledged for my hard work.”

Since graduating, Sophie has been working as an Aboriginal mental health clinician and said that after the three years of working full-time and studying full-time, she needed a break – especially after the year that was 2020.

“For now, I’m concentrating on work and trying to get as much clinical experience as I can, but I am planning to do go back and do Honours and then a PhD, as I would like to get into policy development and research. And there are not really that many Indigenous PhD candidates. I want to add to that number.

“None of this was even on my radar back in high school.

If 17-year-old Sophie could see me now!”

Investment in doctors and in our future “Coming into medicine, I was working full-time, and I’ve got two kids at home, so the financial responsibilities have been a lot. With this scholarship, I don’t have to think about finances, and I don’t have to work as much. I can split my time between my kids and my study. I am just so grateful.”

– Ms Sarudzai (Saru) Mukonowatsauka “Like many students, I have two part-time jobs and this scholarship means I can get rid of one of those and focus on doing well in my degree. I also have my own shorthorn cattle stud and it’s taken me so long to build up a sizeable herd. This scholarship means I can hold onto my best females and I don’t have to get rid of them because I am strapped for cash.” – Miranda Eyb (Left to right) Scholarship recipients Heidi Annand from Bathurst, Miranda Eyb from Cudal, Sarudzai (Saru) Mukonowatsauka and Councillor John Medcalf

The future of our regional communities and regional doctors both became much brighter thanks to a significant contribution from the Central NSW Joint Organisation (CNSWJO).

After years of advocacy to attract health professionals to the region and strong lobbying for the development of the Charles Sturt and Western Sydney University Joint Program in Medicine, in 2020 the CNSWJO funded $75,000 in scholarships for students studying medicine at Charles Sturt University’s Orange campus.

Councillor John Medcalf OAM, Chair of CNSWJO and Mayor of Lachlan Shire Council, said Central NSW councils are staunch supporters of growing their health workforce and they will continue to support the university’s program – because the data backs it up.

“By supporting our young people to study and become the health workforce of tomorrow, we hope they will stay working in the regions.”

“Having a scholarship gives you that boost of confidence, motivation and accountability to keep achieving within the course.” – Heidi Annand

Doctors for the Future Fund In December 2020, the Doctors for the Future Fund was established to support new students enrolled in the new Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University Joint Program in Medicine, helping future regional students overcome financial barriers when studying.

The vision is to ensure that students have access to financial support through scholarships to steward them through the course and have access to learning resources equal to their metropolitan counterparts – by extension, improving the quality of life of regional and rural Australians through better access to quality healthcare.

You too can support future doctors. Visit csu.edu.au/ office/advancement/giving-to-csu/doctors-for-the-future for details.

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Alumni creating a world worth living in Our donors often tell us that seeing Charles Sturt University graduates making a difference in the world is the ultimate outcome for them, and the reason they give so generously to the university. Your support as donors means that our students can do the work they love and make this a world worth living in – like Master of Information Technology graduate Andrej Verity, who was recognised in our inaugural Alumni Awards, launched in August 2020.

It was while working in the UN’s Geneva office in 2010 that Andrej was sent to Haiti after a huge earthquake devastated the small nation. Six months later, he was in Pakistan in the wake of massive floods. These events were described by the UN as ‘the largest humanitarian crises the UN and its humanitarian partners have ever responded to’.

Although not deployed in person to crises in Libya and Japan in 2011, Andrej was appointed the strategic and technical lead in the OCHA’s collaboration with the emerging Volunteer and Technical Community during these times.

Andrej Verity

Service to the Community Award Playing a humanitarian role in some of the world’s biggest disasters and other major crises, Andrej Verity has been working as a disaster responder on the global stage ever since he was awarded his Master of Information Technology through Charles Sturt University in 2010.

Hailing from the small Canadian town of Carnduff in the province of Saskatchewan, Andrej is an information management officer at the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York and a co-founder of the Digital Humanitarian Network.

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2020 Donor Impact Report

Between responding to emergencies, Andrej leads OCHA’s multi-skilled shared digital services team providing strategic end-to-end service development and managing platformas-a-service support to a variety of sites ranging from ReliefWeb to the Humanitarian Data Exchange, and the Financial Tracking Service.

For Andrej, the key to his career success is simple.

“I have a passion for simple and sometimes even seemingly childish innovative new concepts. I want people to collaborate with me to find the best solutions, new ideas, problems with my logic, and new bits that make my ideas work. I want to put my pieces on the table and start working.

I do not believe that I have brilliant ideas, but rather I want to discover them.”

And the winners are…

From almost 100 entries, five winners and two highly commended submissions were chosen in each of four categories. Along with Andrej, the winners are…

Professional Achievement

Alison Michalk Alison graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) in 1997.

She now lives in Avoca, NSW and is the CEO and Founder of Quiip, a leader in online community management and moderation services.

Young Alumnus of the Year

Dr Sarah Verdon Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science (Speech Pathology) (Honours) in 2006 and obtained her PhD from Charles Sturt in 2015. Sarah’s research aims to inform the development of high-quality, equitable and culturally responsive health and education services for children.

Professional Achievement (Research)

Dr Kathryn Crowe Kathryn completed her PhD studies in 2013 and was awarded a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship to pursue research at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in the United States. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Iceland.

Association Member

Simon Selvakumar Simon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations and Organisational Communications) in 2001.

Currently living in Singapore, he has been the Charles Sturt Alumni Coordinator for Singapore since 2002 and is also the founder of Dark Glass, which helps disadvantaged communities gain access to resources.

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2020 Donor Impact Report

Past students help vets of the future Armed with firsthand knowledge, a desire to make a difference and a deep gratitude for their own Charles Sturt University experience, veterinary science alumni are ‘paying it forward’ through a fund established to help students during their final years of study.

Nobody understands the rigors of studying veterinary science and the challenges of extended unpaid work placement better than those who have been there before.

Alistair Grant

That’s why a small group of alumni have banded together to create the Alumni Veterinary Student Fund, raising money to go towards bursaries for current students.

Since kicking off in 2020, the fund has already raised more than $50,000.

Alistair Grant is one of the driving forces behind the fund. Graduating from the veterinary science degree in 2010, Alistair is now a director of a veterinary practice in Mackay, Queensland. He is grateful for his experiences during his study, which included time spent at UC Davis in California on an externship.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re going to America, going to rural and remote Australia or you want to spend time at a big city specialist clinic, what we as alumni would like to see is students coming through with the opportunity to experience as much as possible in their final year of placements – without having to limit themselves due to finances.”

Alistair explained that one of the big drivers behind establishing the fund was industry sustainability, saying graduate expectations and the reality of private practice can often be quite different, leading to an alarming number of people dropping out of the industry altogether.

“The ability to see as much as possible in that final year allows students to realise how much is available within our industry. I always feel disappointed when we’re receiving job applications from graduates and I see final year placements limited to one area because they were unable to afford to travel, or to move about to different areas to experience more.

“And that’s exactly what we’re aiming to do with this fund – to provide bursary funds so students can make the most of all the opportunities that present themselves in their final year, meaning they’re better able to fulfil their professional lives. In the years to come, we hope the fund also helps to create a strong sense of community among the Charles Sturt veterinary alumni.”

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The difference you can make – in the most challenging times Recipient of the Australian Library and Information Association Scholarship

Recipient of the CO2 Australia Regional Professionals Scholarship

Claire Sadler

Rachel Habermann

Master of Education (Teaching Librarianship)

Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management

2020 definitely impacted me in many ways, as it did everyone in our community. I work and live in Melbourne, so some of those challenges were exacerbated. I was working part time as a casual primary teacher before the pandemic struck and have not worked since April.

I also felt isolated, as I live away from my family and was experiencing lockdown by myself. Studying in such a climate is definitely new to me! However, I persevered and did the best I could with what I had.

My scholarship was an incredible gift for this year. I was able to use the funds to purchase a new laptop, which greatly increased the accessibility of my study, and I believe resulted in higher quality of work as I was able to utilise new software and graphics. Secondly, as I was not able to work for most of this year, my scholarship was a huge help financially to support myself day to day.

Thank you so much for your assistance and scholarship – it has truly been a highlight of my year.

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2020 Donor Impact Report

I was stood down at all three of my casual jobs in March and was unemployed until June when the pub that I work at re-opened. My scholarship allowed me to continue my studies through the financial hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without this money I may not have had access to the resources necessary to continue my degree.

If there was ever a year to be most thankful for such a generous scholarship – it is 2020. A lot of financial ups and downs have made me appreciate my access to education so much more and to have been afforded this scholarship in such a treacherous year is truly a blessing.

This scholarship genuinely saved me and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity to continue learning and developing the skills I need to make a genuine change in this world.

Recipient of the White Family Prize Isabella Jacobson Bachelor of Education, K-12

2020 provided an abundance of obstacles and challenges that I had to overcome in order to finish my degree.

One of the biggest struggles this year was in regard to finances. I work at Rydges at Mount Panorama and teach casually at schools around the diocese, and both of these jobs were reduced to the point that I was unemployed for four months at the start of this year.

Additionally, both of my pracs had to be away from home, with four weeks spent in Mudgee and six weeks spent in Tamworth. I was expecting to have a long time in between pracs so that I could save money. This didn’t occur because of school closures and the need to get my pracs done so that I could graduate on time. The scholarship money relieved some of this stress, as I was able to put it aside for food and my accommodation.

Thank you so very much for this scholarship. I am absolutely blown away with your generosity and I hope, one day, I will be in the position where I can pay it forward and potentially be a donor myself.

Recipient of the Charles Sturt Foundation Persistence Scholarship Patricia Bordignon Master of Speech Pathology

This year has been very challenging, with COVID-19 changing the way we live. I lost my job in March and was unemployed for a few months. This added stress about how I would be able to afford rent and bills being a single mother. There was home-schooling, which meant there was limited time to apply to my studies as I was teaching my three children. These complications added to an already stressful mature-age student who was trying to balance work, kids and studying.

The scholarship helped with attending residential schools and a workplace learning opportunity in Albury. This has been a mammoth year of changes and stress. The scholarship has allowed me to pay for the things that I had planned for, such as textbooks, but also for the things that were unplanned which came along with COVID-19.

I don’t think I would have been able to continue with university this year without the scholarship and I am truly grateful to the donor for their generosity.

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Reflections on generosity Blue Lucine is a documentary filmmaker. She uses her films to tell stories of social injustice. In 2019 her feature documentary The Eviction was broadcast on SBS. Five years in the making, it tells the story of a small public housing community in the Rocks in Sydney fighting to save their homes from a forced government sell off. She has also created A Thousand Suns telling the story of nine-year-old Kumeran living for more than 1000 day in immigration detention.

And Asking for It, a compelling story of a sexual assault survivor trying to navigate the criminal justice system.

A gift at a crucial moment

Making a connection

Blue’s filmmaking journey started at Charles Sturt University, where she studied her bachelor’s degree in theatre media.

Receiving the Tim Durick Memorial Scholarship in 2007 proved crucial to Blue not only finishing her course, but also going on to forge her successful career.

“The day that I received the scholarship was very emotional.

Meeting Kevin and Pam [the scholarship donors] was tender and special. They embraced me like I was someone who mattered, even though they’d never met me. It gave me a quiet, inner confidence that encouraged me to pursue my studies with renewed excitement. I felt connected to something bigger, and the belief that they showed in me propelled me onwards.

“I still remember the feeling when I found out I was the scholarship recipient. It was a combination of shock, delight and a feeling of responsibility. I’d had a difficult start to my studies and was managing to get back on my feet just as I applied for the scholarship.

“I can honestly say it played a huge role in boosting my confidence, reminding me life was precious and needed to be cherished – and the best a could do was choose to live with courage and compassion. I haven’t always succeeded, but trying is what matters.”

“Because I had been considering leaving my course. I felt out of my depth – and the Bathurst winters did not suit me!

Receiving the scholarship was the kick I needed to say ‘Hey, darkness, you don’t get a say. Life is fleeting, so I going to get it while I can.’”

Blue acknowledges that the scholarship gave her more than money.

“To Kevin and Pam I say, besides the money, your scholarship gave me something nothing else could back in 2007. Belief in myself. When I met you, I was touched by your kindness, open arms and genuine interest in who I was and what I was doing. Thank you.”

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2020 Donor Impact Report

“Thank you from the 20-year-old me, whose life you changed in a fragile moment. And thank you from the 33-year-old me, who is a kinder, braver and stronger person as a result.”

Blue Lucine

2020 Donor Impact Report

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Honour roll We thank our donors for sharing in our ethos - the Wiradjuri phrase yindyamarra winhanganha, which means the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in.

Annual donors

Bush Children’s Education Foundation of NSW

ADFAS Riverina Inc

Calvary Health Care Riverina

Agnes and Tansi McInerney

Carrathool Shire Council

Albury Lions Club AlburyCity Council Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service

Central NSW Joint Organisation Charles Sturt Campus Services

Kooringal High School

CSU Residence Life

Lions Club of Port Macquarie Tacking Point

CSU Rugby Alumni CSU Sports Council Dr Doug Bryden Dr Laura McFarland Dubbo Regional Council

Mary Davidson McDonalds Australia Michael Trinidad MidCoast Council

Charles Sturt University Reddies

Elizabeth Scahill

Chris and Gina Grubb

Essential Energy

CO2 Australia

Frangopoulos family

Colgate Palmolive Pty Ltd

Geoff Symonds and family

Costa Group

Hastings Co-op

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW)

Cotton Australia

HV McKay II Memorial Fund

Regional Australia Bank

Berrigan Shire Council

Country Women’s Association of NSW

Inland Rail

Reliance Bank

Blooms the Chemist

James and Karen Hayes

Cowra Shire Council

Rennylea Pastrol Company Pty Ltd

Boston Private Wealth

CSIRO

Australian Library and Information Association Australian Rail Track Corporation Bathurst (Mitchell) Student Representative Committee Bathurst Regional Council Bellingen Shire Council

Boyce Chartered Accountants Brown & Associates

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Casella Family Brands

CSU Mitchell Rugby

2020 Donor Impact Report

CSUgive Division of Finance

Janet Roberton Kempsey Shire Council Kevin and Pam Durick

Murrumbidgee Council NSW Public Libraries Assoc.

Oilseeds Pty Ltd Australia Open Colleges Pty Ltd

Rigby family Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils

Riverina Water County Council

White Family

Ron Camplin OAM and Stephanie Camplin OAM

Wodonga Football and Sports Club

Rotary Club of Albury-Hume

ZONTA Club of Orange

Bathurst Teachers’ College Alumni Association Fund

Bernice Campus Dianne Constable

Rotary Club of Dubbo South

Imelda Deller

Active funds Alumnigive

Rotary Club of Liverpool West

Judith Doulman

Rotary Club of Tallangatta

David Stuart

Rotary Club of Yenda Rowe Scientific Sidney and Katie Lin Sky News Australia Snowy Valleys Council St Martin’s College Temora Shire Council The Angel Family Trust The Walter and Eliza Hall Trust Veronica Madigan Veolia Mulwaree Trust Wagga Wagga RSL Club Wagga Wagga RSL Sub Branch Wagga Wagga Staff Social Club

Charles Sturt University Foundation General Fund Wasem Afzal

Helen Egan

Charles Sturt University Foundation Rural Relief Scholarship Fund

Bruce Fairhall

Wagga Wagga Takes 2 fundraiser

Judith Dries

Leone Fairweather

Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga Wollundry

Helen Hobbs

Beverley Bowyer

Rotary Club of Albury North

Rotary Club of Hall

Blair Milan Fund

Alumni Veterinary Student Fund

Edward Harpley

Ahwahness Investments

Margaret Herbert

Rebecca Brabin

Marion Iles

Nicole Burns

Elaine Irvin

Victoria Grillo

Valda Jeffcoate

Andrew Hancock

Brian Keighran

Holbrook Breeders Australia

Constance Kelly

Shahid Khalfan

Betty Meehan

Andrew Lamont

Gail Metcalf

Thomas Loughnan

Sandra O’Brien

Zoe Manning

Ralph Rawlinson

Sarah McGrath

Enid Rose

Matthew Muir

Gareth Thomas

Tristan Robinson

Margaret Webb

Tallangatta and Kiewa Veterinary Clinics

Patricia Zanetic

Charles Sturt University Student Hardship Fund – COVID-19 Jennifer Nicholls Andrew Vann William Watson Dawn Rigby Memorial Scholarship Fund Anne Oliver Antony Rigby Ben Rigby and Annette Shervey Carolyn Rigby Doctors for the Future Fund Danny O’Keefe Milston Professional Advisory Naswrin Moin Jennifer Nicholls

2020 Donor Impact Report

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Dr Judith van der Wal Award

Jackie and Rob Williams

Christine Hewitt

NSW Ministry of Health

Peter and Gae Fishlock

Lorraine Barton

Wagga Wagga Teachers College Alumni Association Scholarship Fund

Alastair Whiting family

Chole Bennett

David Farmer

Malinda Sherrard

Elizabeth McRae

Wagga Wagga Teachers College Alumni

Ivana Agapiou

Pauline Allin

Jess McLennan Memorial Fund

Department of Human Services - Liverpool

O’Connell and Manoza Families

Amanda Smart

Deidre Poll

Stephanie Johnson

Dr Peter Hodgson Fund Barry Yau Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language Development Wagga Wagga City Council Rebecca Wotzko Indigenous Agriculture Initiative Fund Graham Eagleton

Professor John Carroll Memorial Fund

Ted and Sally Wolfe Jacob Berry Memorial Fund

Anne and Bernard Hart Bathurst Broadcasters Pty Ltd Bathurst Teachers College Alumni

Tony McGrane Fund

Jane and Elise Diamond

Bob and Pam Knight

Dr Beverley Moriarty

Janice Kruesmann

Celia Bevan

Gilgandra Shire Council

Diane McMurray

Parkes Shire Council

Central West Medical Association

Kym Fizzell

Josefien Bos

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Linda Laing

AlburyCity Council

Jade McAndrew

Julie Martello

David Oliver Alf Salter

Marnie Woodhead

Corpus donors

Lin Van Oevelen

Charles Sturt University Foundation

Janette Burge

VCC Emergency Bushfire Veterinary Treatment Fund

Maree Skinner

Copyright Agency

Janette Burge

Marsha McElroy

Evan Nickols

CSU Pharmacy Foundation

Neil and Anne Cole

Alison Williams

Sabine Schmoelzl

Carmen Hanson

Jessica Kranenbarg

Emily Nolan

CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Bob and Kelly Holloway

Robert and Mary Lou Thornbury

Linda Chee

Hannah Stack

Jane Pike

Geoff Turner

Dr Oliver and Mrs Heather Fiala, AM

Danielle Tacon

Abbey Long Eventing NZ

Diane Middleton

Dr Bal Krishan

Annette Traise

Amanda Gudmundsson

Margaret Judith Bruechert

Dr Doug Stace

Sarah-Jane Berry

Rachel McGowan

Hartpury University and College

Dr John and Mrs Lynn Reid

Jenine Hayman

Gayle Cresswell and

2020 Donor Impact Report

Derek Ingold

Dr Ron Camplin FC Pye Rural Australian Foundation Felicity Taylor-Edwards Fitzpatricks Real Estate George and Isabel Tuck Goulburn College of Advanced Education Alumni Gerry Baber and Helen Baber, OAM Laura and John Knight

Sustainable Agriculture Research Group

Russell Selfe

Bland, Vanessa

Mark Smyth

Blomfield, Jacqueline

Vetafarm (Dr Tony Gestier)

Robyn Stinson

Bond, Jennifer

Waerawi Farming

Sheila and Geoff Swain

Boulton, Cheryl

Wagga Agricuture College Old Boys Union

Valerie Cox

Bourke, Gayleen

VP Bragg

Boxshall, Melissa

William John Banks

Boyle, Emily

Wagga Wagga City Council Wagga Wagga Local Aboriginal Land Council Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College Alumni Association

National Tertiary Education Union CSU Branch

Widgewa School

Riverina Eastern Organisation of Councils Riverina Media Group (Fairfax Media) Roger and Jean Morrow Rotary Club of Albury Rotary Club of Oberon Rural Australia Foundation Sheila Gwynn-Jones Sheila Walker and Family Toni Downes Tony Smith

Bracken, Elizabeth

CSUgive staff donors 2020-21 Allen, Kymberley

Norske Skog Albury

Professor John Carrol Memorial fund

Blanchard, Denise

Tarcutta and Wantabadgery Merino Breeders Association

Milan Family

Pharmacy Foundation

JH Chalmers

Legacy

Altas, Irfan Anderson, Jennifer

AK and IA Surtherland

Andrews, Bruce

John Bowman

Andrews, Julia

Mavis Atkinson

Ansell, Sarah

Aileen Stewart

Attree, Katherine

John Cassim

Ayton, Rachel

Moya Crowe

Bardon, Deborah

Carole and Stan Droder

Barton, Simon

John and Dilys Howell

Bateup, Donna

Percy Allan Foundation

Beltrame, Sarah

Chris Gordon

Bennett, Julie

Margaret Macpherson

Bennett, Lorraine

Peter Andren

Beresford, Samantha

Brann, James Broadley, Kim Brouggy, Julie Bruce, Paul Burke, Stacey Burton, Thomas Butler, Suzanne Butler, Raquel Butt, Stephen Butts, Karen Campbell, Heather Cardiff, James Cary, Alexandra Castillo Bautista Christian, Terrance Chubb, Alexandra Clark, Philip

2020 Donor Impact Report

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30

Cleary, Julie

Dowler, Paul

Graham, Raelene

Jones, Michelle

Clements, Jacoba

Doyle, Genevieve

Granger, Niklaus

Jonker, Clare

Clemson, Nina

Duffy, Deanna

Gray, Simone

Kelly, Lyndelle

Cohalan, Laura

Duffy, Terri-Lee

Green, Tracey

Kiernan, Michael

Cohen, Jay

Dury, Frances

Greening, Peter

Kirkman, Gail

Collins, Bryan

Edwards, Wendye

Griffin, David

Kleinschafer, Jodie

Connell, Andrew

Eggleston, Timothy

Haberecht, Louise

Korner, Janice

Cole, Simon

Everaardt, Justine

Hadfield, Gail

Kreuzberger, Stephen

Connell, Andrew

Fairweather, Dawn

Hall, Yasmine

Laver, Sharon

Cooke, Saranne

Felke, Amy

Harrigan, Morgan

Letts, William

Cope, Melissa

Ferry, Meredith

Harris, Annette

Li, Miao

Copeland, Kim

Fish, Stacey

Harvey, Robin

Livingstone, Nicole

Cornick, Kate

Fox, Isabel

Hay, Jason

Locke, Kirsten

Covington, Lorraine

Frazer, John

Henley, Mardi

Logan, Helen

Croft-Piggin, Lindy

Friend, Michael

Hernandez-Jover, Marta

Loy, Jaymie

Cross, Erika

Frost, Carmen

Hobbs, Helen

Lynch, Amanda

Crowl, Andrew

Frost, Georgia

Hodgins, Gene

Maher, Edward

Curtin, Michael

Fuller, Sharon

Hopf, Suzanne

Maria, Sonja

Dalton, Natalie

Gaffey, John

Horta, Ana

Marks, Amber

Dare-Edwards, Conrad

Galloway, Jennifer

Howarth, Jason

Marsh, Emily

Darley-Bentley, Lauren

Gaskin, Angela

Ingold, Sheridan

Martin, Kerrie

Davis, Aimee

Germov, John

James, Andrew

Matchett, Hilary

Davis, Benjamin

Gordon, Catherine

Jeffries, Breannah

Matthews, Alison

Davis, Gina-Maree

Gorrell, Christopher

Jensen, Maureen

McCarthy, Sarah

De Luca, Wendy

Grady, Kirstie

Johnson, Craig

McDonald, John

Doubleday, Robert

Graham, Kylee

Johnson, Karen

McIntyre, Ellen

2020 Donor Impact Report

McKechnie, James

Petzel, Raegan

Sinclair, Peter

Webeck, Cassandra

McLeod, Sharynne

Phillips, Donna

Skinner, Kay

Wells, Louise

Meschnik, Kersten

Pocock, Peter

Skoko, Hazbo

Welsh, Kirrily

Metcalfe, Olivia

Podham, Maryanne

Smith, David

Wetherspoon, Fiona

Miles, Steven

Pollock, Petrea

Smith, Kerry

Wheat, Janelle

Millar, Wayne

Powell, Dale

Smith, Megan

Whitbread, Nerolie

Moore, Stephen

Powell, Roseanne

Smith-Tamaray, Michelle

White, Narelle

Morgan, James

Proberts, Kenneth

Spendier, Kate

White, Jason

Morris, Kimbalee

Read, Kerry

Steepe, Nicholas

Whiting, Adrian

Murphy, Fiona

Richardson, Craig

Stephens, Rachel

Whitsed, Rachel

Murray, Amber

Roberts, Jenny

Stewart, Jordan

Williams, Christopher

Murrell, Lee

Roberts, Russell

Stone, Judith

Williams, Justin

Nash, Fiona

Robinson, Caroline

Swat, Delphine

Willmott Ricky

Negus, Melinda

Roy, Philip

Tarbit, Amanda

Wise, Erin

Nixon, Natalie

Rurenga, Geraldine

Thackray, Deborah

Wise, Tahnee

Northey, Tracey

Russell, Brett

Thorburn, Lyndal

Wood, Alice

O’Meara, Terrence

Ryan, Kiah

Tien, David

Wood-Foye, Kate

O’Regan, Ian

Ryan, Susan

Tulloh, Bobbie

Wotton, Suzanne

O’Shannessy, Cathryn

Rye, Justine

Tye, Tanya

Wright, Joleen

Oates, Tracey

Samuelson, Marissa

Urwin, Heather

Xie, Gang

Otutaha, Holly

Sandry, Sharon

Van Mosseveld, Rebecca

Parnell, Tracey

Schmidtke, Leigh

Vann, Andrew

Patton, Narelle

Sheridan, Samantha

Vigliante, Tace

Peck, Debra

Silverson, Kerry

Warren, Adam

Perkins, Carissa

Simmons, Geoffrey

Watt, Kathrine

Perry, Kathleen

Simmons, Mellissa

Webber, Kendra

2020 Donor Impact Report

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“This scholarship genuinely saved me and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity to continue learning and developing the skills I need to make a genuine change in this world.”

Rachel Habermann Recipient of the CO2 Australia Regional Professionals Scholarship

Advancement Office Charles Sturt University Locked Bag 588 Wagga Wagga NSW 2678

+61 2 6933 2067

advancement@csu.edu.au

csu.edu.au The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) Provider Number for Charles Sturt University is 00005F. © Charles Sturt University, 2021. M1061.

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