THE DEN - March 2013

The DEN Issue 38 March 2013 1

THEDENDEN

Distance Education Newsletter

Issue 38March 2013

The CSU Distance Education Newsletter

FeaturesEaster Traditions around the worldMeet a DE studentBilby FactsRecipes

RegularsThrough the Lens

Writers’ CornerQuiz

CSUDistance Ed

CSU Student NEWS2013 University Games

2 The DEN Issue 38 March 2013

From The EditorIssue 38. March 2013

CONTRIBUTORSGemma Carey, Gabrielle Forman, Sandra Stewart, Kirsten Vine, Wallaroo

COVER PICTUREGabrielle Forman

Welcome

Thank you to those DE students that contributed to this issue. It is a smaller issue than usual due to so few submissions from DE students.

We celebrate Easter with some information about Easter traditions around the world and how the tradition of the Easter Bilby in Australia started.

We meet two new DE students and information about the 2013 University Games which DE students are also invited to participate in.

I have also included some CWA recipes. As a non-cooking CWA member I cook once a year for the annual branch competition as all entries count towards a branch award at state. I tried the two recipes that I have included and can vouch for the great taste although my icing efforts weren’t quite to CWA standards.Try them and let me know what you think.

Don’t forget to read the final page of each month’s DEN so that you can see the topics for photography and story writing.

I wish everybody a safe and productive Easter break (productive includes rest-ing and taking a break from study).

Until next month

Sandra J StewartEditor


FEATURES

10. 2013 University Games

12.Easter Traditions Around the World

16. Some Bilby Facts

REGULARS4. Distance EdComics from his Facebook page.

7. CSU Student NewsNew Academic Progress Require-ments, Work Placement Stu-dents, DE Library Loan Times

15. QuizEaster

9.Through the LensShades of Blue

18. Writer’s CornerAs I gazed out ... by Wallaroo

21. Next Month

MEET A DE STUDENT

6. Gabrielle Forman14. Kirsten Vine

Disclaimer: The DEN is a Rivcoll SRC publication and the opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the editor, staff or student members. Association by persons or companies with ‘The Den’ does not necessarily reflect the religious, political, sexual or racial beliefs of those parties. The Editor and Rivcoll SRC do not accept any responsibility for any omissions, errors, inaccuracies, or the views and opinions contained in any article accepted for publication. The editor reserves the right to edit or reject any articles submitted for publication.

email letters to the Editor & submissions to [email protected]

This was by far the most shock-

ing, heart breaking and confronting

place I’ve ever been.p8

your feedback has highlighted to us that

there is an inequity for DE students so

the library is increasing loan times for

DE students from 14 days to 21 days

p5 2013 University Games They are a great opportunity to represent your university and have a fantastic time.

p11

COLOURING

RECIPES19. CWA Pasionfruit Cake20. CWA Citrus Sour Cream Cake

The Easter Bilby is an important remind-er to Australians of the plight of our

native wildlife. p13


Distance Ed

March 13 2013March 5 2013


CSU Student News

Completed or undertaking a work placement? You could win a tablet or Co-op bookshop v o u c h e r s !

As part of your CSU course, have you completed or are you undertaking a work placement (also known as professional experience, practicum, etc.)?

If you have, you could be in the running to win Co-op bookshop vouchers and a tablet computer.

Simply complete the Educa-tion For Practice Institue's (EFPI) survey at https://www.sur-veymonkey.com/s/NRFVNTZ

You can also post a story about your workplace learning ex-perience at https://www.sur-v e y m o n ke y. c o m / s / s s t o r i e s

To find out more about this proj-ect, download theinformation sheet http://csusap.csu.edu.au/~cmcewen/Documents/Stu-dentsExperiencesInfoSheet.pdf

For further information please contact [email protected]

March 13 Student News

Work Placement Students

New AcademicProgress

RequirementsThere are new academic progress requirements for stu-dents at Charles Sturt University.

Geoff Honey, Executive Director of Student Administration, explained that as of Session 1 this year, students who fail more than half of their enrolled subjects in a given session will be given notice that they have been classified as “at risk,” of not progressing satisfactorily in the course they are studying. At risk students will be directed to support services to assist them to improve their performance.

“Following this, students who fail more than half of their enrolled subjects in their next session will be excluded from their course. It is critical therefore that students identified as ‘at risk’ utilise the support services available.” Mr Honey said.

“These new regulations for academic progress will enable CSU to provide more time-ly support for students who need academic assistance.”

“All new and continuing stu-dents are subject to these regulations, with the excep-tion of students enrolled in courses that have specific aca-demic progress regulations.

“For detailed information about these changes, please visit http://student.csu.edu.au/administra-tion/study-administration/aca-demic-progress/info or contact Student Central,” Mr Honey said.

March 11th Student News

Changes to borrowing periods for high demand items

Thank you to everyone that provided feeback about the changes to borrowing times for popular libary items.

The reduced loan period and recall functions were introduced this year in response to student concerns over the long waiting periods for popular library items. Most other Australian academic libraries use simi-lar methods to ensure as many students as possible have access to resources for their study.

However, your feedback has highlighted to us that there is an inequity for DE students so the library is increasing loan times for DE students from 14 days to 21 days.The extra 7 days will cover postage time from CSU to you, and the system will allow a maximum of 7 days from the due date for return postage.

If you have received a fine for the late return of a recalled or reduced loan term item, and believe that you have made a reasonable attempt to return the item by the due date, please contact us at [email protected]

DE Library Loan Times


Where do you live? St Kilda, Melbourne

What are you studying? DesignI'm studying the BA Design by distance education mode having studied for three years already at the Academy of Design Arts, Melbourne (in-class). I changed jobs during my third year and this meant continuing studies out of hours, and unfortunately the Academy wasn't offering night classes or DE - so I chose CSU. The BA Design hasn't all been based on the tools, there is a lot of theory and learning based upon reading and research, all really valuable when getting a full understanding and breadth of the design industry. I have three subjects to go, and I'm really hoping that the fact that my studies have been online, doesn't impact on my overall achievement as I truly believe that the interaction you get from like-minded others is imperative in the design space.

What are your likes? I like interior decorating and design, branding development and communications and marketing strategy. Outside of that, I LOVE shoes,

animals, the beach and I can't live without music.

What are your dislikes? I don't like air-conditioning for the sake of air-condition-ing (i.e always needing a cardigan at work no matter the weather!!??)I hate mosquitos, spiders, flies... actually most insects I hate getting parking tick-ets (a regular occurrence in Melbourne - if you don't have a permit for somewhere, chances are you'll get a fine!)

If you had 3 wishes what would they be? Life-long good health, to be able to eat as much cookies & cream ice-cream as I want without getting fat and to be successful.

Would you rather be older or younger and why? I'm kinda happy the age I am actually (35). Being younger may mean not being taken as seriously, and being older may mean being overlooked for some-one younger! I like being in my mid-30s because I can look back and see how much I have achieved, as well as know that I still have plenty of time to do everything I still want to do. I'm healthy, happy and have no kids (just furry four-leged ones!)

When you were young, what job did you want to have when you grew up? LOL! I wanted to be a hair dresser. After a few disastrous weeks working as 'the work experience kid', I gave the idea away.

What did you end up doing? I ended up doing a Government traineeship in 1997 and from that point, spent the next 10 years working my way up the

Meet a DE Student Introducing Gabrielle Forman


Meet a DE Student Gabrielle Forman

Government ladder in communications and marketing roles mainly. In 2007 I packed up the car and moved the Melbourne where I landed a job in media within 2 days, and then spent 4 years working for Federal Government. Throughout this time I had a burning desire to be creative. I knew I was creative but never felt I had a creative outlet at work, so I made a fairly strategic move. I was studying my BA Design by this stage, and was contacted by a creative recruiter (i.e. specialising in only creative sector roles) to work as their Government Sector Consultant. I thought this would be a great way to establish some valuable networks in the design space while I was studying, knowing that one day I would prob-ably have to utilise those networks myself! So I am now a recruiter and love my job, love the people and love the exposure it gives me to the industry.

Activities when not studying - Pets: I have two cats - a fat ginger, and a little female tor-toiseshell tabby. The fat ginger (Monkey) is a placid boy, likes the simple things in life, sleeps a lot and is VERY affectionate. The little tabby (Poppy) is a mischievous little so-n-so, always in the cupboards, tripping me up, biting me to show me she loves me, and ALWAYS on the bed when she knows she's not allowed.

Your thoughts on the environment: Basi-cally, that people are far too concerned with being in their bubbles to realise what's going on around them... if people just a spent a moment looking around, they'd see there is so much work to be done in just 'maintaining' a healthy environment, but also 'establishing and building' new initiatives to make the world a better place for the next generation. One thing that REALLY annoys me is litter - it's everywhere, and it's there because people think that their piece of rubbish is insignificant, they fail to see that litter is accumulative.

Favourites:

• Party food - Cheezles

• TV show - MKR

• Music - I love dance and house, hate commercial.

• Song/Artist - 'Unkle: Where Did the Night Fall'

• Movie - I loved Leon, The Professional with Natalie Portman and Jean Reno - 1994.

• Book - The Slap, by Christos Tsiolkas


• Things to do on a Sunday - go to the market stalls on the St Kilda esplanade and then have lunch on Acland Street

• Most embarrassing moment - getting locked out recently wearing only a t-shirt and undies

• Memorable holiday - I went to Palestine with 8 other amateur photographers in 2010 for a month. This was by far the most shocking, heart breaking and confronting place I've ever been.

Palestinian Child by Gabrielle Forman

Meet a DE Student Gabrielle Forman


Through the LensSHADES OF BLUE



2013 University Games Charles Sturt University competes in Australian University Sport (AUS) events each year. AUS hosts inter-university sporting competitions which include a large variety of sports and fun social events. They are a great opportunity to represent your university and have a fantastic time.

To be eligible to represent CSU, you must be a currently enrolled student. You don't have to be a mem-ber of a CSU club or team to participate, both individual and team registrations are encouraged. DE Students are welcome and encouraged to attend, this is an experience not to be missed while you’re a uni student!

2013 Australian University Games – Gold Coast from 29 September – 4 OctoberThe premier event on the Australian University Sport calendar is the Australian University Games (AUG). University students from all across Australia converge in one city to compete in a multitude of sports over a week of competition. Off the field, a week-long social program is held to complement the sporting activities and enhance the experience for all participants.

2013 Eastern University Games - Wollongong from 7 - 11 JulyEastern University Games (EUG) is the regional event organised by AUS providing a friendly but com-petitive environment for student athletes from all over New South Wales and the Australian Capital Ter-ritory. Over 15 sports will be on offer including basketball, football, futsal, hockey, lawn bowls, netball and ultimate frisbee to name a few! Also part of the event is a 4 night social program.

2013 Australian University Championships Snow Sports - Thredbo 25 - 30 AugustThe Australian University Championships Snow Sports is the only university snow sports event in Australia. Each year, approximately 300 students from around Australia compete in thirteen events from four disciplines.

Sports not included in the Australian University Games are catered for with individual Australian Uni-versity Championships (AUC). These championships are organised by AUS and are hosted member universities. Australian University Championships include Distance Running, Orienteering, Rowing and Surfing amongst others!

To check upcoming events for 2013:http://www.unisport.com.au/Events/Pages/EventList.aspx

For further information check the following links: www.unisport.com.au www.facebook.com/CSUSporthttp://student.csu.edu.au/unigames

CSU AthletesIf you are interested in competing or assisting with an Australian University Sport event please [email protected]

Miss Gemma CareyAdministrative Officer - Sport & Clubs | Student Services Office

2013 University Games


Easter traditions around the world

Britain * Traditional folk dancing called Morris dancing takes place over Easter. * Easter bonnets were popular, especially in times past, when women would make and wear their own bonnets.. * Hot cross buns are served on Good Friday, while Simnel cake was served on Easter Sunday to help break the Lenten fast. * Maundy Thursday is celebrated by Christians on the Thursday before Easter, and includes blessing of holy oils and often the washing of the feet. The Monarch offers ‘alms’ or coins to senior citizens. * A game called ‘egg tapping’ is sometimes played in the North of England, where players hit other players’ eggs and the winner is the one whose egg breaks last. http://www.thejournal.ie/easter-fascinating-tradi-tions-around-the-world-405263-Apr2012/

Germany * The Easter Bunny visits Germany, and decorated eggs are popular. * The summer day parade, or Sommertagszug, is celebrated three weeks before Easter. The Easter market (Ostermarket) also takes place, where people can pick up Easter-themed products and crafts. * The ‘egg dance’ is often played – eggs are laid on the ground and people dance among them while trying not to damage them. *The Osterbaum or Easter tree is also popular in Germany, which in-volves Easter eggs being hung from trees or large branches. http://www.thejournal.ie/easter-fascinating-traditions-around-the-world-405263-Apr2012/

MexicoEaster celebration in Mexico is held as a combination of two separate big observances - Se-

mana Santa the last days of Christ’s life and Pascua - celebration of the Resurrection. It is also the release from the sacrifices of Lent.The former means the whole of the Holy Week - Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday. And the Pascua is the observance for the period from the Resurrection Sunday to the follow-ing Saturday. For most Mexicans, this two-week period is the time for a great vacation. People enjoy this time with the community of their choice.In many communities across Mexico, locals stage Passion Plays depicting Biblical events such as the Last Supper, the Betrayal, and the Procession of the 12 Stations of the Cross, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.


Easter traditions around the worldNorwayIn Norway, reading detective novels and crime thrillers has become a popular Easter pastime. Paaskekrim (Easter crime) refers to the new crime novels available at Easter. The period from Holy Thursday through East Monday is a public holiday.According to folklore professors at the Institute for Cultural Studies at the University of Oslo, the tradition of reading about crime at Easter may stem from the violent nature of Christ's death. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/easter2.html

“Queensland children's author Rose-Marie Dusting self-published the book Billy the Aussie Easter Bilby in Adelaide in 1979 and is recognised by many as Australia's Bilby Lady and creator of the Easter Bilby. Rose-Marie has been a passionate Bilby advocate for over 20 years and a percentage of the sales of her books has been donated to Bilby conservation.

Ian Faithfull, in his article On the Origin, History and Significance of the Easter Bilby (Victorian Naturalist, Volume 117, April 2000) suggests that "the concept of the Easter Bilby was invented between 1976 and 1983 by Malcolm Turner of the Hawthorn Junior Field Naturalists Club as a replacement for the Easter bunny at the Club’s traditional Easter bush camps. Officials of the Club acted as the Easter Bilby and delivered chocolate eggs to camp participants on Easter morning." He also notes that the "concept also appears to have been invented independently by Tony Robin-son of the South Australian National Parks Service about 1980"”.

The Anti Rabbit Research Fund of Australia (now known as the Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia) began using the Easter Bilby in 1991 to highlight the damage that the introduced rabbit does to the native environment. They arranged for the first chocolate Bilbies to be produced in South Australia by Haigh's Chocolates, Melba's Chocolates and Cottage Box Chocolates in 1993. Now many more chocolate Bilbies are available each Easter.

The Easter Bilby is an important reminder to Australians of the plight of our native wildlife.

AustraliaThe Easter Bilby tradition started some time in the 1970s

Image found in a Google search and downloaded from:http://www.zootycoonunleashed.com/ZTForums/lofiversion/index.php?t4256.html


Whereabouts do you live? Albion Park Rail NSWWhat are you studying? Bachelor of Environmen-tal Science. About halfway through, totally enjoy-ing it but wish I could spend more time studying instead of working!!

What are your likes? Native plants and animalsWhat are your dislikes? Discrimination against the disadvantaged, & greedy selfish people

If you had 3 wishes what would they be?Live on a bush property/farm away from large towns.Travel Australia more.Work in threatened species

Would you rather be older or younger and why? Neither, but I would like my bones to stop aching everytime I overdo it!!

When you were young, what job did you want to have when you grew up?I wanted to be a train or tractor driver lolWhat did you end up doing?Have been a Dessert Chef, Caterer, Interior De-signer, Bush regenrator, threatened species survey-or, botanist and Single Mum to a learning disabled son who is now 23yrs old

Activities when not studying: Getting out into the bush to photograph native orchids, and spending scarce time with my partner Max

Pets: Many skinks and spiders who come and go as they please

Your thoughts on the environment:As a society I dont feel we understand just how vital it is we look after it, since it is what keeps us alive. We arecurrently not even really trying and will cop the consequences of being so self-cen-tred. What a legacy to leave future generations!!! I feel society is as ignorant as ever about the environment and really dont want to change at all, and at most only want to make token efforts to make themselves feel pious.

Meet a DE Student Introducing Kirsten Vine

Favourites:• party food chocolate and icecream of very good quality• TV show Dont have a TV, listen to Phil Adams on RN radio occassionally• music Dont have a stereo either• Song See above• Movie Dont watch them anymore as I go outdoors instead• Game Phone tag with Telstra lol• Book Currently reading Vagina by Naomi Wolf. I read alot!!• Things to do on a Sunday Study of course!!!

Most embarrassing moment? Being caught by boss extracting a nasty tick off the buttcheek of one of my workmates. Didn't lookgood at all!!!

• memorable holiday Have yet to have a holiday, but hope to do the Alpine area this year


3.In times

gone by what were people not allowed to eat in

the time leading up to

Easter?

Easter Quiz1. Which animal

traditionally delivers eggs

at Easter?

2.What does the Christian festival of Easter celebrate?

4, Howlong is

the leadup period to

Easterwhat is it called?

5. Why is Easter

considered a moveable

feast?

6. What two

religions celebrationsfrom different religions have

eggs in common?

7. What does

MaundyThursday honour?

8. What pagan symbols have

joined the Christian

celebration and what do they mean?

9. What Easter

tradition are the Germans believed to

have brought to the USA?

10. When were the first

coloured eggs exchanged?11. What

percentage of people eat the ears first on a choco-late bunny?

12. Who starred in the film Easter

Parade?


The Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is on the endangered list, the Lesser Bilby (Macrotis leucura) is believed to be extinct. The Greater Bilby, usually referred to as the Bilby, is the largest of the bandicoots, mea-suring up to 55cm in length (body only) with a tail up to 29cm long. Adult males weigh up to 2.5 kg and females about half that. Bilbies are also known as Rabbit-Eared Bandicoots. They are marsupials. The pouch opens backwards so as not to be filled with dirt while digging. The word Bilby is from Yu-waalaraay, an Aboriginal language (source: The Australian National University). Bilby fur is very soft. It is mainly blue-grey, with some fawn. The belly is white and the tail is black with a white crest at the end and a naked spur-like tip. The large ears of the Bilby are almost hairless. As well as providing great hearing, they are believed to help keep the Bilby cool. The long snout, which is pink and hairless at the tip, gives the Bilby an excellent sense of smell. Bilbies have poor eyesight, so it is just as well their hearing and smelling senses are so good. The Bilby's strong forelimbs with their long claws make them brilliant burrowers. Bilbies live in spiraling burrows which they dig up to 2 metres deep. A Bilby may have up to a dozen burrows. The Bilby is truly nocturnal. They don't emerge from their burrows until at least an hour after dusk, and retreat at least an hour before dawn. A full moon, strong wind or heavy rain can keep Bilbies in their burrows all night. Bilbies are omnivorous. Some of the things they eat include: seeds, spiders, insects and their larvae, bulbs, fruit, fungi and small animals. The Bilby (like the koala) doesn't drink water, it gets all it needs from its food. Bilbies breed all year round. Their gestation period is only 12 to14 days and young, be-tween one and three in a litter, remain in the pouch for 75 to 80 days, and are independent about 2 weeks later. The Bilby was chosen by the Commonwealth of Australia Endangered Species Program as a mascot representing all endangered species. To raise public awareness of endangered Australian species a campaign has been launched to replace the Easter bunny with the Bilby, hence we now have the Easter Bilby and Choco-late Bilbies!All information taken from: TheAustralian Bilby Appreciation Society http://members.optusnet.com.au/bilbies/About_Bil-bies.htm

Some Bilby Facts


http://lemurkat.co.nz/tutorial3.php


As I gazed out of my study window I saw a totally different world to that in which I was currently engaged. For days my world gave the impression that it had been dominated and consumed with ravenous hunger by computer screens, paper with hand written notes and diagrams and print outs of numerous journal articles. The colour and texture of my desk top was but a mystery enshrouded in the all-encompassing mounds of once living trees that had been chopped, pulped and flattened to create the paper that now en-shrouded my desk.

Outside my window I viewed nature. The natural world. Eucalyptus trees in their varying shade of green on a nearby hill. A cockatoo so white that it looked like it had been soaked in nappy cleaner observed the world from the heights of a tree long dead but with hollows that provided habitat and perches perfect for birds who chose to rest and gaze.

Man had encroached upon this view; a television aerial cable that was being occupied by a Willy Wagtail. As the wagtail maintained the constant motion in its upright tail the swinging velocity of the cable increased causing the active bird to grip tightly with its tiny, yet strong claws.

My room was artificially cool yet outside the temperature was warm, as it should be. An old satellite dish now served as a bird bath of gigantic propor-tions and I watched in fascination as an Australian Noisy Minor bird with its yellow rimmed eye and striking beak disappeared from view as it jumped into the water. For several seconds splashes of water catching the sunlight gave testimony to the wing flapping and movement that was occurring beyond my view.

On returning to the branch much grooming and shaking of feathers followed before the ritual act of cleansing was repeated once more. I envied the delight and freedom of that small bird, its cooling bath and lively feather shaking.

With great reluctance I turned my head, no longer part of the natural world and gazed at my computer screen.

Writer’s Corner

Wallaroo


Passionfruit Cake

250g butter, softened1 cup (220g) caster sugar3 eggs separated2 cups (300g) SR Flour¾ cup (180ml) buttermilk¼ cup (60ml) passion fruit pulp

Pre-heat oven to moderate. Grease and lightly flour 20cm round tin, tap out any excess flour. Beat butter and sugar in a small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy, beat in egg yolks, one at a time, beat until well combined. Transfer mixture to large bowl, stir in half the sifted flour and half the buttermilk, then stir in the remaining flour and buttermilk and passionfruit pulp. Beat egg whites in clean small bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold into cake mixture in two batches. Spread mixture into prepared tin. Bake in moderate oven, for about 50 minutes or until cooked. Stand for 5 minutes before turning onto covered rack to cool. Ice only on top with passionfruit icing.

CWA RecipesThe following recipes are on the Country Women’s Association of New South Wales Land Cookery Schedule for 2013. http://www.cwaofnsw.org.au/committees/theLandCookery.do

I have cooked them both and they taste great, although my passionfruit cake didn’t reach CWA standards it was still yummy. They are worth a try.Sandra StewartEditor. Distance Education

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=12539&picture=passion-fruit&large=1

Recipe © Country Women’s Association of NSW. Reprinted with permission


Citrus Sour Cream Cake125g butter1 cup castor sugar3 x 60g eggs½ cup mixed peel¾ cup self-raising flour¾ cup plain flour½ cup sour cream

Preheat oven to moderate temperature (180ºC). Grease and line base of loaf tin with baking paper.Cream butter add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, beat well between each addition. Transfer mixture to larger bowl, stir in the peel with half the sifted flours and half the sour cream, finally add the remaining flours and cream. Spread mixture into prepared tin. Bake in moderately slow oven (160ºC) for about 1–1¼ hours or until cooked. Stand 5 minutes before turning out to cool on a tea towel covered rack.

CWA Recipes

Recipe © Country Women’s Association of NSW. Reprinted with permission


Email letters to the Editor &submissions:

[email protected]: Photos sourced from stock.xchng http://www.sxc.hu/homePrintmaster Platinum 18. All other photographs and graphics as indicated.Sandra Stewart Editor,

THE DENContributions for April

Surviving the mid-semester doldrumsHints and tips from your experiences

PHOTOSNumbers - find numbers on houses and

signs, or in nature that make up the shape of that number. At least find 1

through 9.

MOVIE and BOOK REVIEWS

WRITINGHanging Around

Please Contribute

ItIs

YOURDE

Newsletter

Quiz Answers1. Rabbit/Easter Bunny/Hare

2. Resurrection of Jesus3. Eggs

4. 40 Days5. The date changes each year with

the moon6. Easter - Christianity. Passover

Judaism. The egg symbolises rebirth in both traditions

7. The Last Supper8. eggs and rabbits representing

fertility9. The story of ‘Osterhase’ the egg

laying hare.10. 13th century. As eggs weren’t

allowed to be eaten during Lent they were decorated and given to friends on

Easter Sunday.11. 76% of people eat the ears first.12. Fred Astaire and Judy Garland