Roles were reversed this week when student teachers took time out to share their knowledge with local primary school teachers as part of Central Queensland University’s Community of Learners Week.

CQU’s Bachelor of Learning Management students presented a series of lectures on literacy in the classroom to teachers from Central, West and Kin Kora State Schools.

Policy makers and industry planners need to act to avert the gradual economic and social downturns as dryer and hotter conditions are expected to continue.

That is according to a presentation to this week's Sustainable Economic Growth in Regional Australia (SEGRA) conference on the Gold Coast.

A few years back, as Kylie Minogue began her third decade as England's Pop Princess, Lucy Holmes was in the quiet canefields of Mackay paying her dues as a music theatre student.

Nowadays, Lucy is a bit further along the road to fame and fortune thanks to the sucess of 100% Kylie - her Kylie show - which has already been seen by tens of thousands of people in her home town of Melbourne in venues such as the Crown Casino, The Park Hyatt, & The Melbourne Covention Centre along with shows in Launceston Tasmainia & Canberra.

Former CQU Mackay (Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music) student Madeline Cain has accepted the role of female lead singer on P&O's Pacific Princess cruiseship.

She will move to Sydney on October 3, where she will rehearse for six weeks before setting sail on November 19.

The originators of Brisbane's 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' tribute cast have agreed to be ambassadors to Rockhampton's version of the interactive movie event - Horrors in Rocky.

Kristian Fletcher and Danielle Johnson and their fellow performers have built up a pro-am industry in Brisbane by staging tribute events for 'Rocky Horror' and other movie and music favourites.

The efforts of four CQU Mackay student mentors were highlighted at the annual Awards Dinner recently.

Mentor Program Co-ordinator Jocelyn Wood said the support offered by mentors proved invaluable to first-year students.

Central Queensland University Mackay Library Society has raised about $2000 from its recent book sale.

Nearly 500 people attended the three-day sale that included titles collected over two years.

Budding engineers from throughout Central Queensland attended a Central Queensland University Information Day on Sunday, with parts of the event linking students from Mackay, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton.

CQU Mackay Engineering Sub-Dean Fae Martin said Year 11 and 12 students completed a variety of hands-on activities that enhanced their understanding of what university studies are available.

Mackay and Proserpine sugar cane farmers remained positive despite admitting their sugar enterprises were currently unprofitable, leading researcher Dr Jill Windle revealed recently.

The Central Queensland University researcher urged growers to recognise the current slump in prices provided opportunities to diversify.

CQU research student Paul Neilsen's long-term goal is a 'double header' benefit, a novel pharmaceutical gleaned from a natural product like bovine cartilage, which will benefit both the health and cattle sectors.

Research being conducted through Central Queensland University, and in collaboration with CSIRO Livestock Industries in Brisbane, aims to help ethical dietary-supplement manufacturers produce clean and reliable products, and perhaps also to define the biological activities in natural products like bovine cartilage.