It's always a reminder that Christmas is on the way, when Kim Kirkman and his fellow prawn friends put on their annual concert in honour of the tasty crustation most of us spend Christmas day filling up on.

Yep, that's right Kim, lecturer at CQCM, musical director and producer is winding down for the year while he gears up for one of his end of year 'prawn' concerts, from 7.

Childhood Cancer Support has gained support from CQU again, partly thanks to the sale of chocolates and the sweetness of staff members.

A range of fundraising efforts were recognised and celebrated during a morning tea at the Division of Teaching and Learning Services on Thursday, December 6.

Recent school leaver and Mirani teenager, Kristine Conlan has applied to study a Bachelor of Engineering at CQU Mackay in 2008 and she's hoping to be a recipient of one of seven $4 000 CQU Mackay/Hail Creek scholarships.

Kristine first discovered she wanted to be an Engineer when she became involved in a ‘Girls in Technology' workshop at the Mackay campus with Dr Fae Martin, Coordinator of the Engineering Co-op program.

Tax Help was up and running at Melbourne campus from July through to September this year.  Students welcomed this program which assisted them in lodging their Income Tax Assessments for 2007 free of charge.

Dr Fiona Coulson has really enjoyed her first year at CQU Rockhampton, thanks to working with a "great team and supportive supervisor" on campus and appreciating the pace of the local lifestyle.

But then maybe it helps that she is a positive thinker - her second child is due in March next year and she is considering training for the Gold Coast half-marathon in July.

Central Queensland University recently celebrated its early career academics at a special function in Rockhampton last week.

Twenty-one young lecturers and researchers participated in the University's inaugural Early Career Academics Program this year, 14 of whom were able to attend the function.