Incremental changes can save millions of dollars for railway systems, thanks to researchers squeezing out every possible performance enhancement. Sometimes tiny adjustments are enough when translated to hundreds of trains and thousands of kilometres of rail lines.

The hammer has come down on Julia Gillard's personally signed Women's Weekly which raised $1200 for the Red Cross via an Ebay auction.

The auction, which was initiated by CQUniversity during the Prime Minister's vist to the Evacuation Centre, will be topped up by the University, which has committed dollar for dollar raised.

In recent years, Rebecca McCracken has spent countless hours travelling highways and byways to attend classes, furthering her goal of becoming a nurse.

But she says her drive to succeed would not have emerged without her initial enrolment in the STEPS program based at CQUniversity Gladstone.

CQUniversity's People and Culture Directorate last week hosted an Aussie Barbie themed social function to 'christen' the new permanent barbecue structure on Rockhampton Campus.

Not to have their 'stake' in the venue outdone (or over done), Facilities Management and Marketing held an 'official' launch barbecue this week.

CQUniversity railway engineering researchers Professor Colin Cole, Dr Yan Sun and Mitchell McClanachan have found their study of wheel impact has made a real impact on a global level.

Their article on the calculation of wheel impact force due to the interaction between vehicle and a turnout (track change) was the 'top downloaded article' among all those published last year in the London-based Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit.

Years of snacking, morning teas and barbecues at CQUniversity and QR National are paying off for the Rockhampton-based Childhood Cancer Support Inc, thanks to a husband and wife team.

Gary and Karen Reynolds have convinced their workmates to donate to this worthwhile charity by staging a range of food-related activities.

CQUniversity's Professor David Midmore is among editors of a new book which details studies and makes recommendations to significantly increase cacao production in Vietnam by growing the crop under cashew canopies.

Professor Midmore was instrumental in establishing the USA/SE Asia project about 17 years ago and has been involved ever since.

This week is Australia Healthy Weight Week (23^rd-30^th Jan), a week-long promotion supported by the Dietitians Association of Australia to raise the awareness of Australians to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Achieving a healthy weight is something many Central Queenslanders need to be conscious of says CQUniversity Physical Activity researchers  Dr Mitch Duncan and Dr Corneel Vandelanotte, who both emphasise that, "It's important for us to be aware of what our weight status really is and if this is causing problems for our health".

CQUniversity is showcasing its diversity by holding dozens of Orientation activities in locations stretching from Townsville to Melbourne, as well as on-line, catering for all its various categories of students as well as parents and partners.

While all students are welcome at general campus sessions and all are encouraged to join the on-line Orientation, there's also specialised sessions for flex students, international students, and Indigenous students, and even guidance for high schoolers engaging with the Start Uni Now program.

Rockhampton's Relay For Life committee has decided to forge ahead with the May 21-22 fundraising event at CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus, in a show of solidarity with the local community.

Relay convenor, Nicole Gee, said the spirit of Relay For Life would take on a special significance in the wake of recent floods.