Paid agricultural workers occupy the bottom income strata in Australia, according to a Central Queensland University rural sociologist.

Lecturer in sociology at CQU, Dr Jim McAllister said paid agricultural workers were among the “poorest of the poor” in Australia.

Women of Central Queensland University Rockhampton have been invited to lunch with visiting Professor Janice Koch in the Capricornia Lounge next week.

Prof Koch is holding the luncheon to discuss findings from her extensive research of girls, women and education, particularly relating to science education and professions.

Central Queensland University’s theatrical students can put their talent and reputations to the ultimate test by puzzling visitors to Beef Australia 2003 and forcing onlookers to pose the question, “Is this street theatre or a bunch of people gone mad?” Beef Australia 2003 organisers have invited CQU students along with the general public to enhance their peculiarities through five workshops for theatre and performance.

Participants will dazzle and entertain audiences with street theatre that aims to shock and confuse, performance art that challenges gravity, a singing and signing choir, and players on stilts.

John Thornton, Director of Students Into Free Enterprise (SIFE) Australia visited the Faculty of Business and Law at CQU Rockhampton on Friday 21 March.

Mr Thornton met with the newly appointed SIFE executive and their new members for 2003 for a lunchtime presentation and informal discussion session.

Senior Lecturer with the School of Management at CQU, Harvey Griggs took second place in the recent Ironman New Zealand.

Mr Griggs is now qualified for the Hawaiian Ironman World Championship in October 2003.

Careers, Counselling and Health and Central Queensland University students are enjoying the success of the new CQU Work Experience Program that was introduced in 2002.

CQU second year Bachelor of Business (Tourism) student Britt Larosa completed a week of work experience with Qantas at their Brisbane base, organised through the program for the January break.

After six months since residing in Bundaberg, Senior Lecturer at the School of Marketing & Tourism at CQU Bundaberg, Steve Pike, has been appointed as a member of the marketing committee of Bundaberg Region Limited.

"Bundaberg Region Limited is one of 14 Regional Tourism Organisations (RTO) within Queensland and the main objective of this organisation is to develop and promote tourism within the Bundaberg & Coral Coast areas," Steve said.

Central Queensland Association of Chemists’ first meeting for 2003 was held at CQU Bundaberg campus last weekend, with CQU Bundaberg academic, Stacey Cunningham, a guest speaker.

Science lecturer, Desirae Kirby, said the campus was the perfect location for the event, with chemists and engineers from across the Central Queensland region in attendance.

Some Central Queensland University students and staff from took time out from the news of war to light a candle at the Interfaith Sacred Garden at CQU Rockhampton Thursday.

University Chaplain, Matthew Quaife-Ryan, invited people to visit the garden throughout the day and light a candle in honour of “reason and hope” around the world.

“My heart, like yours is missing a few beats,” said Vice Chancellor and President Glenice Hancock in an email this week that addressed the situation in Iraq and other events important to the university.

Here is the text of that message.