Many a great journey starts with a letter! ..

Spending weekends on a Whitsunday island, cuddling koalas and eating Tim Tams on top of a hill at midnight doesn't really sound like hard work.

However for the past 7 years CQU Mackay lecturer and researcher Delma Clifton has been doing exactly these things while studying the koala population on St Bees Island as part of her PhD.

CQU this week recognised the achievements of key staff members during another in a series of functions hosted by Chancellery.

The event recognised the promotions of Professor Kerry Walsh, Professor Bruce Knight, Professor Qing-Long Han and Associate Professor Yvonne Toft.

CQU Gold Coast student Pablo Safina, from Chile, aims to account for himself in October's gruelling Hawaiian Ironman competition, having qualified via major events in Australia.

The fulltime Master of Professional Accounting student has successfully juggled his studies with his passion for the sport featuring swimming, running and cycling.

CQU Rockhampton performing arts graduate Jessica Havens has turned a 'haunting' audition into the offer of a place at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, School of Film & Television in the heart of Manhattan, where opportunities abound to get involved with professional productions.

She's also waiting on a response to her application for a place at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, to study how various cultures and countries use and perform music (particularly in church settings).

Dr Kevin Purcell is Australia's official voting delegate to a world commission tasked with defining the parameters of research in relation to performing arts practice.

The Central Queensland University academic will travel to Finland in June to attend a range of key events arranged by OISTAT (the International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians).