A trio of CQU general staff members have been recognised via the Vice-Chancellor's EXCEL awards.

Gina Yarrow has co-ordinated the Central Queensland Multicultural Fair for the past eight years.Recognition of the Fair has grown enormously throughout Central Queensland and beyond. In 2003, the Fair was awarded the ABC National Local Radio Award for Best Community Event, having been runner up in this category in 2002.

Ms Yarrow has also been successful in securing ongoing funding for the Fair from the Queensland Government to the value of $15,000 per year for the next three years. The reputation of the Fair has encouraged national and international participation with stallholders, performers and ethnic and community groups travelling to Rockhampton from throughout Australia and the Pacific region.

Ms Yarrow has established systems and guidelines to ensure the smooth and successful operation of the Fair and has consulted and engaged with the local community.

Cheryl Connor has been responsible for the implementation of a new budgetary process for the University in 2004. She has spent many hours developing, preparing and delivering a workable and logically understandable process.

Ms Connor has consistently demonstrated an outstanding level of performance in being responsible for full University financial management reporting preparation; overseeing the management, maintenance and development of many of the University’s finance systems; and overseeing all training aspects concerning these systems.

She has also been instrumental in leading the way in developing a new budget software model and her persistence and innovative approach will be of benefit to the University for many years to come.

As the Co-ordinator of the Women into Science and Technology (WIST) Program, CQU’s home-based, self-paced bridging course in English, science, mathematics and computing especially designed and programmed for women, Judith Wooller has been an untiring driver of an initiative which has touched the lives of over 2000 women in our communities. Ms Wooller has had the responsibility for all aspects of the successful operation of the program, including designing promotional materials and preparing information packages and profiles of successful women in science and technology; attending promotional trips and networking visits with government and community agencies; and providing enrolment and career advice to women from all walks of life.

Her role as co-ordinator is complemented by her strong academic background and her honours and masters degrees focused on gender construction, allowing her to be familiar with the issues facing women in non-traditional areas.

Ms Wooller has displayed an exemplary and tireless commitment to women from disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to make a profound change in their lives and through her efforts the WIST Program is a nationally-recognised success.

Photo: Gina Yarrow, Cheryl Connor and Judith Wooller with their citations.