As part of CDU's 25th Anniversary celebrations, the University has recently launched an information kiosk providing a one-stop shop for people seeking information on Charles Darwin and the connection to his namesake Charles Darwin University. The 'Beagle Kiosk', situated in the Library Foyer in Casuarina campus, and the associated website 'Beagle Connections' bring together information about the scientist himself, his place in history and his connections to both the city and the university which were named for him. For further information go to www.cdu.edu.au/beagle-kiosk.

Last month I had a call from someone who introduced himself as Gary although he had a very strong Indian accent. He said he was ringing from the Visa/MasterCard control centre to let me know that unusual activity had been reported on my internet bank account. I had not noticed any anomalies and I let him continue, after all it was his time he was wasting. Eventually I asked him which account was involved: the one with bank A or the one with bank B. When 'Gary' told me that it was with bank B, my suspicions were confirmed as I have accounts with neither bank. He then asked me whether he should authorise the 'transactions' or be given access my computer to sort out the problem once and for all.

I have no idea whether he wanted to hijack my PC or to get me to pay for a clean out, but it was clear that this was a scam. I told him that he could do whatever he liked as I had an account with neither bank I had mentioned. He immediately hung up.

Broadband for Seniors is a program through which the NT Library in Parliament House offers seniors free access to computers, internet and basic training in skills needed to use new technology. Participants may choose to learn computing skills on the Library's computers or take along their own laptop or iPad for training purposes. For further information call Freecall 1800 019 155.

Part twenty-four : RAIN and now SUNSHINE

Well, I'll eat my words! In the January/February Newsletter I queried the FULL ON wet season, or lack thereof, and now in the April edition I can confirm that we have been blessed this year with adequate wetness (the mould in our cupboards and on our walls and clothes comes for free, along with the damp air!). Although daffy Dylan did not eventuate as a cyclone, he maybe helped to draw the recalcitrant monsoon down to our part of the tropics. We have had a really wonderful six weeks of rain, rain and more rain*. (Is it only that long? It seems to have been wet forever! How soon we forget!!).
* This was actually written on 5 March.

Christchurch CBD, three years after the earthquake, still resembles a partial war zone, but, as Gayle Carroll will tell us on 4 March, just as in Darwin after Cyclone Tracy, the trees. flowers and birds have returned.

On 11 March, Matthew Phillips, the Darwin Port Development Analyst, will be enlightening us about future expectations for the Port of Darwin.

Tiiu Knight will be giving us a fascinating insight into the joys of being a sea-wife, and relating a dramatic sea rescue on 18 March.

Finally, on 25 March, we have another excellent photo-documentary of Territory birds and scenes presented by Mary Beames; some of the photographs have already accompanied the weather reports on ABC Television.

On 1 March, the City of Darwin will be officially welcoming home some 300 troops who have recently returned from operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East. The military parade will leave the cenotaph and 10.30am and turn into Knuckey Street; at Raintree Park it will take the salute from the VIPs assembled on the dais.

The Genealogical Society of the Northern Territory has received funding from the city of Darwin Council's Community Grants Program to develop talks of interest for Darwin residents on the theme Getting Acquainted with Darwin's Past for the Future.

On 13 March, June Tomlinson will be Remembering our Past through Cemeteries – a journey recalling the pioneering efforts of some of those now at rest in Palmerston (Goyder Road) Cemetery.
On 27 March, Pearl Ogden will be looking at Life in Smith Street before the Mall as she traces the history of Smith Street from Goyder's arrival in 1869 and his naming of the streets in the CBD up to the post-War period.

The talks will be at 9.30am for a 10am start and finish at about 11.30am, and will be given in the Conference Room of the National and NT Archives, Kelsey Street, Millner. Entry is free and morning tea is provided, but bookings are appreciated. To book or for further information call 8981 7383 (on Monday, Tuesday or Saturday) or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

2014 marks 25 years of university education in the Territory, and it is also 40 years since the creation of Darwin Community College and 35 years since the first students were admitted to the Community College of Central Australia.

The idea of setting up a university here was first floated in the 1950s and driven by a desire to reduce the interstate brain drain and to provide a base for research specifically related to the Territory's unique desert, tropical and social environments. However, it was not until 1989 that the Northern Territory University, created by a merger of the University of Queensland's University College of the Northern Territory with the Darwin Institute of Technology, opened its doors.

In 2003, the University underwent a further transformation to become Charles Darwin University, the result of a merger of NTU, Centralian College in Alice Springs and the NT Rural College in Katherine, and a partnership with the Menzies School of Health Research.

Today, CDU is ranked in the top 100 of universities around the world which are less than 50 years old, and has over 23,000 students enrolled, providing training and education not only to Territorians but also, thanks to distance learning, to interstate and international students.

Celebrations include a Gala Dinner on 22 March at the Convention Centre. For further information about the dinner and other events taking place throughout the year, contact Maryanne McKaige on 8946 6585 ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or go to cdu.edu.au/25th-anniversary.

At difficult times in their lives many Australians turn to Lifeline for help and counselling. To help maintain its services, the Top End branch of Lifeline is organising a fund-raising quiz night on 1 March at Casuarina All Sports Club.

For further details and to book a table, call 8920 6900.

Is anyone interested in forming a small group of members, maybe 4 or 5, to meet once a month to study countries? The idea is for each person to find out factual information about a country of their choice and to share the results of their research with the other members. It is not about holiday travel although this could be included. Members can use the internet (Wikipedia and Google Earth) and the library. People would need to contribute actively to the group. If anyone is interested participating call Lorna on 8948 0411.

The Draft Darwin City Master Plan was unveiled last month by Lord Mayor Katrina Fong Lim, Chief Minister Adam Giles and the Member for Solomon Natasha Griggs. The plan was funded by the Australian Government's Liveable Cities Program ($250,000) and $125,000 each from the City of Darwin and Northern Territory Government, and draws on previous planning documents, extensive stakeholder engagement and technical studies over the past year to provide a blueprint for the city's growth over the next 20 years and more. The draft master plan is up for public comment or submissions until 17 April; it can be found, together with the engagement report and a number of supporting documents, on the City of Darwin website at www.darwin.nt.gov.au/cbdmasterplan.

As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, CDU will be publishing A History Written in Metal: Commemorative Plaques at CDU’s Campus 1972-2013. The book’s author, Dr Steven Farram will be presenting his work on 28 February at the first of this year’s National Trust and Historical Society lectures. The second talk takes place on 28 March when Wendy James will be speaking about Life in a Burnett House Post-War. The lectures are held in Burnett House, Myilly Point Heritage Precinct, Larrakeyah and start at 6pm. Entry is $5 for non-members or $2 for National Trust or Historical Society members.

Sunday afternoon teas at Burnett House have now resumed (from 3 to 5pm) - a sure sign that the dry season can’t be very far away.