This project moved a step closer this week when a delegation from the University of Central Queensland (UCQ) visited the city this week. 

The service is to be based in a building at Goulburn TAFE campus, with a work space already being fitted out. 

This week’s news comes on top previous announcements that the Country Universities Centre in Goulburn it would also support online courses from other universities including: University of Canberra, Charles Sturt University or the University of New England – along with with face-to-face tutorials when necessary. 

The Goulburn University Centre Steering Committee (GUCSC) is making amazing progress with seeking funding to set up the centre and it seems that what was one a pipe dream is becoming a reality. 

The Country Universities Centre (CUC) in Goulburn could be run similar to that in Cooma, where the project is going great guns.

As Professor Bill Blayney points out in today’s story, the presence of such centres in a city can help stop the drain of people to the cities because they can complete their tertiary studies here. He said this is especially so in relation to young people. 

The prospect of more teachers and tutors being employed out of the centre to assist students would also a great benefit to the city. 

When Goulburn had a Teachers College back in the 1970’s, the city had a good mix of academics and students and it helped keep the city vibrant and alive.

Similarly, anything that stops the drain of young people away to the cities also adds to the social fabric of the city. Bring it on! 

Do yourself a favour and go and look at the Art Express Exhibition in the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery. 

The talent of these HSC students on display up there is incredible.

It is a popular misconception that young people are self-focussed or may not aware of bigger issues, but this exhibition is a timely reminder that these students are very in tune with their environment and issues affecting their world and that they can eloquently they express their ideas through their art. One art work depicting Lake George and the local wind farm is a case in point.