Some 100 cupcakes were on offer on July 19 outside the CSU Book Co-op at Lake Innes Village Shopping Centre.

Student liaison officer Ruby Simmons said the aim was to engage with the community.

“Last year, we had a lot of organisations come onto campus, so this year we thought we would give back a bit,” she said.

The afternoon held a student-focused Foundation Fiesta with Mexican food, a chilli eating competition and Spanish live music.

The Port Macquarie Campus celebrations raised money for the Make a Wish Foundation, Red Cross and Red Kite.

Foundation Day is celebrated annually.

It marks the establishment of the university on July 19, 1989 when the Charles Sturt University Act was signed.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said Foundation Day was about bringing the Charles Sturt University community together in celebration of its rich history.

Staff, students and alumni were encouraged to wear red and join in the celebrations across the campuses.

“It is a time to be proud of who we are and of our ethos yindyamarra winhanganha, which is Wiradjuri for ‘the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in’,” Professor Vann said.

“Though our teaching and research, Charles Sturt University is about developing and spreading wisdom to help our communities flourish and to make the world a better place.

“Foundation Day is also an opportunity to bring to life the university’s four values - insightfulness, inclusiveness, impactful and inspiring.”