Charles Sturt University (CSU) with the Comboyne Community Association and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will launch the Comboyne Cookbook on Monday 15 October to highlight the town’s local food treasures.The cookbook, designed by four CSU third-year graphic design students – Ms Abby Artuso, Mr Thomas Brown, Ms Beka Dennis and Ms Mel Streater – features local Comboyne businesses, famous local recipes, and some well-known personalities.Lecturer in graphic design in the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries Ms Willhemina Wahlin said the book was a perfect example of the University working with the community.“The book celebrates the close partnerships Charles Sturt University and our students built up with the Comboyne community while they worked on the book, and also the close ties of the University with the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council,” Ms Wahlin said.Ms Wahlin explained that the students were involved from the beginning of the Comboyne Cookbook’s production to the final result.“The book really demonstrates the diversity of talent the students have,” Ms Wahlin said. They styled the food, took amazingly rich photographs, created the illustrations, and undertook the layout of the entire 174 pages. It was a huge effort and they have done an outstanding job.Ms Wahlin added this type of collaborative work with community provides a unique experience for students on all aspects of project management, and is a very valuable addition to their graduating portfolios.“There are a lot of soft skills that designers need in addition to the processes of design, and one of the most important of these is building good client relationships.,” Ms Wahlin said.“Designers work in a wide range of organisations, both within the creative industries and beyond, so it’s important that they are prepared for a range of employment options.”The Comboyne Cookbook is part of the region’s Port Macquarie Bicentennial, and is a project funded and supported by the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.The community are invited to attend the launch that will be held at the Comboyne Showgrounds in Comboyne and will be attended by the Mayor, Councillor Peta Pinson, as well as students and Ms Wahlin.“These events are a great opportunity for students to meet the community and foster potential career opportunities ahead of their graduation,” Ms Wahlin said.Student Ms Mel Streater said that she is excited to see the book in its physical form and celebrate its success with the community.“We’re all very proud to be part of the book’s launch,” Ms Streater said.The Comboyne Cookbook is available from the Comboyne Community Centre (phone: 6550 4289) retailing at $50. For those attending the event, limited copies of the book will available or orders can be placed for delivery in early November.Following the event, students will hold another networking and engagement opportunity when they hold the graduate exhibition, ‘Metamorphosis’, at CSU in Port Macquarie on Friday 7 December from 6pm.