Holmesglen floristry talent wins big at Wildflowers Australia Competition

This annual event invites floristry course students from TAFE and private colleges across Australia to design and create floral pieces that highlight the beauty of native Australian and South African flora.

Holmesglen students studying SFL30115 Certificate III in Floristry course displayed superior skills in the student competition securing national and state level wins, highlighting their individual talent and the Institute’s commitment to top-tier floristry education.

The competition theme, 'It Takes Two', challenged floristry course participants to craft a hand-tied bouquet and a complementary wearable item, such as a corsage or hairpiece, and to present their creations in a thoughtfully styled display.

The competition was fierce, with 139 floristry entries from 13 colleges, marking it as the largest in the event's history. The diversity and creativity displayed by all participants demonstrated the vibrant future of Australia's floristry industry.

Tiffany Gabriel (see design below) distinguished herself by winning second place nationally, while Yiling Huang (see design above) was announced the Victorian State Winner.

Holmesglen’s Laura Armstrong and Jill Dyson were both shortlisted for national prizes.

Yiling reflected on the inspiration for her creation, drawing from her mother’s love for gardening and the opportunity to teach her own daughter.

“I thought about my seven-year-old daughter—could this competition be the perfect opportunity to design a piece for her, introducing her to the beauty of Australia’s native flowers? With this idea in mind, I chose the theme for my work Pure, from my daughter’s name.”  

Tiffany’s design was inspired by Tiffany & Co. and her late father, who named her after the brand. She used the popular brand colours of white, blue and greens and recreated the sophisticated brand feel in her creation.  

“After 30 years of trial and error of pursuing a career, combining jewellery and floristry feels like I’ve found my passion."

Tiffany thanked her TAFE teachers for their constant support and encouragement in class and during the competition, and floristry course.

“My teachers made a world of difference. Not only did they teach us everything we needed to know, but they even allowed us to use class time to prepare for the competition."

Yiling also attributed her success to the guidance she received during her floristry course.

“The floral techniques I incorporated in the competition were ones we had previously learned in class, Andrea and Val provided expert teaching and gave feedback to every student. The hands-on practice with different floral materials also helped me develop my technical skills."

By encouraging creativity and a deep appreciation for native flora, Holmesglen continues to cultivate the next generation of floristry professionals poised to make significant contributions to the industry.

Tiffany’s winning design impressed a potential employer at the event, and she received a job offer on the spot.

“It was surreal. To be recognised for my creation, and then lock in a job on the same day was a wonderful feeling."

To discover more about what careers are available to you, visit our floristry course page.

We also offer horticulture and environment courses in related areas, including sports turf management, landscape design, and parks and gardens.