10 March, 2013

Young Florists of the Year winners named

A young florist from Ashburton has been named overall winner of the Flowers Work Wonders Young Apprentice of the Year competition at Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch.

Nicole Hazlehurst, from Flowers and Balloons in Ashburton won both the Junior Young Apprentice of the Year title and took the Supreme award in the five-day competition.

Jessica Mills from Lovells Flowers 4 You in Hawera was named Senior Young Florist Apprentice of the Year.

They were among 12 of New Zealand’s best young florists who competed for the titles during the five days of the Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch.

Each of the florists made 14 floral designs during the event, plus each designed a floral shop and a letterbox with the theme ‘Whatever the weather’, demonstrating their creative skills to the thousands of visitors to the Show who watched them in action in the City Care Floral Art marquee. This year’s event was sponsored by Flowers Work Wonders.

Competition Convenor Joy Knight, founder of Florists New Zealand Incorporated (FLONZI), says some exciting young talent was identified in the competition, which is designed to promote world class standards of excellence and skills within the industry.

“Our compeititors were chosen from across New Zealand and the skills they are showing this year are astounding. The florists are judged on composition, technique, colour and ideas.

“This popular event at Ellerslie gives them a chance to compete with their peers and be inspired to excel. Winners go on to international competition,” says Mrs Knight.

In the Senior event second place went to Donna Ryalls of Dunedin and third to Anastasia Harris, from Christchurch.

Olivia Smith from Greymouth was second in the Junior event and Milynda-Jane Sterling from Rangiora was third.

INDIVIDUAL TASK WINNERS

• Task 1 - Planted arrangement - Donna Ryalls, Dunedin
• Task 2 - Corporate arrangement - Nicole Hazlehurst, Ashburton
• Task 3 - Wreath for a Funeral - Nicole Hazlehurst, Ashburton
• Task 4 - Mixed media - Nicole Hazlehurst, Ashburton
• Task 5 - Surprise Box - Nicole Hazlehurst, Ashburton
• Task 6 - Decorate wine bottles - Hollie Sarten, Auckland
• Task 7 - Accessory for a cocktail party - Olivia Smith, Greymouth
• Task 8 - Decorate a live model - Donna Ryalls, Dunedin
• Task 9 - Hanging decoration - Milynda-Jane Sterling, Rangiora
• Task 10 - Bridal veil - Aimee Andrews,Wellington
• Task 11 - Bridal bouquet - Jessica Mills, Hawera
• Task 12 - Cake decoration - Jessica Mills, Hawera
• Task 13 - Table decoration - Anastasia Harris, Christchurch
• Task 14 - Hand-tied bouquet - Nicole Hazlehurst, Ashburton

Letterbox design award winner:
Donna Ryalls, Dunedin

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>