Floralina & Co's Journey

In 2019, the repercussions of the Covid pandemic on the hospitality industry inspired me to pursue my lifelong dream of venturing into floristry. Although deterred in previous years by the steep costs of TAFE floristry courses, the availability of government subsidies in 2019 opened doors for industry retraining.With unwavering encouragement from my husband, I enrolled at GC Floristry and Management on the northern Gold Coast. Balancing a day of classes with occasional work in the hospitality sector, I successfully completed the program after more than 30 weeks, securing a position as a florist with a prominent company. Always nurturing the ambition to work independently, I now find myself on a fulfilling journey in the field of floristry.

Reflecting on my youth, where dahlias in my mother’s garden once seemed like “old people’s flowers,” they have now become my favorites for their beauty and resilience. In June 2021, while arranging flights for my mother’s 80th birthday, a light bulb moment struck me. To honor the woman who bravely moved our family from a small Pacific island to New Zealand, I founded Floralina & Co. She, Lina, was delighted and touched by the gesture.