2015 WildFlowers Australia National Student Floristry Competition
Your chance to flaunt your artistic skills and personal imagination!
Are you studying floristry at Certificate III level? WildFlowers Australia Ltd (WFA) is inviting students from
TAFE and PRIVATE floristry colleges which are Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) across Australia to
participate in the National Student Floristry Competition 2015.
History of the Competition
Since 2008 WFA has been offering students the
opportunity to compete in this very popular
national competition. It is open to all TAFE
colleges and RTO's (registered training
organisations) who offer Certificate III Floristry.
Previous to 2008, the competition was
established and coordinated by the former
Australian Flora and Protea Growers Association.
will open up a new world of floristry
opportunities for many.
Participation in this competition enables you to
use your design knowledge to design and create a
unique, suitable arrangement, themed to an
event, and appropriate for its purpose.
Photographs will be needed as part of the
submission. Photography is another important
creative skill for floristry students and this
competition is a great opportunity for you to
learn to build a more colourful, professional and
progressive portfolio of your work.
You can view the winning entries from previous
competitions here:
http://www.wildflowersaustralia.com.au/floristry
-competition
Competition theme: ‘Lest we forget’
You will design and create a
suitable contemporary-style wreath to be placed
on a cenotaph for an official ANZAC Centenary
Remembrance ceremony to honour the Men and
Women who fought for and died for our country.
The wildflower 2015 experience:
This competition is a great opportunity for you to
apply the practical design elements, principles
and underpinning skills learned in class to
produce an award winning arrangement.
In hosting this competition, WildFlowers Australia
aims to help students explore the versatility and
beauty of Australian grown wildflowers and
foliages. Learning about their names and
distinctive features and how to incorporate these
Australian native and South African plant
materials into interesting floristry arrangements,
Design styles may include reference to a
particular event, a section of the armed forces,
e.g. The Light Horse Brigade, the WAAF (Womens’
Army), the Air Force, Navy etc.
For more details, see the ‘Competition Schedule
and Guidelines’ below.
Competition Schedule and Guidelines
Step 1: Your design
Research different styles and techniques suitable for constructing a wreath. You will be designing and constructing
ONE wreath.
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You may use accessories/embellishments, such as bark or fabric, to show how your interpretation suits the
theme.
The design may be styled with more than one wet section; however as the arrangement is a wreath, it must
have physical and visual balance. It can be either round or chaplet in shape.
The shape and style is to be based on either symmetric or asymmetric balance.
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You will need to clearly define colour harmonies to reflect the features of your theme, e.g. complimentary
purple/orange, analogous etc.
Step 2: Select a category for your presentation and complete your entry form. There are two categories in the
competition. You must choose which category you will enter and submit ONE entry for that category.
Category 1. At least 75% of the total plant material used in the design must be flowers and foliages from species
tracing their origins to either Australia or South Africa; up to 25% may be traditional/exotic or tropical flowers.
Category 2. ‘Purely Australian’. Designs using only Australian native flower and foliage products (species endemic to
Australia).
Further details on plant materials:
Information on all flowers and foliages, including
Australian and South African flowers, can be
found in ‘What Cut Flower is That? The essential
care and handling guide for cut flower
professionals’. This can be downloaded for free at
https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/items/13-079.
Note that there are coloured page tabs to help
you identify Australian native, South African,
tropical and orchid species, and foliage products
have their own section. In addition, the Quick
guide to seasonal flowers and foliages lists
traditional/exotic, South African and Australian
wildflowers, orchids and tropical flowers by their
common and botanical names, season and colour
range, while separate charts provide
comprehensive lists of Australian native flowers
and foliages. Page 20 has information on Weeds
and floristry.
By signing the entry form, you are agreeing to
future inclusion of your photographs in
WildFlowers Australia approved publications and
websites. If this is occurs, the design in the
photograph will be credited with your name and
the college name.
Step 3: Design and construct your arrangement
Keep in mind that you will also need to write some design notes using the template provided (at least 1 typed A4
page). It may also help to do a sketch of your design, which you may include in your portfolio – see step 5.
Step 4: Present your completed arrangement for photographing
In 2015 high quality digital photos are more important than ever before! Photos of the winning entries will be
published in Australian Flower Industry magazine and various industry websites.
Good photography skills and ability to write clear and interesting descriptions of flowers and flower arrangements
are becoming more important, as floristry businesses set up and manage their own web and social media sites. In
this age of speedy communication, it is these skills that appeal to customers and make a floristry business stand out
from the crowd.
It is ESSENTIAL that the highest quality photos are submitted – high resolution, sharp clear images, with a
complimentary background. Last year’s entries showed off various background colours; quite a few compared a
white and black background.
Lighting and focus are important to the end result. Here is a great link to assist you with your photographs:
http://www.tesselaarflowers.com.au/flower-photography-for-florists/.
Another tip is to buy several large sheets of craft paper, in white, pale grey and black, and experiment with these as
backgrounds. The wreath can be placed on the ground on the backboard and, if you also purchase two cheap sun
windscreen reflectors, you can hold them either side and reflect the light into the subject. This helps to avoid
shadowing whilst getting a clear image.
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To ensure high quality photographs are submitted, please ensure that:
The arrangement is placed against a plain background (black, white, pale grey and blue seem to work best) and no
background or foreground features intrude. Do not photograph against a brick wall or on hard paving. Unattractive
backgrounds may be cropped out; in past years we have had many and varied backgrounds, and they distract from
the subject and may ruin your chance of winning a prize.
The photo is to be taken from directly above, in front of the piece, and from the side.
2015 WildFlowers Australia National Student Floristry Competition
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The photo is completely in focus – please check this on a larger screen while the design is available to photograph
again if necessary.
A maximum number of 3 images may be submitted but only ONE will be placed on the website.
The image file name includes your surname and the college name.
Step 5: Prepare your design notes
Design notes form an important part of the competition requirements. They should be at least 1 A4 typed page in
length. This year we are providing a template for you to follow. The judges will want to read about your inspiration
and interpretation of the design. In your notes:
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Describe the research you have conducted into wreaths and the ANZAC centenary theme.
List the components used including sundries and plant materials: provide both the botanical and common names.
The use of listed environmental weeds will not be allowed (please see weeds information on page 20 of ‘What Cut
Flower is That? The essential care and handling guide for cut flower professionals’).
Describe the techniques you have used to achieve the design style, e.g. grouping, pinning and layering techniques.
Discuss the importance of the forms, colours, textures and space.
Step 6: Prepare a folder
Attach your notes securely into a folder together with at least one printed photograph of the finished arrangement.
Label the folder clearly with your name, class and college. Your teacher will forward all entries to the competition coordinator.
Please note that college folders or individual entries will NOT be returned unless prior arrangements are made.
Please keep a copy of all your work and your submission.
Marking Schedule:
Interpretation of Theme, Design Notes and Presentation
Artistic Aspects, Elements and Principles of Design
Selection and condition of Components
Construction and Refinement
Total
25%
35%
20%
20%
100%
Competition time line
Before Friday May 29 – confirm your participation
You will need to confirm with your college that you will be participating – complete the entry form and hand it in to
your teacher.
By Monday June 15 – receive competition information from your teacher
Your teacher will explain how the competition will run at your college, and will forward all necessary information to
you - this includes the competition guidelines, entry form, prize list, marking sheet and profiles of the competition
sponsors. This information is also available at http://www.wildflowersaustralia.com.au/floristry-competition
Before Friday September 18 – submit your entry including photos and design notes to your teacher for postage
All entries must be received by the competition coordinator, Del Thomas, by September 18 and no late entries can
be accepted.
Wednesday October 14 - judging completed and winners announced.
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This information will be posted at http://www.wildflowersaustralia.com.au/floristry-competition and
https://www.facebook.com/wildflowers.australia
Competition prizes
Category 1. At least 75% of the total plant material used in the design is flowers and foliages from species tracing
their origins to either Australia or South Africa; up to 25% may be traditional/exotic or tropical flowers.
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First prize (one National winner): $350 cash plus $130 voucher from Apack.
2nd (one National runner-up): $175 cash plus $70 voucher from Apack
3rd (one National 3rd place winner): a copy of ‘What cut flower is that? The essential care and handling
guide for cut flower professionals’ plus $50 voucher from Apack
Each state/territory winner: $100 cash
Category 2. ‘Purely Australian’. Designs using only Australian native flower and foliage products (species endemic to
Australia).
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First prize (one National winner): $350 cash plus $130 voucher from Apack
2nd (one National runner up): $175 cash plus $70 voucher from Apack
3rd (one National 3rd place winner): a copy of ‘What cut flower is that? The essential care and handling
guide for cut flower professionals’ plus $50 voucher from Apack
The entry from each college achieving the highest mark (excepting 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall winners) will
receive a copy of ‘What cut flower is that? The essential care and handling guide for cut flower
professionals’
Prizes for category 2 courtesy of East Coast Wildflowers and Apack.
You will receive a certificate indicating your participation in the competition (these will be sent to your college/school
for distribution).
Help from your teacher
Your teacher plays a very important role in this competition. As well as providing encouragement to you, your
teacher will assess your entry according to the assessment sheet provided. Your teacher will be checking the quality
of the materials chosen, the physical balance etc. The assessment by your teacher is taken into account when the
judges review your entry from the photographs.
Your college will decide when you will make the arrangement. Your floristry teacher will assess your work and give
advice about the photography, and collate all entries from your college, ensuring final submissions are received by
the Competition Coordinator by Friday September 18, 2014
Judging
The competition will be judged based on the digital photographs submitted on a USB.
The arrangement will be judged on the use of the floristry design elements and principles, and the selection and use
of quality materials. Other points used to determine the winners include: selection of materials consistent with the
requirements of the category entered, appropriate choice of materials, good structure, a fitting design, quality of
photographs of the entry, well written design notes and the teacher’s assessment sheet.
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A panel including recognised florists and educators will judge the entries.
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The winner, second and third prize winners in category 1 will be the entrants achieving the highest aggregate points,
where at least 75% of the total plant materials used are flower and foliage products from species tracing their origins
to either Australia or South Africa.
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Of the remaining entries in Category 1, for each State (or Territory), the entrant achieving the highest aggregate
points will be the State (or Territory) winner.
2015 WildFlowers Australia National Student Floristry Competition
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The winner, second and third prize winners in category 2 will be the entrants achieving the highest aggregate points
and using only flowers and foliage from species endemic to Australia.
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The entry from each college achieving the highest mark in category 2 (excepting 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall winners) will
receive a copy of ‘What cut flower is that? The essential care and handling guide for cut flower professionals’
In the event of tied scores, WildFlowers Australia will make the final decision.
Questions?
If your teacher is unable to answer your questions, please contact the competition coordinator Del Thomas at
[email protected] or phone 0414 678 840.
GLOSSARY (for the purposes of this competition):
Refinement: remove unwanted elements and improve by making small changes
Arrangement: A collection of floral components arranged in a vegetative or decorative design style - i.e. an orderly
grouping of items as a unit.
Flower arrangement is the combination of several elements to produce a pleasing display.
Wildflower: Flowers harvested from species tracing their origins to either Australia or South Africa. These will have
been sourced from cultivated plants or harvested from the wild under license.
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