A BALLARAT apprentice florist has walked away triumphant from the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
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Kaitlyn Schiltz, 24, took out the intermediate student competition for floral arranging in her first-ever competition.
The Marjorie Milner College student, who works part-time at Jenny Burke Florist on Little Bridge Street, said she was shocked to beat the 55 other competitors at this year’s show.
“It was my first crack at anything competitive,” she said.
“It was so hard to compare everyone because everyone’s theme was different, I guess my theme was that bit different.”
Competitors were given the brief of a ‘table setting for two’ and had a month to prepare.
Ms Schiltz said it was actress Lauren Bacall who inspired her theme of ‘looking through at your younger self’.
“I found a photo of a wreath on Pinterest and with guidance from Jenny we thought how we could go from there,” she said.
“I used a photo of Lauren when she was younger, and used fresh whites and greens to symbolise her youth.
“The opposite wreath featured old garden roses to reflect her age with an older photo of her.”
Ms Schiltz wasn’t sure what competition she might enter next, but was determined to pursue a career as a florist. “From here, I want to get through my apprenticeship and hopefully one day open my own florist,” she said.