With the cancellation of events and weddings due to COVID-19, flower farmer Kristy Tippett has an excess of roses at her Dean flower farm.
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The owner of Soho Rose Farm has decided to gift them to vulnerable people and health care workers in the Ballarat community, instead of seeing them go to waste.
Around 100 bouquets of roses and Care Cards will be available for anyone to pick up free of charge outside Lola at The Provincial Hotel on Wednesday.
Hopefully it makes some people smile and feel there is still hope out there.
- Kristy Tippett, Soho Rose Farm
It is intended the flowers be gifted to people who are elderly, have a disability, or are working on the frontline response to the coronavirus.
"We have this beautiful product that brings so much happiness to people. In a time like this I also feel almost a bit of responsibility to share that happiness with people," Ms Tippett said.
"Hopefully it makes some people smile and feel there is still hope out there. Flowers aren't everything, but it is something that can make you feel a bit happier about being at home."
Ms Tippett contacted Provincial Hotel owner Gorgi Coghlan hoping they could work together to develop a way to distribute the flowers, after seeing Ms Coghlan's social media post about roses from her own garden.
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Ms Coghlan said she and Ms Tippett worked with Committee for Ballarat and Leadership Ballarat to organise the pick up opportunity that included the offer of Care Cards.
"I think this is just a great example of the huge heart the Ballarat community has and how willing everyone is put their own needs aside to help the people who need it most," Ms Coghlan said.
"Imagine if everyone in Ballarat thought of one person that needs an act of kindness such as a bouquet of Kristy's beautiful Soho Rose Farm flowers. What an amazing difference that would make to how people go through this time.
"I am just so proud of our community."
Ms Tippett said she believed it was important for businesses to be a part of community.
Anyone can pick up a bouquet of flowers and a Card Card outside Lola at the Provincial Hotel free of charge between 10am and 1pm on Wednesday.
It will be a no contact pick up, with markers set out on the ground to ensure people practice social distancing.
You can contact kristy@sohorosefarm.com.au to organise the purchase of flowers.
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