By JESSE GRAHAM
A HEALESVILLE florist has taken out a state-wide award and been named top of the lot as Victoria’s Florist of the Year by a wedding events group.
Healesville’s Clarence Flowers and Fancy Goods received the award as part of the Melbourne Wedding and Events of Australia (WEOA)’s first annual awards for excellence on Sunday 30 November in the city.
Representatives of the wedding industry, including photographers, designers, celebrants, hairstylists and more attended the evening, where 26 awards were handed out.
Clarence received the award for Florist of the Year at the event, and former owner, Bobilee Shanine said that she was thrilled to receive it on behalf of the business.
“I’m already so fulfilled by the creativity, the community and the amazing humans I work with, but it is a nice feeling when all your hard work and passion gets recognised by your industry,” she said.
The awards focus on recognising wedding suppliers who go “above and beyond” the call of duty to meet their client’s needs for their big days.
Ms Shanine said that, with the recent birth of her daughter, she was selling Clarence and that new owner, Kerrie Courtney would take over in 2015.
Ms Courtney said that she regularly visited Clarence, before asking Ms Shanine to create an item for her husband’s funeral casket in May – she said the treatment she received was “healing”, and that the opportunity to purchase the business was a unique chance at a new chapter.
“It is my intention to continue with Bobilee’s vision and passion with Clarence and I look forward to the challenge,” she said.
