Stacey flies the flag for Australia at WorldSkills competition
Former Challenger TAFE floristry student Stacey Pitman represented Australia at the 40th International WorldSkills Competition in Canada. More than 1000 of the world’s best young professionals in trades, service and technical programs gathered in Calgary to showcase their talents from September 1 to 7, 2009.
Stacey, as a member of the Australian team the Skillaroos, showed off her floristry skills in nine events. Her creations included bouquets, wall hangings, potted plants and jewellery pieces.
She was awarded a Medallion of Excellence.
The WorldSkills Competition is the biggest event of its kind in the world. Also known as the Trade Olympics, the annual competition aims to achieve higher standards and status for vocational education and training across the globe.
Click on the video below to hear more about Stacey’s WorldSkills journey.
Stacey’s passion is gold standard
Stacey Pitman is no stranger to success, having won gold at the state and national WorldSkills and at Interflora and Royal Show competitions.
Stacey said the WorldSkills competitions were particularly tough but she was remarkably calm despite the pressure.
“It’s difficult to make beautiful or interesting things when you are really stressed out so I just tried to enjoy the whole experience,” she said.
She attributed her relaxed attitude at the Australian WorldSkills to many late nights in the lead up to the competition, a strong belief in herself and a lot of encouragement from Beverly Milling, Challenger TAFE’s floristry lecturer.
“Beverly is not just a teacher, but a friend and it was her dedication to my training that enabled me to be so well prepared for WorldSkills,” Stacey said.
Hard work, though, is not the only thing that contributed to Stacey’s success. She also has a true passion for flowers. Her work at a florist shop at Garden City shopping centre gives her the opportunity to create designs that bring people joy.
“I love everything about working with flowers,” Stacey said. “It feels like Christmas when all the beautiful flowers are delivered to the store, and I just can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. It’s great to see the happiness that flowers bring and seeing people’s faces when they receive a beautiful bouquet.”
With the belief that floral designs are a form of artwork, Stacey’s career goal is to raise the calibre of floristry.
“I want to do something big,” she said. “I’m thinking stores, books, demonstrations on cruises, on-shore florists for yachts, teaching, judging and I also want to travel to absorb what the rest of the world is doing and then bring it back here.”
Her love of flowers, combined with her characteristic hard work, will be the key to Stacey's future career success.