Debra Pemble of The Posy Crew, a floral designer and floristry educator based in Julatten, Far North Queensland, has been awarded a Silver Gilt Medal in the prestigious Floral Design Competition at the 2026 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Held last week in Melbourne, the Floral Design Competition is widely regarded as the show’s premier floral design event, celebrating the principles, mechanics and artistry of contemporary floristry. In 2026, the competition was refined to place greater emphasis on design skill and technique, with competitors creating live in front of the show audience.

This year’s show theme, Kaleidoscope, explored vibrancy, transformation and perspective, inviting designers to interpret the ever-changing patterns, colours and movement found in both nature and creative design.

Debra’s competition work featured two connected pieces titled Fracture Point and Fractured. Inspired by the shifting symmetry of a kaleidoscope, the designs explored disruption, movement and transformation — from the moment structure begins to break apart, through to the beauty of the new form that emerges.

Both pieces were created using vibrant Far North Queensland–grown botanical material including Oncidium orchids, anthuriums and heliconias, celebrating the colour, texture and sculptural qualities of tropical blooms from the region.

Debra said that while she had hoped for a higher medal placing, she was incredibly proud of the result and the work she presented.

“I was obviously hoping for a medal of a different colour, however I felt extremely proud of the work,” she said.

“The design was very different to what I do in my day-to-day wedding and event floristry. I wanted to create something light and transparent, with different layers of interest that would draw the viewer in.”