Floral group helps fund cancer research

PROCEEDS from the Ballarat Floral Art Group’s annual display were donated to the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute or FECRI last week during their Tuesday meeting.

The group’s president Anita Hinton presented the cheque at the Robert Clark Horticultural Centre and said it’s their annual approach to assisting the community.

“We try to pick a charity that’s local to Ballarat so the money stays here,” she said.

“There’s so many big charities that get lots of funding and some smaller ones people don’t even know about in their struggle for funding.

“FECRI is close to our hearts. We’ve all had someone who’s had cancer.

“For the display, the whole of the centre is just filled with flowers and all the members put into it based on a theme we choose the year before.”

The art display took place over two days in early October with this year’s theme being “petals, pots and whatnots.”

More than 40 arrangements were made amongst the group’s 22 members from flowers sourced from their own gardens.

The Ballarat Floral Art Group has been meeting for 35 years, with their annual display previously spanning three days.

Last year’s funds were donated to Uniting Ballarat’s BreezeWay meals program.

FECRI chair Paula Nicholson accepted the cheque on behalf of the organisation, and said community donations are essential for their continuation.

“It’s always terrific especially when the community we depend upon so greatly come together and make us the charity of choice,” she said.

“I think it’s the way we’ve thrived and we’re very, very grateful for the ongoing community support.

“These funds will go towards our research program. Our large scientific staff and development team is Ballarat-based but very much infiltrating the greater cancer research world.”

The Ballarat Floral Art Group’s next floral display will be themed around “flowers through the ages.”