I had a bit of a pinch me moment upon arriving at this year's F1 Australian Grand Prix. The team and I were beyond excited to be back working onsite once again, especially after the 2 year pause due to COVID, and the significance of the timing of the lockdown back then, just after the 2019 race. It was a genuine thrill to be back on the track and there was a buzz amongst everyone on arrival.

This year we again had the pleasure taking care of our friends at Porsche Centre Australia with flowers for their Porsche Pavilion site. The pavilion is located in a prime position on the fast turn two left-hander right after the main straight. It's here that lucky Porsche guests experience a spectacular viewpoint of the racing while enjoying some of Melbourne's finest catering and champagne.

The Porsche Pavilion hosts a week full of racing and events. One of the events we were very lucky to be invited to was the 10th anniversary celebration of the 'Women in Drive'.

The 'Women in Drive' event celebrates all the amazing women behind the Porsche Australia family and it was an honour to be in the company of so many humble, motivated and inspiring women under one roof. Standouts for me personally included Kate Reid, Roxy Jacenko, Victoria Curtis, just to name a few.

This year's pavilion featured all locally grown foliages and flowers, sourced from my favourite local growers. We opted for a green and sustainable feel to reflect the timing of Porsche launching their new electric Taycan. 

Tables featured locally grown native foliages, green hydrangeas, green anthuriums, which all smelt as good as they looked thanks to the locally grown native foliages. We added a little luxe to the look by housing the table designs in complimentary gold and black vases. And of course no floral foam was used in any of the designs within the space, which is a contentious product from an environmental perspective.

The Bar and the Entrance Counter featured a custom made foliage garland which cascaded off the Bar/Entrance Counter surface and then naturally flowed onto the floor. This green and native installation was eye catching and created a welcoming statement for guests to view, smell and talk about. Each garland was created onsite and featured locally grown eucalyptus, spinning gum, tetra gum nut and camellia foliage. Again, no floral foam was used in the creation of this natural installation.

Featuring locally grown and seasonal flowers and foliage in a neutral green palette also meant that the designs would be complimentary in look to all the other major event days Porsche was to host. This meant that all of the creations were maximised to their fullest potential by lasting the entire event week.

Once we installed all the table designs, entrance designs and custom cascading garlands, we decided to soak up the energy outside of the pavilion and walk around the track. It was amazing to meet and see some of the motorsport drivers in the Carrera Porsche site. Their insight into their race days was amazing to hear and we now have another level of respect for all their hard work, preparation and dedication to the sport. They were a real highlight to see race on the track, and second only to the Formula One's.

I hope everyone enjoyed their time at the Australian F1 Grand Prix this year as it was certainly a very special year for us. If you have not yet experienced a day at the F1 Grand Prix, I highly recommend you pop it on your bucket list.

Kate x

Photographer https://cambercollective.com.au/