Tracy Halliday celebrates four decades in floral industry

From weddings and funerals to floral bicycles and teddy bears, there’s not much Cairns Florist Tracy Halliday hasn’t been asked to do.

Tracy Halliday, owner of Rainflowers Florist at the Showgrounds Shopping Centre, is celebrating 43 years in the Far North florist industry. Picture Emily Barker.

From weddings and funerals to floral bicycles and teddy bears, there’s not much Cairns Florist Tracy Halliday hasn’t been asked to do.

The Rainflowers Florist owner, who is celebrating 43 years in the floral industry, said the best part of her job was getting to watch her client’s lives bloom.

“There’s one couple who I did their flowers for while they were dating, then I did their wedding and again when they had a baby,” Ms Halliday said.

“Then one of their family members passed away and they reached out to me to do the flowers, so you get to stay with the family forever in a way.”

The floral mainstay has worked with Cairns clients since nabbing her first job at 16 years old.

“I was never good at school so my mum said there was a (florist) job in the paper and did I want to try for it?” she said.
“The was back at Flowerland in the old Civic Centre and I've been doing it ever since, working in other florist shops and owning my own business.”

Ms Halliday, who specialises in event floristry, said she most enjoyed working on weddings and funerals.

“Weddings and funerals are my passion because that’s where you see people get emotional and it’s a privilege to be part of those occasions,” she said.

“Like with funeral work, I’ve made a bicycle and teddy bears, something personal to reflect on the person who’s passed away.”

In helping the local economy, Ms Halliday, a self confessed black thumb, said she worked with local growers as much as possible.
“Growing (flowers) is not something I’m interested in. I don’t like gardening at all,” she said.
“I just enjoy arranging them and making things look pretty.”

Originally published as Tracy Halliday celebrates four decades in floral industry