By Dr Bibiana Chan
Reflections from the Secret Garden
I couldn’t be prouder of the Community Flower Studio (CFS) Secret Garden Team! Together, we pulled off our very first Wishing Flower Exhibition — our second Mental Health Promotional Event.
Building on lessons from the Lunar New Year Family Fun Fair, we offered our Floral Arrangements Made Easy (FAME) Workshops and DIY Flower Bar Experience to youth (ages 14–30) first. This time, we introduced a new category:
“Mum & Daughter Bonding Thro’ Flowers.”
Tickets sold out within hours!
The feedback was heartfelt and powerful — clear evidence of meaningful connections being made.
One facilitator wrote:
“The idea of mother-daughter bonding was brilliant!
I saw genuine interaction and connection between the four pairs throughout the workshop and reflection time.
One mother shared she learned more about her daughter’s likes and dislikes. Others said they loved doing something different together and asked how often we’d run this kind of workshop again.”
At the After Party, a young participant told me,
“I now understand why my mum enjoys arranging flowers so much — it’s really relaxing.”
The bonding clearly goes both ways. 💞
Another touching moment came from Andrew, a young member who joined CFS in November 2022. He created a “Peaceful Farmland” in his Colour Sand Glass display and completed his Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award service with us. At the Live Stream Mental Health Forum, Andrew shared his CFS journey and said,
“I’ll continue to volunteer for CFS for a long time.”
Andrew, your dedication inspires us all.
Our Live Stream Crew, made up of high school students from Year 9 to Year 11, impressed everyone with their professionalism. We ran two test sessions before going live, and their teamwork was remarkable. Special thanks to Henry Gebert, who provided technical support and shared his creative journey through CFS workshops. Henry also practices Taekwondo — a sport often linked to masculinity — showing that creativity and strength can coexist. Truly, a teenage boy who has it all!
It was wonderful to see Kim Wilkins, one of our founding members and CFS’s Legal Consultant since Day One, at the exhibition. Kim has guided us with sound legal advice and reviewed important documents over the years. Seeing him chatting with Vivian — another valued member — about career paths for future lawyers warmed my heart. Vivian’s daughter, also a CFS member and law student at UTS, joined their conversation. These moments of social connection embody what CFS is all about. ❤️
When planning the Secret Garden Project (SGP), I invited members to express interest in taking on lead roles. Sarah was among the first to volunteer, eager to design the “Alice in Wonderland” decorations at the entrance. Due to a last-minute venue change, her display was moved to the back — but it turned out stunning! Watching Sarah enjoy the entire creative process reminded me that the journey itself is often more meaningful than the outcome.
It was such a fun event Bibi. There is nothing more nourishing to the soul than making connections whilst being creative. Thank you for all that you do Xx
A special thank you goes to Dr Linh Nguyen, Lecturer at the Centre for Social Impact (UNSW), who discovered CFS through our listing with SECNA (Social Enterprise Council NSW & ACT). Dr Nguyen invited me to share the CFS story with her Social Entrepreneurship – Practicum students. Together, we developed a brief for them to help CFS design a marketing strategy back in July 2024.
The original Secret Garden Proposal actually began as a group assignment by these UNSW students. I’m incredibly proud that we brought their vision to life!
As I reflect on this milestone, I can’t help but recall my six unsuccessful grant applications for different versions of “Creative Connections for Tweens and Their Families.” I was about to put that idea into the “too hard basket” but perhaps the energy, creativity, and teamwork of our Secret Garden have given me new blood to try a seventh time.
To everyone who helped make the Secret Garden bloom — from facilitators, volunteers, and youth leaders to our community partners and mentors — thank you. You have once again shown that flowers are more than decoration; they are bridges of connection, healing, and hope.
