The students studying at Marjorie Milner College win more Floristry Industry Competitions than any other students training at other providers. The success of our students spans many decades.
It should be noted that MMC teachers include an Interflora National Judge and a former Interflora World Cup Competitor to guide the students. No other college offers this expertise to its students in Floristry. Previous years succcess's can be obtained at the College. This list shows students' success from 2006.
Teachers at Marjorie Milner College
Gregory R. Milner
M.Ed., B.Ed.T., Dip. Tech. T., Dip TAA, Dip Retail M, T.Tr.I.C., F.T.C., Dip. Int. Judging C.F.D.
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Principal
Gregory Milner was educated at Trinity Grammar School, Kew. Following into a family of two generations associated with retail and floristry he first competed in an Interflora competition at age fourteen. He also demonstrated that year at a country educational school for Interflora at Hamilton Victoria. In 1969 he accompanied his mother on a world trip and on the return commenced work in their store at 112 Bourke Street Melbourne. He also commenced as a student teacher assisting with evening classes at the school. A store in Little Bourke Street store was opened in 1975. Gregory was demonstrating extensively around Victoria and Australia. He sat for his Interflora judges qualification at Canberra in 1977 and in 1978 commenced formal teacher training. During his second year of teacher training he was involved with the running four of the families retail stores. Gregory has continued through the years with his studies obtaining the qualifications of a Trained Trade Instructors' Certificate, Diploma of Technical Teaching, Degree in Education Technical and he has completed his Masters of Education at the University of Melbourne. Gregory holds a Floristry Tradesmans Certificate (1984), a Certificate IV in Floristry and he is an accredited R.P.L. (Recognition of Prior Learning) assessor as well as a workplace assessor. He served for twelve years on the Interflora committee and he is a past chairman of Interflora Victoria/Tasmania.
Gregory Milner is a businessman who has been successful in many forms of business including floristry, clothing, bridal industry, education, property management and development.
He also enjoys associations with other industry associations such as Teleflora, Smithers Oasis and Australian Florist Sundries. He has demonstrated for each of these companies. He has taught for T.A.F.E. Tasmania and for R.M.I.T. in business studies. Gregory wrote his first book in 1984 titled " The Art of Flower Arrangement" and later books included " Wedding Flowers', " The Complete Book of Flower Arrangement" and "Fresh Cut Flowers". The Complete book is a suggested reference on the national curriculum. Gregory Milner has designed and made twenty-four training DVD's and these are sold around the world. Gregory has conducted numerous seminars and demonstrated across Australia and other countries. He was inducted into the Floristry Hall of Fame in 1999. He has taught and demonstrated regularly in Japan and in 2001 he was invited to judge in Nagoya, Japan in the presence of their Imperial Highnesses the Imperial Prince and Princess of Japan. He then flew to America to demonstrate at the Fine Arts Museum in San Francisco. Gregory demonstrated and lectured in England in 2005. He retired from retail in 2000 and he is working harder than ever ensuring the College is the industry leader in training. Gregory sat for the American Institute of Floral Designers Examination in Kansas City (USA) in 2009 to obtain the Certified Floral Designers Certificate (CFD). In 2010 Gregory upgraded his Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to a Diploma of Training and Assessment.
Email: info@marjoriemilner.edu.au
Gregory and Vicky Milner
Floristry Department
Nicole Gibson
BAldtLrng&Devt
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Nicole Gibson trained as an apprentice under the studio of Alan Gollings in Balaclava. The Gollings studio standards are well known and respected throughout the florist industry. Marjorie Milner and Alan Gollings demonstrated throughout the years on many industry occasions. Nicole obtained the highest mark for her final assessment and received the award of top third year apprentice. Nicole studied to obtain the Certificate IV in Floristry at Marjorie Milner College and she has furthered her floristry and retail knowledge in several varied outlets. Nicole won first place in the open section of the Australian Florist and Allied Trades Association competition , 2001. Nicole has a keen industry interest and was the secretary of the Australian Florists and Allied Trades Association for 11 years. Nicole was awarded life membership in 2009. Nicole has qualified as a judging steward and in 2011 Nicole holds a Masters Degree of Education at Monash University. Nicole holds a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and a Bachelor Degree in Adult Learning and Development. Nicole has just recently undertaken a first aid course.
Nicole has won numerous industry competitions and demonstrations including:
1st Place in the Tesselaar Window Display
Bronze Award in the Fusion Flowers International Designer of the Year 2010. (Ground Breaking Section)
Demonstrated at the Waverley Floral Art Group; Box Hill Floral Art Group 60th AnniversaryFunction; Brighton Floral Art Group; Victorian Floral Art Society.
Email: nicole+marjoriemilner.edu.au
Lyndell Parker
Lyndell Parker is a very successful businesswoman. She has run multiple retail businesses over the last thirty years and Lyndell brings an enormous amount of expertise in retail and floristry to our students. Lyndell has operated florist shops in the Melbourne CBD as well as Footscray and Moorabbin . She has operated ladies fashion outlets ranging from clothing to a full range of female accessories. She also operated a dried and framed bridal business for over twenty years. In partnership with Gregory Milner, Lyndell operated one of the largest bridal bouquet businesses in Australia . Lyndell has one of the most impressive competition portfolios of any florist in the country. Lyndell is a former Interflora World Cup competitor. Lyndell retired from competition work in 1986 and she has given numerous demonstrations across Australia and overseas. Lyndell is a fourth generation florist (her mother, Patricia Kelly, is a former Chairperson of Interflora (Vic/Tas.) and the expertise Lyndell brings to our students regarding floristry and retailing is held in the highest esteem.
Lyndell's competition results include -
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1969 1st place Victorian Junior Bridal Competition – Interflora
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1969 1st place Australian Junior Championship – Interflora
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1974 1st place Victorian Designer of the Year – Interflora
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1977 1st place Victorian Designer of the Year – Interflora
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1977 2nd place Australian Designer of the Year – Interflora
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1980 1st place Victorian Florist of the Year – Interflora
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1981 1st place Victorian Designer of the Year – Interflora
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1981 1st place Australian Designer of the Year – Interflora
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1982 2nd place Bridal Category – Interflora World Cup – Hamburg Germany
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1983 Grand Champion – Bridal Bouquet – Royal Melbourne Show
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1983 Grand Champion – Massed Arrangement – Royal Melbourne Show
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1984 Assisted Greg Block to gain 1st place Victorian Designer of the Year – Interflora
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1984 Assisted Greg Block to gain 1st place Australian Designer of the Year – Interflora
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1985 Assisted Greg Block to gain 6th place – Interflora World Cup, Detroit U.S.A.
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1986 1st place Victorian Florist of the Year – Interflora
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1986 2nd place Australian Florist of the Year- Interflora
Winners of the 2008 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
from left: Vicky, Sarah, Greg, Sarah & Nicole
Beauty Therapy Department
Beverley Greenwood
BAdultLrng&Devt
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Beverley Greenwood started her journey into natural therapies in London in 1968 and is constantly updating her qualifications and knowledge base every year. Her qualifications are as follows:
- Diplomas of Beauty Therapy: CIDESCO ,ITEC, CIBTAC
- WRB50105 Diploma of Beauty Therapy
- HLT50307 Diploma of Massage
- Diplomas of Aromatherapy
- Diploma of Health Science: Remedial Massage
- Diplomas of Reflexology
- Certificates in Lymphatic drainage, Kinesiology, Reconnective therapy; Crystals, Clay therapy
- TAA40104 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- Diploma of Teaching
- Bachelor of Adult Learning & Development
- Bachelor of Health Science: ( Naturopathy) (in progress)
She is a multi modality practitioner and international lecturer in:
- natural beauty therapy
- aromatherapy
- remedial massage
- reflexology
- kinesiology
Beverley opened Cleopatra’s Needle School of Beauty Therapy in 1981 and was the first internationally accredited college with CIBTAC, ITEC and CIDESCO in Victoria. She bought the Natural Skincare College and amalgamated the two colleges in 1997. Bev is now the head teacher of the beauty and massage department at MMC.
Carolyn Wheeler
BSc
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Carolyn Wheeler first became interested in Dermal therapy/Beauty therapy whilst studying for her Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiations) at RMIT. She studied her diplomas of beauty therapy, aromatherapy and massage under Beverley Greenwood at the Natural Skincare College. Carolyn went on to gain her Bachelor of Health Science (Dermal Therapies) and has worked with/managed some of Victoria’s leading dermatology and paramedical skin clinics. Carolyn now utilises her Cert IV in TAE to train the weekend class at Marjorie Milner whilst keeping up to date with industry standards, new products and machines. Carolyn maintains an active role in the industry by consulting with beauty therapy business’ regarding recruitment and training of employees.
Hairdressing Department
Matthew Atherton
Certificate III in Hairdressing
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Hairdressing is in the family, Mathew gained his Apprenticeship early through Headmasters Advanced Academy, and during that time won their Overall Champion Award.
A driver for Mathew has been to keep himself continually educated in the hairdressing world, which allows him to educate by passing on information through personal experiences. Keeping up with fashion changes, and keeping my skills new and inventive are important in being able to enhance students’ knowledge and motivation.
Mathew believes that students and clients each have individual requirements and these should all be delivered with exceptional service. His personal drive and skills have resulted in Mathew gaining many industry achievements, these include:
Hair & Beauty Industry Association Apprentice of the Year 2003-2004
Youth Enterprise Award
Australian Indola New comer Finalist
Headmasters Academy Overall Champion
2005 Australian Fame Team – UK Tour
KMS Finalist for Hairdressing retail sales conference, California, America
Goldwell Guest Artist
Many International Hairdressing Society awards achieved as well as Hair & Beauty Industry Awards.
Kerry Atherton
Certificate III in Hairdressing
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Kerry has been constantly involved in the Hair & Beauty Industry for the past 4 decades, Kerry has seen and experienced many changes in the ever changing world of hairdressing, as a qualified trainer and assessor is passionate about training for industry, knowing the Hairdressing Industry has a shortage of competent, and well trained hairdressers.
Kerry has progressed from being an Apprentice (Men’s and Ladies Hairdressing), an employee, to managing and owning many businesses, including a number of Hairdressing Salons, all of which have had a very different feel, look and culture. Attending many major Hairdressing Seminars and conferences both interstate and overseas in this industry, has allowed her to enhance her skills and training abilities to the highest order.
Kerry’s commercial activities have engaged over 100 employees, all of whom have required training in one form or another, a challenge she has taken on with a passion.
Over these years, her salons and staff have won many industry awards reflecting the quality and professional commitment that is an inherent part of her make up.
email: hair+marjoriemilner.edu.au
Portia Wong
Certificate III in Hairdressing
TAA40104 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Portia’s exceptional drive for knowledge and enhanced skills has seen her undertake many advanced training course and programs, making her a sought after Senior Stylist. She started by gaining her Certificate III in Hairdressing from the then well-respected Headmasters Academy. Since then, and while working in Salons as a Stylist, Portia has gained her Certificate IV in Hairdressing, Diploma of Hairdressing – Salon Management and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
To advance her skills further and learn from the best, Portia has also attended the renowned Vidal Sassoon Advanced Academy, in London for specialist courses in cut and colour, and in creative cutting. In addition Portia has continually broadened her skill set by attending Sharon Blain's long hair boot camp and workshops and courses in Bridal Hair, Fundamental and Advanced Make Up. This expertise has been recognised with the winning of two third places in senior ladies cutting and senior fashion colour of the IHS competition in 2008.
All of this allows Portia to pass on to students the learning and context for the development into quality hairdressers. Her commitment to high level skills is a bonus for her students.
Administration
James Milner
B.Ed., B.A.
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Certificate II in Floristry
James is the fourth generation in retailing in the Milner family. He holds a Bachelor of Education as well as a Bachelor of Arts. He also holds a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. James has been involved in multiple retail outlets and received long service leave at the Woolworth Supermarket chain. He has trained staff at Safeway and retail training is his passion. James has worked extenstively in the Events area running Event Creations. During this time he compelted a Certificate II in Floristry. James is also the creator of www.flowergoss.com one of the worlds largest floristry forum web sites. James is also experienced in archaeology with many expititions to Egypt. His confidence and enthusiasm is of great benefit to our students. He has recently upgarded his first aid certificate.
Email: james+marjoriemilner.edu.au
Vicky Milner
Vicky handles accounts and government reporting requirements. A book-keeper by profession, Vicky is a director of the college and she has had involvement with the Retail and Florist industry for over thirty years. She has travelled the world promoting our college. Many of the floristry industry fuctions are organised by Vicky. Recently,
nationally accredited scope of training for the college covers many facets of retail, floristry and beauty therapy. The function of the school, as it was at that time, was to train floristry staff in the skills associated with the craft of floristry and to learn retail skills. Classes were held during the day as well as evening.