The Madeirans are known for its emigration culture. Especially in the past young people seeking opportunities that the Island could not provide. They migrated to countries like Venezuela, Jersey, USA, Brazil, South Africa, Australia and more.

And then you wonder … what has become of these young fortune seekers from Madeira?

Some of them we can keep track on the media … such as Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (professional Portuguese footballer). But there are also more who have reached a certain level of success.

Today I found an interview in the Sydney Star Observer with a Madeiran, who is a celebrity florist in Australia. His name is Ferdinando de Freitas, the man behind Garlands Florist, Sydney’s premier flora company.

It wasn’t until I was 18 that my parents decided to move to Australia. It was an unreal journey, as I had never left the island before, not even to mainland Portugal. Moving from a natural environment to a big city was hard at times and Sydney was really ugly back then.

Read the interview at Sydney Star Observer