From copywriting to the Royal Botanic Garden

It's a long way from London to Sydney, and an even longer way from writing copy for insurance companies and marketing websites to caring for plants in one of the world's foremost horticultural installations. Thanks to a scholarship and a will to succeed, there's an apprentice who's well on her way in both journeys.

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Madeleine 'Maddie' Wilson, 38, recently Mad made a significant career change from indoor work copywriting to working outdoors at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. She's pursuing a prized horticulture apprenticeship at one of the world's most spectacular gardens, located on the foreshores of Sydney.

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Having arrived in Australia over a decade ago with a working visa, Maddie set about freelancing for some heavyweight company names. To extend the visa at the time meant she had to do 88 days of 'regional farming'.

The stint on the land in Queensland turned out to be a bit of an eye-opener for the well-travelled journo.