A small bunch of flowers in a public toilet might seem unnecessary to some. But for OCS operations manager Nola Colebourn, it’s a way of showing that someone cares.
A keen gardener, Nola brings flowers from her home into public toilet facilities around the Waikato in Aotearoa New Zealand – a personal touch affectionately known in the region as the ‘OCS calling card’.
“When people walk in to use the facilities, I want them to first think that this is a lovely clean facility, and second, that someone really cares about this space,” she says.
Choosing roses and lavender for their perfume, Nola has seen her flowers travel beyond the bathroom and says nothing makes her happier than knowing people appreciate them.
In Gordonton, she watched a woman leave with a bunch of roses held to her face, enjoying their scent. At a cemetery in Hamilton, she found her flowers placed on a grave. Rather than being upset that they had been taken, Nola was pleased to see them bring joy and comfort.
Her flowers also helped welcome visitors to Raglan during the World Surf League event in May 2026, when Nola placed bouquets in the elite athletes’ bathrooms.
Ahead of the event, Nola’s team worked with Waikato District Council to bring forward a planned refresh of public toilets, making sure they were the best they could be before the influx of visitors.
“We all said that we actually feel quite privileged to be part of the event,” says Nola, “because it’s really showcasing Raglan and showing that a small New Zealand town can deliver an event of this size.”
These local relationships are part of how OCS’s global business delivers its services: through people who know the places they care for and understand what matters to those who use them.
It’s a culture of care that Nola has helped grow in her 14 years with OCS, but she’s quick to credit the rest of her team for it too.
“I’m surrounded by people who really care and are passionate about what they do,” she says.
After 34 years in the industry, Nola also recognises that care in others. Whether she’s shopping or attending an event, she notices the everyday efforts that can be easy to take for granted: empty bins, clean floors, and well-stocked bathrooms.
“The most important people in our industry are the frontline workers. They’re loyal. They take pride in their job. They’re legends,” she says.
Even when she’s not at work, Nola makes sure to express her appreciation when she sees frontline workers – knowing first-hand how much it means to have your work noticed.
Nola was recently at the World of WearableArt Show in Wellington and was impressed by how spotless the arena was. As the audience left and cleaners moved in, she stopped to thank one of them.
“It’s just outstanding what you’ve done,” she told them.
Her friend, who wasn’t in the industry, admitted she wouldn’t have noticed. But for Nola, the care involved was evident.
Nola also recalls discussing her team’s work with the then mayor of Thames-Coromandel.
“He said that if a cleaner doesn’t show up, the number of email complaints they receive is phenomenal. But if one of the council office workers doesn’t show up, they can manage to get through the day okay.”
It meant a lot to Nola because someone clearly understood how much the council depends on her team’s commitment and contribution.
She also sees the difference it makes to her colleagues’ day when customers notice their efforts.
Whether it’s a thank-you note left for someone to find, a box of chocolates at Christmas time, or a morning tea on Thank Your Cleaner Day, Nola says the reaction is amazing.
“When these lovely little things happen, it means the world to my team,” Nola says.
Those gestures can lift morale and reinforce the pride and satisfaction colleagues take in doing their work well. They show that someone notices their effort and values their contribution.
Just as Nola’s flowers travel beyond the facilities where she leaves them, a personal thank-you can stay with someone beyond their working day.
