ever. In 2007 Rebecca moved to Wagga Wagga and started working with youth.
In 2010 Rebecca was diagnosed with cervical cancer while pregnant and couldn’t receive treatment, which she describes as “a scary journey for both baby and myself.” In 2011 baby Chloe entered the world, who is now five. Rebecca has been in remission for 7 years, supported by the love of life, her husband Dean.
Completing a Diploma in Aboriginal Studies, Rebecca than researched her cultural ancestor and found lost relatives. “I know I belong with my culture, my heart aches for the presence of family.”
In 2014, she married her soulmate and best friend Dean. However, the tragedies did stop there! Losing a child during a pregnancy saw Rebecca fall into deep depression, “everything that I knew and loved didn’t mean anything”. This is when she picked up the paint brush again, this was the start of her career as an artist, “I have never looked back.” Losing another child while pregnant, Rebecca opened her own family daycare business from home which she now identifies as “overcompensating for the loss of her child”. The business lasted eight months. She then returned to social welfare jobs that Rebecca says, “challenged and distracted her”. She fell pregnant again, which scared her, she delivered a healthy baby boy, her third child this year in January. “I’m so proud, so in love and we are now a family and very content.
“I am a proud Wiradjuri women, I paint my journey through my spirit guides, grandfather and our connection with the lands and Brungle”. My totem is a magpie, this is the symbol that appeared around me at the birth and that follows me throughout life. I’ve never been harmed by the magpie and I truly believe it is my grandfather who used to teach them to speak.”
Rebecca has kept pushing through all the hardships in her life as a lesson for her children, “I have fire deep within and a passion that drive me to keep going to show my children to never give up and if you try really hard one day you will succeed. I enjoy creating a spiritual warmth, culturalism and expressionism.”
Take a journey with Rebecca by purchasing one of her amazing pieces from $50 to $2,000. You can check out her website http://rebeccajarrod.wix.com/the-artist or her facebook page Bec-Lee Creating Dreams.