Weaving a more connected world

SHARING her love and knowledge of culture with others is a source of immense satisfaction for Djab Wurrung woman Rebecca Jakobi.

Named among this year’s Great Women of Ballarat honourees, Ms Jakobi is a proud First Nations leader who has become a respected voice for cultural education and community pride.

Several years ago she established Tru Dreaming, offering cultural workshops including traditional weaving, dance and art along with Acknowledgements of Country, Smoking Ceremonies and dance performances, in response to growing demand.

Born on Wadawurrung Country, her Djab Wurrung mob is from the Dunkeld and Penshurst areas.

Her own cultural mentors are significant people in her life, and her love of teaching blossomed when she participated in the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy.

Ms Jakobi said she was “a little bit shocked” when she found out she was a Great Woman of Ballarat for 2026.

“But at the same time I was so excited to be recognised,” she said.

“I started Tru Dreaming about five years ago now. I was asked a lot to do weaving workshops and so I became confident in teaching. In the end I was providing workshops, dance performances and smoking ceremonies which I was able to give schools and groups.”

Ms Jakobi has also significantly contributed to the local First Nations Women’s Yarning Garden which grows native plants, with uses ranging from the traditional weaving to culinary.

“The Yarning Garden is a bush tucker garden in Barkly Square, in the courtyard, that was running for about two years before I joined. But I was able to have input with running workshops,” she said.

“That’s where the Deadly Sprouts idea came about, to take the workshops to the schools and offer a program free of charge using the funding we had.

“It’s really good to offer the community those sorts of services. Things have changed a lot in last few years with culture taught to both Aboriginal kids and non-Aboriginal kids.

“It’s actually quite nice because growing up you couldn’t talk freely or proudly about being an Aboriginal person, or any knowledge or culture.

“I look at the Aboriginal kids in this community now where they’re able to be proud of it at such a young age.”

The Yarning Garden will have a parade entry at the Ballarat Begonia Festival, and a stall on site in conjunction with Food is Free. Ms Jakobi also hinted that Yarning Garden tours are planned to be introduced later this year as well.

“The garden motivated me to know more and more. I view that garden as a resource, almost like a plant library,” she said.

“I love weaving more traditional stuff and I’ll study how eel traps made and recreate eel traps and baskets and different kinds of cordage that was used.

“The shop is another angle for people to approach us and know more at Barkly Square. It’s auspiced by Food is Free and we share the shop front. They sell their merch and plants and we sell plants from the garden and work from women in the group, that ranges from weaving, jewellery, artwork, and we’re open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday.

“My culture gives me a good grounding, and I feel very connected with nature and that’s what motivates me to try to protect Country and try to motivate others about protecting Country.

“There’s so much hate in the world but you can still give kindness, do good things and have positive outcomes and you don’t need a lot of money to be successful. As long as you have good people and good community around you, you can do good things.”