Rebecca Carroll

I am a Wiradjuri woman, born and raised in Sydney. I am from freshwater country and my totem is the goanna. My grandparents were both Wiradjuri, our people are known as ‘people of three rivers” being the Macquarie (Wambool), Lachlan (Kalari) and Murrumbidgee rivers. My grandfather was a drover and well known boxer who travelled around NSW & VIC with the boxing tents. My father was born in 1947 on a Mission in Cowra. Like many Aboriginal people in the 60’s and 70’s he moved to Redfern with family as teen for work & has lived in the city ever since.

I always enjoyed art growing up and in my 20’s I studied Aboriginal Art & Cultural practices at the EORA Centre, an Aboriginal TAFE in Redfern. I did well and got accepted to the College of Fine Arts but shortly after I commenced I realised I prefer helping people so I moved into working for various Government departments in community services/development for many years. I studied counselling and got a Bachelor of Social Sciences.

I always wanted to connect more deeply and learn about the many aspects of my culture that we lost through the devastating colonisation practices in NSW,  and to experience living in Aboriginal communities. I moved to Elcho Island in Arnhem Land for a short time and was adopted by Yolgnu there, which has been life changing for me.

I had never heard of Pormpuraaw before my partner got a job here, but we heard the Barramundi fishing was great, and so were the people, so we thought we’d give it a go! I found the Art Centre my first week here and knew it was where I’d want to spend my time. The people of Pormpuraaw have been nothing but generous with me – sharing their stories, languages and country. It is a privilege to be in this unique position of learning and sharing, they have inspired me to start creating again and whilst influenced by their ghost net work and country, I bring my own style and stories.