Bobbie weaves some magic into every band she creates

Late at night while her family sleeps, Bobbie sits quietly, gently weaving bands, not just to soothe her soul but to help provide a future for her beloved family.

The Bundjalung woman who was raised in the Yuin lands, lives with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and in early 2019 started weaving indigenous bands as part of her healing process following a traumatic childhood and early adulthood.

What started as a small hobby for the 42-year-old has grown into a small but thriving business called Bobbie’s Bands, Arts and Crafts.

“During this time of being a mum, wife, carer and everything that goes along with all those roles, I have been making indigenous bands and other crafty things to try and keep some sanity about myself,” Bobbie said.

“The indigenous bands I make have been an absolute hit with everyone that sees, touches, and holds them, especially for those who benefit from sensory therapy, such as people with an intellectual disability and anxiety.

“I have also been asked to see if I would submit my work in several exhibitions, which both times have absolutely amazed everyone, especially when I mention that I hand drill all the shells I use myself.

“I have also had a lot of interest in the freehand drawings I do, as well as poppies that I make from egg cartons, acrylic pouring painting and some other crafty things I do to kill some time.”

Through her small business, Bobbie’s Bands, Arts and Crafts, the mother of four, including 11-year-old twin girls Brooke and Krystal, sells a range of First Nations-themed hat bands, necklaces, belts, earrings, therapy bands, phone charms and more.

Each item is delicately handwoven, with Bobbie lovingly sourcing all her raw materials. Always at her side is a heart-shaped piece of petrified wood that she stumbled upon while setting up a rose garden a few years ago.

Bobbie’s ‘baby’ holds a special place in her heart and travels with her to exhibitions, importantly, it’s something that helps to calm her when she starts to feel anxious or overwhelmed ahead of attending exhibits or markets.

The bands are woven using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colours and Bobbie is in the process of crafting designs using the Māori colours of black and white.

What makes Bobbie’s creations even more special is that they’re created on the country in which holds great significance for her.

It was only recently that Bobbie realised that despite living at various places across Queensland and New South Wales, she has never left the country on which she was born.

“I was born in Grafton, which is on Bundjalung land, I was raised on Yuin country (South Coast of NSW) and now I live in Beaudesert, Mununjali country,” she said.

“I actually feel at home here and everything just feels right. I never understood why and now I do, I’m on country.”

From being able to sense danger to feeling when a thunderstorm is just about to start building, Bobbie is spiritually connected to the country she now resides on and has a huge sense and appreciation of her surroundings.

In recent years Bobbie has become more in tune with her culture, and she weaves some of this magic into every band she creates.

“It’s like recently, I was sensing there was a big brown snake (a Totem of the Bundjalung people) hanging around and I couldn’t shake the feeling for a good two or three weeks,” she said.

“And then one weekend when Krystal and I went out, a brown snake was caught down at the corner at the roundabout near our house, and then the feeling went.”

Bobbie first accessed the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2018, but it wasn’t until this year when she met Carers Queensland’s First Nations Local Area Coordinator Deon Davis that life started to improve for her.

Deon, a Kalkadoon/Waanyi man, has this year supported Bobbie to use her NDIS plan and help her find culturally safe support workers. He’s noticed big changes in Bobbie’s mental health and attitude.

“Bobbie has gone from being so anxious and nervous in the community to now progressing to the point where she is confident to get involved in events such as our NAIDOC art exhibition in Ipswich,” Deon said.

“I think it was our first conversation when she started talking about her spiritual connection, and while I didn't know much about Bobbie, as soon as she started talking I realised, yeah, there's something very powerful about Bobbie,” Deon said.

“There's a reason and a purpose to what people are given or why it has been handed down to them.

“I feel there’s something powerful that Bobbie has, there’s a reason why she's so connected with those instincts and those feelings of when something's going to happen.”

Bobbie’s husband Cam has been battling cancer for years and had to give up work to travel to the Gold Coast to have lifesaving radiation treatments, often spending six hours a day commuting for months at a time.

Unable to work herself, due to caring commitments and her ongoing chronic health issues, Bobbie says she dreams of selling her handwoven artwork to help support her tightknit family as they journey through Cam’s treatment together.

“Before I met Cam I was on an extremely hard and rough road for many years, but I’m extremely happy to say that where I am in my life now, I have never felt so centred and heading in the right direction,” she said.

“I’m now at the point in my life where starting a small business would be very beneficial to not only myself but also my little family.”

Bobbie has a business coach and business development officer and recently achieved top marks in her Certificate 1 in Access to Vocational Pathways.

What makes this extra significant was that she sat the final exam without completing the coursework first, which “amazed” her tutor.

With fierce determination, she plans to undertake more business courses in 2023 to realise her dream of bringing Bobbie’s Bands, Arts and Crafts to all people.

“I like to think there’s a little piece of me in every band, and as an Indigenous artist I’d love to share my love of country and culture far and wide,” Bobbie said.

Bobbie plans to have a website created for her business in 2023, but in the meantime, you can keep updated on upcoming markets and exhibitions by visiting Bobbie’s Bands, Arts and Crafts on Facebook.

Carers Queensland can support you to find out more about the NDIS, to apply for funding and to help you get started with the NDIS.

If you have a disability but are not eligible for the NDIS, Carers Queensland can help you identify and link to options for support in your community.

You can also contact Carers Queensland on 1300 999 636, cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au, or sign up to our LAC Connect app here.