Rebel Black’s journey into community wealth building

Rebel Black’s story is one of dedication, resilience and a deeply grounded commitment to community development. Rebel’s passion for making a difference was cultivated from a young age. Rebel has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives that focus on empowering rural women and fostering economic growth in remote areas for over 24 years. Her journey, which began in her hometown of Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, has led her to create and co-found organisations that support communities, such as The Rural Woman Co-operative.

Motivation

Rebel’s motivation stems from her upbringing in a community where contributing to the greater good was a way of life. She was raised by parents and grandparents who were deeply involved in regenerative farming and agri-politics. This early exposure to community service and leadership instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility to give back.

“I knew nothing else,” Rebel recalls, describing how her early experiences shaped her path. “I was eight years old raising money for the Save the Koala Foundation because I’d read about them in The Land newspaper.” This early start in community work set the stage for a lifetime of involvement in initiatives that aim to address systemic issues and build sustainable community models.

Rebel’s career path has been diverse, from working as the editor of a local newspaper to launching various businesses and projects across Australia. However, her consistent focus has always been on finding innovative ways to support and uplift communities, particularly in rural and remote areas. “I think I was just coded from a young age to contribute to community, to think outside of yourself, to give back and to build models of business that served the community,” she explains.

The Rural Woman Co-operative

The Rural Woman Co-operative is the culmination of Rebel’s vision to create a platform that supports rural women in their personal and professional development. Initially founded as a private company in 2014, the organisation has since evolved into a co-operative owned by the women it serves. The Rural Woman provides continuing professional and personal development (CPPD) specifically designed for rural women, focusing on culturally and contextually appropriate education and training.

Rebel’s journey to transform The Rural Woman into a co-operative was not without its challenges. “When I started the Rural Woman, I just knew one day it would be owned by the women,” Rebel reflects. The transition from a privately owned company to a co-operative required patience and a clear strategic vision, but Rebel was determined to see it through. “It became a community exit to a co-operative,” she says, highlighting the importance of creating a sustainable and inclusive organisation that truly represents the interests of its members.

Today, The Rural Woman Co-operative operates as an advocacy body for the advancement of rural women and girls in Australia. The Co-operative has also expanded its membership to include businesses and organisations, aiming to bring a more diverse audience to the table. “We want to be a more representative body… not just agriculturally dependent,” Rebel notes, as the co-operative positions itself as the peak body for rural women’s advocacy.

Tips on fundraising

Rebel’s experience in fundraising is extensive, having successfully led capital-raising efforts for various projects, including the Australian Opal Centre. One of the key lessons she has learned is the importance of timing and strategy. “Timing and political strategy are crucial – be ready for your moment,” she advises. Rebel emphasises that being prepared for the right opportunity can make all the difference in securing funding.

Another crucial aspect of fundraising, according to Rebel, is keeping initial efforts under wraps until a solid foundation has been built. “Keep initial fundraising efforts quiet – build a bank before going public,” she suggests. This approach allows for a more controlled and strategic launch of the fundraising campaign, ensuring that all the necessary elements are in place before going public.

Rebel also highlights the importance of having a clear value proposition and leveraging existing resources. “You’ve got to have a clear value proposition… but it’s also leverage,” she explains. This means understanding what you’re offering to investors and how their contributions will create additional value or attract further investment.

De-risking the investment is another key strategy that Rebel advocates. “De-risking is key… how do we de-risk the investor element so they feel confident?” she asks. By identifying potential risks and addressing them proactively, fundraisers can provide investors with the assurance they need to commit to a project.

Finally, Rebel advises creating a sense of prestige and exclusivity through a tiered approach. “Create a sense of prestige and exclusivity with a tiered approach,” she recommends. By offering different levels of investment opportunities, fundraisers can appeal to a broader range of investors, each with different expectations and capacities.

How The Bunya Fund will help Rural Women

The Bunya Fund is set to play a pivotal role in supporting Rebel’s latest project, which focuses on community wealth building in Lightning Ridge. The project aims to create a model that allows for the acquisition and community ownership of assets, such as buildings and infrastructure, which can then be divested to a community-owned model.

Rebel explains this project represents a shift from the national, online focus of The Rural Woman to a more place-based approach. “The Bunya Fund will enable us… to work out what the best model is, build the framework around that, and then get started with our first acquisition project.”

The project will also focus on micro-investing opportunities for women, particularly those from structurally disadvantaged backgrounds, including culturally diverse and First Nations women. Rebel sees this as an opportunity to create a replicable model that can be applied in other rural communities, contributing to the broader goal of advancing rural women and girls across Australia.

Top five fundraising tips from Rebel

1. Timing and political strategy are crucial
2. Keep initial fundraising efforts quiet
3. Have a clear value proposition and leverage existing resources
4. De-risk the investment for potential funders
5. Create a sense of prestige and exclusivity with a tiered approach

Rebel’s journey is a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives and the importance of strategic planning in fundraising. Through her work with The Rural Woman Co-operative and her latest project supported by The Bunya Fund, Rebel continues to inspire and empower others to take action and build a better future for their communities.