31. Rebecca Williams - From an Entrepreneural Summit to Love on the Farm

Rebecca Williams rode dolphins at Seaworld before she was 8. In fact, she lived inside the iconic Gold Coast Family Attraction for much of her memorable childhood, because her Father, Keith Williams, built it. Keith needs no introduction. He was an entrepreneurial legend, a visionary and a pioneer who gave the world access to the incredible Whitsundays off the Queensland Coast with his amazing development of the tropical Hamilton Island. Naturally enough, these prosperous times assured Bec of a lifestyle that came with all the trimmings for 40 years of her life.

What happened next was extraordinary. Cyclone Yasi battered the Whitsundays and Keith's Hinchinbrook Project met  strong environmental distaste. Signs of dementia coupled with an ageing entrepreneurial ego started to tarnish his decision making. Amidst these changing fortunes, Keith passed away from a series of strokes leaving the family with little. Access to the extravagant lifestyle that had become norm for Bec was no more. Bec was declared bankrupt.

Little did she realise, that a different brand of Life, Love and Happiness was about to unfold. It was a chance call from schoolboy sweetheart and country music star, James Blundell that soon inspired a proposal of marriage. Blundell declared 'he’d always loved Rebecca Williams since he was 16'. She never knew that in fact it was she who had inspired an original James Blundell hit, ‘Down On The Farm', in which she is referred. Now Rebecca is that farm girl ... a house renovator ... the guardian of two Jack Russells and lover of sheep and cattle, which she treasures dearly. In her own words, Rebecca Williams couldn't be happier.

This is a remarkable story. In fact, it is an extraordinary one, if only for the fact that we meet a rare individual who has drunk merrily from both sides of the bar. She has lived the high life, the society definition of success and now she lives a humble existence which she describes as one that has brought her two treasured ingredients. To discover what they are, you must listen to a rare episode for which I make no excuses for just going over the hour. Simply, it is that good.

Bernie 
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