Jelina (now Dr. Jelina) hails from the Leyte in the provincial Philippines and brings her love of traditional living and food to our home here in Gawler. With a smile that can light up a room, Jelina brightens our pages with images of her harvesting in the garden. 

Luckily for Athena and myself, Jelina and Marlon are both amazing cooks; Jelina brings her traditional cooking knowledge to our table, while Marlon brings a more contemporary, experimental touch. 

Jelina is an internationally known textile artist, having made her name with unique felt creations. She’s also a traditional weaver who works closely with Ngarrindjeri Elders to promote and teach traditional weaving. Jelina works on this closely with Aunty Ellen Trevorrow, her mentor and best friend. 

Jelina is a strong advocate for Indigenous and Woman’s Rights, having had to live with both all of her life.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Jelina also holds an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts, two Graduate Certificate in Business Management, 2 Master’s degrees and a PhD in Computer Science and Information Technology, specializing in Indigenous Knowledge Management. Currently, she is pursuing her third Master’s degree in Public Policy.