Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo OAM

Gamiloroi Elder and educator

Respected Gamiloroi Elder, Aunty Beryl is an educator, mentor, businesswoman and ‘dead-set legend’. After having no formal education until she was 31 years old, she enrolled in a cooking course that led to a TAFE diploma in hospitality education and the founding of a Home and Work Opportunities course for Aboriginal women at Eora TAFE in Redfern. Aunty Beryl also established the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence's Job Ready program, has run kitchens for several cafes, and now owns Yaama Barrgay ("hello family and friends" in Yuwaalaraay) - a catering business employing First Nations staff. She also advises top chefs including Kylie Kwong, Neil Perry and René Redzepi on the use of bushfoods.