By arts editor HELEN MUSA

A portrait celebrating the life and work of Gamilaroi Elder and bush food pioneer Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo was unveiled by the Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, on Tuesday at the National Portrait Gallery.

Painted by Sydney artist Dennis Golding, the newly commissioned work recognises Van-Oploo’s decades of leadership in Redfern, where she has inspired generations through her teaching, mentoring and promotion of native Australian ingredients.

Van-Oploo, who grew up in Walgett before moving to Redfern as a teenager, is widely recognised for creating pathways into the hospitality industry for First Nations people. In 2006 she established a pioneering cooking, hospitality and catering school for at risk Indigenous young people, while her advocacy for bush foods has influenced leading chefs including Kylie Kwong and Neil Perry. Earlier this year she published Aunty Beryl’s Cookbook: Heartwarming Recipes and Stories of First Nations Food.

Gallery director Bree Pickering said the portrait captured both Van-Oploo’s generosity and her enduring impact on the community.

“For decades, Aunty Beryl has contributed deeply to the Redfern community, sharing her expertise and love of cooking across generations,” Pickering said.

“She has transformed global food culture by generously sharing her knowledge of native ingredients and First Nations cooking practices with chefs from around the world.”

Golding, who was born and raised in Redfern and has Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay and Biripi heritage, involved Van-Oploo’s family, friends and former students in the creation of the work, inviting them to contribute memories, symbols and motifs reflecting her influence.

“My mum, sister and many of my cousins have done her course,” Golding said.

“Everyone loves Aunty Beryl and her food, and I wanted the artwork to reflect the relationships she’s had, and the importance her work has placed on helping community.”

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