Dale Chapman
Aunty Dale Chapman is an Aboriginal Elder born in Dirranbandi in southwest Queensland - Yuwaalaraay and Kooma lands - and a resident of Sunshine Coast Gubbi Gubbi country since 1976.
Regarded as a leader in her field, Aunty Dale is the founder of My Dilly Bag, a celebrated and award-winning chef, cookbook author, public speaker, television personality, YouTuber and lecturer.
Aunty Dale is a qualified chef who has crafted culinary experiences from French to contemporary Australian cuisine in southeast Queensland for 35 years. She is passionate about sharing the oldest food in the world which takes her overseas to deliver keynote addresses, showcase flavours, explain nutritional and medicinal benefits, and teach key cooking techniques. Some conferences include:
• 2019 Indigenous Terra Madre Asia and Pan-Pacific in Hokkaido, Japan • 2019 Dietitians Association of Australia Gold Coast, Queensland • 2019 National Indigenous Bushfood Symposium in Sydney, New South Wales • 2018 Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference in Lorne, Tasmania • 2018 Agriforce and the Food and Fibre Conference Brisbane, Queensland • 2017 / 2018 World Science Festival Brisbane, Queensland • 2006 Terra Madre, Slow Food’s event in Turin, Italy (first Aboriginal Australian to attend) • 2004 / 2006 Nice College of Hospitality, French Riviera, France
In 2002, Aunty Dale together with Bush Tucker Man, Les Hiddins, launched the Australian Bush Food Stamp Range for Australia Post.
Aunty Dale has appeared on various television and radio shows as a thought leader in Australian native foods including: SBS Food Lover’s Guide to Australia, ABC Gardening Australia, Channel 10 Totally Wild, Channel 7 Creek to Coast, NITV and several international interviews.
In 2016, Aunty Dale wrote and published a cookbook ‘Coo-ee Cuisine’, which includes a collection of family recipes that incorporate traditional Aboriginal flavours into everyday cooking.
In 2018, Aunty Dale was awarded the Slow food International snail of Approval Award.
Aunty Dale’s achievements are far reaching and significant. She was instrumental in formalising Indigenous ingredients to comply with labelling and food safety laws and be added to the FSANZ Database and Arc of Taste Catalogue Supply Chains enabling their use in product manufacturing.
In 2000, Aunty Dale established The Dilly Bag Bush Tucker Products and Learning Programs (now My Dilly Bag) which works sustainably with Aboriginal communities that grow and harvest bush food ingredients, as well as Aboriginal artisan creators. By providing a platform to develop, market and distribute Aboriginal products, My Dilly Bag empowers communities to maintain their traditions, creates new income streams and cultural pride.
Aunty Dale is an Adjunct Senior Fellow in the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences and lecturers the Bush Foods Course for third year science students at the University of Queensland. The course was developed by Aunty Dale and Professor Melissa Fitzgerald through rigorous research on the chemical structures and compounds in numerous bush food plants offering students access to unique content. Students explore flavours, fragrances, medicinal and nutritional value and also learn about Australian law, Aboriginal lore and issues with commercialisation and ethos.
Active in Aboriginal affairs, Aunty Dale considers Aboriginal bush food to be an effective defence of health problems affecting many Aboriginal people (heart disease and diabetes) and is a key advocate for its use. She is a member of the Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, Slow Food International and Director of Stepping Black Indigenous Australia.
Aunty Dale has mentored celebrity chefs in the use of Aboriginal native foods including Peter Karavitas, Jesper Hanson, Selvan Kandasamy, Alistair McCloud, and Matt Golinski.
Awards • 2018 Slow Food International Snail of Approval Award • 2018 Alumni of the National Rural Leadership Foundation • 2016 Alumni of Murra Indigenous Business Program • 2007 Federal Government Education Award for the Grow, Cook and Eat Program • 2002 State Government Reconciliation Award for the Deadly Stories Campaign