At 63 years old, Rocky Wogale from Banks, Motalava, still carries the same spark that first led him into the kitchen nearly five decades ago. A master of fruit carving and a gold medalist chef, Rocky has spent his entire life turning simple ingredients into something beautiful.

Rocky began his journey in tourism and hospitality at just 15 years old, when hotels across Vanuatu were still seeking kitchen staff. “I started as a kitchen hand,” he recalls with a smile. “Two weeks, three weeks in ,I was already learning fast.”

It was during those early days that a man named Glen Wood handed Rocky a fruit carving book written in French, asking if he could make the designs inside. “I told him, ‘I’ll try my best,’” Rocky says. “Two weeks later, I taught myself how to carve fruits.” From that moment, carving became his signature skill , one that would take him across kitchens, buffets, and catering events for decades.

Throughout his career, Rocky worked in both hot and cold platters, handled outside catering, and even served as a caterer for Air Vanuatu. His last professional posting was from 1981 to 2017, where he worked at the State Office, cooking for none other than the President of Vanuatu.

Now retired from formal kitchen life, Rocky continues to serve his community from home, crafting fruit displays that brighten weddings, church events, and community gatherings. One fruit carving, he says, costs around VT 5,000, but the value is much deeper ,it’s art, tradition, and pride.

Despite his success, Rocky faces challenges. “Sometimes, there are not enough fruits during special occasions,” he admits. “And I don’t have special carving knives , just a normal one. But it’s okay. You can still make something beautiful with what you have.”

Rocky’s talent once earned him a Gold Medal in Seafood Cooking at a 2014 regional culinary competition that brought together chefs from across the Pacific , a recognition that still fills him with quiet pride.

Today, his message is simple yet powerful: “We need more young people to learn this skill,” he says. “Fruit carving isn’t just decoration , it’s part of our culture and creativity. It must continue.”

From a small island in the Banks to serving the nation’s leaders, Rocky Wogale’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and art , carved one fruit at a time.