Vanuatu Chefs & Food Handlers Association
History of the Association
The Association was formed in 2005 with the assistance of John
Greenwood of Pacificrim Trading at the end of our first Salon
Culinaire held at the Air Vanuatu Catering Premises. The
Inaugural Committee was comprised of Clayton Hachey (President),
Grant Johnston (VP), Mesu Ratulevu (Sec), and Micheal Callanan
(trade Rep).
In 2006 Chef Hachey resigned and the Presidency was assumed by
Chef Johnston, we become observer members of the World
Association of Chefs and began attending Asia Pacific Forums
beginning with the 2006 forum held in Bangkok. We ran a series
of field trips to various suppliers and once again held a Salon
Culinaire at the Air Vanuatu Catering Centre.
2007, under the new Committee headed by Grant Johnston (Pres),
Mark Seager (Sec), Fiona Gillander (Salon Co-coordinator) we
successfully ran our first Salon Culinaire incorporating live
cooking, and this event was for the first time held at Le Lagon
Resort. This salon also saw the Fiji National Team compete in
Vanuatu for the first time, and with representatives of the
Australian Culinary Team along with local students prepared and
served a 4 course dinner for our first Awards Dinner held on
World Chefs Day, the 20th of October. This Dinner also saw the
inaugural National Culinary Team Announced and the announcement
that we would be sending the team to Fiji to compete. All 5
members of the team traveled to Fiji where they acquitted
themselves very well. Results are on the National Teams Page.
2008 saw the election of a new executive with Grant Johnston
retaining presidency, Chef Amos Ronnie becoming Vice President
and Mark Seager Secretary/Treasurer. We became full members of
the World Association of Chefs this year, unfortunately we were
unable to attend the Dubai Congress but intend to be at Chile in
2010. To date this year we have begun a training program for
disadvantaged youths in association with WSB Theatre, begun
organizing this years Salon Culinaire.
