Royce Abbey

Royce Abbey (8 June 1922 – 20 February 2014) was an Australian who was President of Rotary International in 1988-89.[1]

Royce Abbey
Born
Albert Henry Royce Abbey

(1922-06-08)8 June 1922
Footscray, Victoria
Died20 February 2014(2014-02-20) (aged 91)
Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
OccupationBusinessman
EmployerDural Leeds, Hunter Douglas
Known forPresident of Rotary International
Spouse(s)Jean Abbey (nee Jean Armstrong)
Websiteroyceabbey.com

Career

Royce Abbey was educated at state primary and secondary schools in Footscray, Victoria. When he left school in his mid-teens he worked as a shoeshine boy and messenger at a shoe shop and then in a real estate agency. In 1941, he enlisted in the Australian Army and was deployed in New Guinea and New Britain during World War 2. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) for bravery and leadership during fighting. He was later commissioned as a Lieutenant.[1][2][3]

After the war, he joined his brother in a family-owned window shades manufacturing business, Dural Leeds, which was later taken over by the multinational company Hunter Douglas. After 5 years as marketing director for Hunter Douglas, he established his own business, Abbey Marketing.[1][2][3]

Community service

Royce Abbey joined the Rotary Club of Essendon in 1954, becoming Club President in 1963-64 and District 280 (9800) Governor in 1969-70. He was elected to the Rotary International Board in 1976-77 and served as Vice-President in 1977-78. He was inaugural Chairman of the Board of Australian Rotary Health from 1982-1988.[4] In 1988-89 he became President of Rotary International. His time as President included the continued development of the Polio Plus campaign for Poliomyelitis eradication and the re-establishment of Rotary Clubs in countries from the former Soviet Union.[1][2][3]

Royce Abbey was involved in a number of other community service activities, including:[1][2]

  • Councillor, City of Essendon, 1960-1963.
  • President, National Council of YMCAs of Australia, 1982-1986.
  • Life Governor, National Council of YMCAs of Australia.
  • Chairman and Trustee, Epworth Medical Foundation, 1990-2000.
  • Patron, Australians Against Child Abuse.
  • Board Member and Trustee, Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine.
  • Member of the Board, Kidsafe Australia.

The Rotary District Governors of 1988/1989 decided to create the Royce & Jean Endowed Fund in recognition of Abbey's work within the organization. The fund finances agricultural and related scholarships in Asia-Pacific. Applicants spend three months in Australia with a $10K funding to undermine practical training.[5]

Honours

Royce Abbey received the following honours:[1][2][3]

References
  1. Henningham, P. (2007). Royce Abbey: The Boy, the Soldier, the Businessman, the Rotarian Leader. Parramatta: RDU Books.
  2. Abbey, D. (2014). Rotary leader who put his life and soul into everything he did. Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2014 Parramatta: RDU Books.
  3. Rotary Australia. "Remembering Royce Abbey". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. Henningham, P. (2011). With Health in Mind: The Story of Australian Rotary Health. Parramatta: Australian Rotary Health.
  5. "The Royce and Jean Abbey Vocational Scholarship & Royce Abbey Award". Royceabbey.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  6. International House. "Event Spaces". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  7. Royce Abbey Website. "The Royce and Jean Abbey Endowed Fund and the Vocational Scholarship". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  8. Australian Rotary Health. "Funding breakdown 2017". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
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