Royce Abbey

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]

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]

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

• Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (for gallantry), 1944.
• Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, 1976.
• Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (for youth services), 1977.
• Member of the Order of Australia, 1988.
• Advance Australia Ambassador, 1989.
• Victorian of the Year, 1989.
• Officer of the Order of Australia, 2001.
• Honoured as Victoria University Legend during the University’s 90 years celebration, 2006.
• The Royce Abbey Room is named in his honour at International House (University of Melbourne).[6]
• The Royce and Jean Abbey Endowed Fund and the Vocational Scholarship were established by Rotary to finance agricultural and related scholarships that would assist the less-developed countries in the Asia-Pacific region.[7]
• Australian Rotary Health has named the Royce Abbey Postdoctoral Fellowship in his honour.[8]

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