Royce Abbey AO, DCM (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 8 June 1922 |
| Died | 20 February 2014 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Employer(s) | Dural Leeds, Hunter Douglas |
| Known for | President of Rotary International |
| Spouse | Jean Abbey (nee Jean Armstrong) |
| Website | royceabbey |
Career
editRoyce 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 II. 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
editRoyce 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 to 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
editRoyce 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]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Henningham, P. (2007). Royce Abbey: The Boy, the Soldier, the Businessman, the Rotarian Leader. Parramatta: RDU Books.
- ^ a b c d e Abbey, D. (2014). Rotary leader who put his life and soul into everything he did. Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2014 Parramatta: RDU Books.
- ^ a b c d Rotary Australia. "Remembering Royce Abbey". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Henningham, P. (2011). With Health in Mind: The Story of Australian Rotary Health. Parramatta: Australian Rotary Health.
- ^ "The Royce and Jean Abbey Vocational Scholarship & Royce Abbey Award". Royceabbey.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ International House. "Event Spaces". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Royce Abbey Website. "The Royce and Jean Abbey Endowed Fund and the Vocational Scholarship". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Australian Rotary Health. "Funding breakdown 2017". Retrieved 27 December 2017.