Royce Abbey
# Royce Abbey

Royce Abbey AO, DCM (8 June 1922 – 20 February 2014) was an Australian who was President of Rotary International in 1988–89.

## 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 II. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) for bravery and leadership during fighting. He was later commissioned as a lieutenant.

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.

## 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 to 1988. 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.

Royce Abbey was involved in a number of other community service activities, including:

* 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.

## Honours

Royce Abbey received the following honours:

* 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).
* 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.
* Australian Rotary Health has named the Royce Abbey Postdoctoral Fellowship in his honour.
