Royce Abbey 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 2. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal 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 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. 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:
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.
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.
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.
