Royce Abbey Explained

Royce Abbey
Birth Name:Albert Henry Royce Abbey
Birth Date:8 June 1922
Birth Place:Footscray, Victoria
Death Place:Melbourne, Victoria
Nationality:Australian
Known For:President of Rotary International
Employer:Dural Leeds, Hunter Douglas
Occupation:Businessman
Spouse:Jean Abbey (nee Jean Armstrong)

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

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.[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 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]

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. Web site: Remembering Royce Abbey. Rotary Australia. 27 December 2017.
  4. Henningham, P. (2011). With Health in Mind: The Story of Australian Rotary Health. Parramatta: Australian Rotary Health.
  5. Web site: The Royce and Jean Abbey Vocational Scholarship & Royce Abbey Award. Royceabbey.com. 19 May 2019.
  6. Web site: Event Spaces . International House . 27 December 2017.
  7. Web site: The Royce and Jean Abbey Endowed Fund and the Vocational Scholarship. Royce Abbey Website . 27 December 2017.
  8. Web site: Funding breakdown 2017. Australian Rotary Health . 27 December 2017.