Royce Abbey (born 22 June 1922 in Footscray Victoria) was an Australian who served as President of Rotary International in 1988-89.
Royce attended primary and secondary schools in Footscray and left school aged 15 to work in a shoe shop - as a messenger and shoeshine boy.
Thereafter he commenced a career in the real estate industry.
In 1941 he enlisted in the Australian Army and saw service in New Guinea and New Britain. He received the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for bravery and leadership under fire. He left the army after World War 2 with the rank of lieutenant.
Following the war Royce joined his brother in a family owned window shades manufacturing business, Dural Leeds. This company was later sold to the multinational Hunter Douglas for whom Royce worked for five more years as Marketing Director.
Thereafter, he established his own marketing business, Abbey Marketing.
In 1954 Royce Abbey joined Rotary as a member of the Rotary Club of Essendon becoming President in 1963-64. He was Governor of District 280 (now 9800) in 1969-70 and was elected to the Board of Rotary International in 1976-77.
He served as Vice President of Rotary International in 1977-78 and became President in 1988-89
During his time as President Rotary accelerated its campaign to eradicate polio and he led the re-establishment of Rotary Clubs in countries from the former Soviet Union.
Other highlights of his life long commitment to service saw Royce as the inaugural Chairman of Australian Rotary Health (1982-88), President & Life Governor of the National Council of YMCAs of Australia, Councillor City of Essendon (1960-63), Patron, Australians Against Child Abuse, Board Member, Kidsafe and board member of a range of health related organisations.
Throughout his life Royce received recognition for his outstanding charitable works including Member (1988) and Officer (2001), Order of Australia, Victorian of the Year (1989), Victoria University Legend, Advanced Australia Ambassador (1989) and the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (for youth services 1977). The Royce Abbey Room is named in his honour at International House (University of Melbourne).
Royce received the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service in 1976 and Australian Rotary Health has named the Royce Abbey Postdoctoral Fellowship in his honour.
Royce passed away at the age of 91 in Melbourne on 20 February 2014.
Some years ago Rotary established the Royce Abbey Awards Program. In 2018 our very own Rotarian Paul Harvey was a worthy recipient of this very prestigious Award recognising his outstanding work on behalf of the Rotary Foundation.
