Past Rotary International President, Royce Abbey
The Royce Abbey Award was established by the Rotary Club of Essendon to recognise their Member and our Past Honorary Member, Past Rotary International President, Royce Abbey. It was adopted by the Rotary Club of Melbourne Board in 2004, to be conferred on a Member who is relatively new to the Club, has not been awarded a Paul Harris Fellow recognition, is well accepted by Members, has a good attendance record, and who has demonstrated strong commitment and complies with the Object of Rotary.
Each Rotary Club in adopting the Award program contributes $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation in the Royce and Jean Abbey Endowment Fund. This is used for humanitarian projects to enhance capabilities of food processors, foresters and other agricultural environment research and University teachers from developing countries.
Royce Abbey Award 2022-23
Sue Smith
28 June 2023
Citation
Sue Smith was inducted in December 2021. In the short period of time since, she has volunteered as our Bulletin Editor, produced the Club Directory for the last two years, and provides weekly support online with Zoom for our hybrid club meetings.
Through our Club’s Health & Ageing committee, St John Ambulance sought volunteers to screen visitors into medical facilities. Sue put her hand up, completed the necessary first-aid course, and commenced at Werribee Mercy Hospital In late November 2022, observing the challenges of various medical issues and of access to healthcare for the western suburbs multicultural community. She has continued to work multiple shifts each month and has passed on her payment for those shifts to the club – adding nearly $2500 to our Health & Ageing Committee budget.
Congratulations Sue for your commitment to the ideals of Rotary and receiving this year’s Royce Abbey Award.
Conferred on 28 June 2023 on behalf of Rotary Melbourne
by President Adrian Nelson
Reg Smith accepted the award on Sue's behalf as she was recovering from a recent hip replacement.
