The 2009/2010 Royce Abbey Award was presented to Club member Hugh Bucknall by RI Past President Royce Abbey.

This award, established by the Rotary Club of Essendon to recognise their member and our Honorary Member and Past RI President Royce Abbey, was adopted by the Board of the RCM to be made to a member who is relatively new to the Club, has not been awarded a Paul Harris Fellow recognition, is well accepted by Club members, has a good attendance record, who has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Club and who also complies with the Object of Rotary.

Hugh joined our Club on 28 November 2007 and immediately became enthusiastically involved in a number of Committee activities and the Club generally.

He has been an important contributor to the Vocational Services, Membership Involvement and the International Projects Committees.

He has also been very active in the Youth Mentoring Program and Second Bite as well as the Homeground Services Volunteer Working Group.

Hugh is a role model for new members of our Club and shows how much benefit Service above Self can provide to the Club and the individual.