Community Activities
In the Disability Sector
He established a branch of the Sports Council for the Disabled in the Hunter and was also on the committee of Special Olympics. He was the Australian coach at the Disabled Soccer events which were part of the World Soccer Cup in the United States in 1996. He took both disabled and able-bodied competitors to the event.
Roy Duffy’s vision saw the establishment of “Life without Barriers” in Newcastle in 1997 with a representative board of Newcastle’s business community. Premises were obtained and refurbished to provide facilities for people with disabilities, their families and carers. Roy Duffy oversaw a series of programmes such as Life Theatre, Life Skills and respite for carers was implemented. Roy worked as Executive Officer in a voluntary capacity for 4 years before going on to establish Life Activities.
In recognition of his community service and his work with disability organisations he was made Citizen of the Year in 2002, an honour bestowed by the City of Newcastle (NSW) as part of Australia Day observations.
In the Indigenous Sector
Roy has also forged strong links with the Indigenous community. He has been a consultant to the Elders of the Five Tribes, which constitute the Indigenous groups within the Hunter area, and is also an adviser to Aboriginal people keen to establish themselves in business. He has developed and presented specially designed courses in business management for the NSW Government’s Department of Small Business.
In Youth Mentoring
With his wife Kaye he has undertaken mentoring projects for Communications students at the University of Newcastle over many years. Roy has been delighted to see several of those students being placed within the radio, television, newspaper and public relations industries.
With Surf Lifesaving
His business strengths were again put to good use when he threw himself behind his neighbourhood surf lifesaving club, Cooks Hill. The local club needed financial support from the community to carry on with its activities as one of the largest clubs in NSW with the biggest enrolment of Nippers.
Roy Duffy designed and created the Doggy Fun Day (formerly known as Doggy Day Out) which in its inaugural year won the Australia Day commendation for a community event. It became a major source of revenue for the Cooks Hill Surf Life Saving Club. He is currently Patron of the Club. Recently he assisted in recruiting members of the business community to assist in building new amenities on the existing surf club site. These are currently coming to fruition with Stage 1 completed in 2017.
In Animal Welfare
In 2008 Roy Duffy became involved with Hunter Animal Rescue and served as its Chairman. The organisation rehomes abandoned and surrendered dogs and cats in the Hunter and has links with other rescue operations across Australia through its adoption website.
In the Business Community
Roy was Chair of Newcastle Business Club during its transition from all-male membership (as the Newcastle Business Men’s Club) to a club which had women members. He was a member of Newcastle Forum Club and Chair for two terms, but when the membership vetoed the admission of women, he set up Newcastle Speakers’ Club with the support of former colleague, the late Tony Samway.
Roy Duffy is a member of the Newcastle Club, Newcastle Business Club, Newcastle Speakers’ Club and the Port Phillip Pioneers Group.
Roy has also been a member of the Labour Party since 1960.