Rowena Wallace (born 23rd August 1947, Coventry)[1] is a British born actress who played June Reynolds intermittently from 2000-2003. Her character became the third wife of Donald Fisher. She is best known for her role as the conniving "Pat the Rat" in Sons and Daughters,
Biography[]
Rowena Wallace was born in Coventry in the UK. When she was 5 her family moved to Australia. They first settled in Cairns before moving to Brisbane. Rowena began working as an actor while she was still a teenager. As well as performing on stage she began to work on the local TV station. She moved to Sydney in 1967 to work on the TV series You Can't See 'Round Corners. In 1969 she appeared in the film version of same.
Pre H&A Career[]
Rowena had regular roles in many Australian TV shows throughout the 1970s. These included the Crawford Productions Division 4, Number 96 and Cop Shop. In 1980-1981 became well known for her stint as Anne Griffin in cult series Prisoner. In 1982 she landed the TV role for which she is best remembered. Until 1987 she played the conniving Pat the Rat Hamilton/Morrell/Palmer/Hudson on Sons and Daughters. She won an astonishing six Logies during her time on Sons and Daughters; a Gold Logie in 1984 and five Silver Logies. Her Gold Logie win in 1984 was noteworthy because she was the first soap star to win one. Rowena left Sons and Daughters in 1987. She took guest roles in several TV shows in the following years but her work was more intermittent.
H&A[]
Rowena as June Reynolds
Rowena first appeared as June Reynolds in June 2000 and made intermittent appearances until July 2002. She made one final appearance in February 2003 (Episode 3455). This was Norman Coburn's last episode as a regular cast member. June and Donald sailed off into the sunset (or maybe it was just the Whitsundays).
After H&A[]
In October 2005, Rowena was charged with social security fraud, and given a suspended sentence of six months imprisonment. It was revealed that she had been collecting a disability support pension, despite being actively employed on television series such as Water Rats, Beauty and the Beast, and Good Morning Australia. She did get some acting work after this. In 2007 she appeared in 12 episodes of Neighbours and had a role in the 2012 movie Ryder Country.
In August 2010, Wallace was the subject of a Today Tonight special feature on the Seven Network. She was reportedly nearly broke and on the verge of becoming homeless. The following week, a number of offers to take her in were made by Australians around the country. In March 2011, she was the subject of more media coverage, this time because the unit she occupied at subsidised rent in Wonthaggi, Victoria was due for demolition in August 2011 and she feared she would have nowhere to live. The rents in Wonthaggi had doubled or even tripled due to the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant being constructed nearby, but her pension would not even cover her rent.[2]
It was revealed in 2022 that Wallace had sold one of her Silver Logies on eBay because of her financial difficulties. While appearing as a guest on Spotlight on Channel 7[3], Cameron Daddo and Ada Nicodemou surprised her by returning it to her. The program makers had tracked the buyer down and bought it back.