Penelope Rowe

{{Short description|Australian writer}}

{{BLP sources|date=July 2023}}

Penelope Rowe (26 April 1946{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29767521 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=33,808 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 May 1946 |accessdate=28 July 2023 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}} – ) is an Australian journalist.

Rowe was born in Sydney, a daughter of Mollie Windsor and Dr Harry Matthew John Windsor, who was born in Ireland.

She studied at the University of Sydney and graduated BA in 1967. She became a teacher, working in secondary schools and adult education. In 2004 she completed a Master of Criminology, also at the University of Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A23134 |title=AustLit: Penelope Rowe |publisher=University of Queensland |access-date=28 July 2023}}

She worked as a journalist with ABC radio and "behind the scenes" with SBS television from around 1984.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article261469499 |title=Notice board |newspaper=The Australian Jewish News |volume=LIV |issue=3 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=9 October 1987 |access-date=28 July 2023 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}}

As an author she has drawn inspiration from her struggles with bipolar illness, particularly in The Best of Times, the Worst of Times (2005),{{Cite web |title=The Best of Times, The Worst of Times : Our Family's Journey with Bipolar |url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C629641 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}} which she co-wrote with her daughter, television presenter and journalist Jessica Rowe.{{Cite web |title=Jessica Rowe |url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A108326 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}

Rowe is a sister of Gerard Windsor.{{Cite web |title=Gerard Windsor |url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A29444 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}