Rowena Wallace 'I DON'T HAVEIMUCH TIME LEFT'

AFTER STRUGGLES AND HEALTH ISSUES THE ACTRESS PREPARES FOR HER FINAL ACT

- Joshua Joynes

While Rowena Wallace scoffs at the idea of being called a national treasure, the local TV legend concedes that having the title emblazoned on her mobility scooter could make getting around a whole lot easier.

These days the Sons and Daughters actress spends her time in the Victorian seaside town Wonthaggi.

She admits it’s “a little dreary” and that the local kids “look at her as if she’s bonkers”. Yet Rowena says she leads a happy life, one filled with reading, caring for her dogs and watching television. Although, when it comes to the latter, the six-time TV Week Logie Award winner has very high expectations.

As we get talking, Rowena offers up a scathing review of the ABC’s new comedy series Queen of Oz starring Catherine Tate.

“It’s bloody dreadful,” she says. “Things aren’t funny anymore. TV has changed a lot.”

Rowena admits she struggles with change, and confesses that she doesn’t particularly understand the current state of the world.

“You turn on the news, kids are shooting each other, it’s awful,” she says.

Rowena has found inspiration to soldier on though, drawing upon the work she did for World Vision in the ’80s, which involved visiting poverty-stricken countries.