Penny was born in Sabah, Malaysia. She moved to Australia when she was eight and settled in the Adelaide Hills.
She won a scholarship to Scotch College and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Law Degree (Hons) from the University of Adelaide.
Penny began working for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union when she was still studying and stayed with the union after she was admitted to the Bar. She became an elected organiser and industrial officer. She was then employed as a ministerial advisor to the Carr government in New South Wales, concentrating on forest policy. She later returned to Adelaide to practise law.
Penny Wong is the duty Senator for the electorates of Mayo and Hindmarsh.
Electorate Profile
Mayo
State:
SA
Name Derivation:
Named after Helen Mayo 1878-1967, co-founder of the Mothers' and Babies' Health Association in 1927 and first woman elected to a University Council of Australia in 1914.
Area and Location Description:
Mayo covers an area of approximately 9 190 sq km from Williamstown and Springton in the North to Goolwa in the South. It includes the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. The metropolitan suburb of Aberfoyle Park is in this division. The country towns include Birdwood (part), Bridgewater, Crafers, Echunga, Gumeracha, Hahndorf, Langhorne Creek, Lobethal, Macclesfield, Mount Barker, Myponga, Oakbank, Stirling, Strathalbyn, Victor Harbor, Woodside and Yankalilla.
Products/Industries of the Area:
Dairying, beef, sheep, apples, pears, cherries, smallgoods, Kanmantoo copper mines, Jupiter Creek goldfields, forestry, natural spring water, wine, cereals, tourism and the army barracks at Woodside.
First Proclaimed/Election:
1984
Demographic Rating:
Rural
Members:
- Briggs, J (LP) 2008 -
- Downer, A (LP) 1984- 2008