Penny Magee (11 June 1937–17 February 1998) was an Australian scholar of religion specialising in feminist studies and eastern religions. The Penny Magee Memorial Lecture was established in her honour by the Australian Association for the Study of Religion.
Early life and education
Penelope Margaret Magee was born on 11 June 1937. She grew up in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
in a Catholic family.
Magee received degrees from the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...
, Adelaide and Lancaster.
She studied at the
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is a public research university in the Australian state of South Australia. It is a founding member of the Australian Technology Network of universities, and is the largest university in South Australi ...
and undertook postgraduate studies under supervisors
Ninian Smart
Roderick Ninian Smart (6 May 1927 – 29 January 2001) was a Scottish writer and university educator. He was a pioneer in the field of secular religious studies. In 1967 he established the first department of religious studies in the United Ki ...
and Eric Sharp.
Career
Magee was a religious studies scholar who specialised in feminist studies and eastern religions.
She taught Asian Studies and Religion Studies at the University of South Australia until May 1994.
She was an active member of the Australian Association for the Study of Religion (AASR) for many years, serving as Secretary/Treasurer as well as being a founding member of the AASR's journal, ''Australian Religious Studies Review''.
Magee was an advocate for the recognition of religious studies and feminist religious studies in the academy, founding the Women's Caucus of the AASR and campaigning for greater inclusion of women's voices in the association.
She was also one of the founding members of the group Ordination of Catholic Women.
After her death, the Women's Caucus of the AASR established the Penny Magee Memorial Lecture in her honour. The Women's Caucus is responsible for the selection of the speaker each year and the lecture is held at the AASR's annual conference.
Personal life
Magee was a teacher and concert pianist.
She died of cancer on 17 February 1998 leaving four children and three grandchildren. An obituary by
Marie Louise Uhr
Marie Louise Uhr (26 July 1923 – 28 July 2001) was an Australian biochemist and leader in the movement advocating for the ordination of women in the Catholic Church.
Early life and education
Marie Louise Uhr was born on 26 July 1923 in Br ...
was published in the journal ''
Women-Church
''Women-Church: An Australian journal of feminist studies in religion'' was an Australian journal published by the Women-Church Collective. It was established in 1987 and ceased publication in 2007, with a total of 40 issues published over that t ...
''.
Anglican priest
Sarah Macneil
Sarah Macneil (born 1955) is a retired Anglican bishop in Australia. She was the Bishop of Grafton in the Anglican Church of Australia. She was consecrated and installed as bishop on 1 March 2014, becoming the first woman in Australia to lead a d ...
celebrated Magee's funeral service at
Moruya
Moruya is a town located on the far south coast of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Moruya River. The Princes Highway runs through the town that is about south of Sydney and from Canberra. At the , Moruya had a population of 4 ...
and a public memorial was later held in Adelaide.
Selected publications
Books
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Book chapters
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magee, Penny
1937 births
1998 deaths
Australian women academics
Australian feminists
Religious studies scholars