At the 2025 Ministers' Award for Women in Local Government, Rani Diggs local resident and Gilgandra Shire Council (Council) employee was awarded the prestigious Young Achievers Award.
Presented at NSW Parliament House in Sydney on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, Rani received the award from the NSW Minister of Local Government, the Hon Ron Hoenig MP.
In attendance with her, Mother, Danielle Diggs, Mayor Doug Batten, and Director Infrastructure Daryl Colwell. Danielle says she was thrilled with this achievement, "Rani being recognised as the winner of the Young Achiever award across all Councils in NSW, this is a very proud moment for our family."
Daryl Colwell comment on Rani's professional development and commitment to her work.
"At just 20 years old, Rani Diggs has forged an impressive career at Council, standing out as a young, enthusiastic and hardworking employee, excelling in a traditionally male-dominated field. Her determination, professionalism, and skill have seen her exceed expectations well beyond her years, earning respect from colleagues and the community. Rani is very deserving of this award"
General Manager, David Neeves, said nothing gives him more joy than hearing positive praise from the community about Council employees and their work within the community. "Rani has not only gained the respect of her peers but also of the wider community, and it's always a proud moment to receive positive feedback on the great work our employees are delivering."
Rani commented on her achievement saying, "It's a nice feeling to be recognised as a young woman achieving in my chosen profession, across the whole of the NSW local Government Industry. I enjoy what I do, the people I work with, and seeing my work have a positive outcome on the community. I wish to thank Council for the opportunity and their ongoing support."
Rani began working with Council in 2021 as a Personal Carer at Cooee Lodge Residential Aged Care Facility while still at school, where her care and professionalism helped create a supportive environment for both residents and staff.
In 2023, Rani successfully gained a Plant Operator Civil Construction apprenticeship, earning tickets across multiple civil machines, securing her HR truck licence, and completing a Certificate III in Civil Construction, all within just two years. By June 2024, she had progressed into a permanent Roller Plant Operator role.
Now acting in the role of a Road Maintenance Team Leader / Grader Operator, Rani delivers a critical service for the community, grading and maintaining Council's unsealed rural road network.
"Rani has progressed to being a highly capable road grader operator, supervising a team of long-term, experienced male colleagues. As the team leader, Rani is responsible for coordinating team members, liaising with local landholders and local contractors to deliver a highly valued service of road maintenance. A responsibility she handles with maturity and confidence," says Daryl Colwell
Rural Roads Coordinator, Ashley Hazelton, says Rani's work is widely recognised.
"Her quality of work is outstanding - we frequently receive compliments from landowners on the exceptional standard of her work. Rani has become an invaluable member of the team."
Mayor, Doug Batten commented, "Rani's achievements reflect her resilience, skill, and pride in her work. She has already established herself as a role model. Eight years ago, Council embarked on a journey to provide more roles to help develop and retain youth in our community, and Rani is a beneficiary of this program"
David Neeves continued,
"When we look at ways to enable opportunities for the youth to gain careers in Local Government, particularly by creating traineeship and apprenticeship pathways, it is extremely rewarding to see a young lady like Rani not only embrace the opportunity but thrive in the role. It is extremely rewarding for the Council."
"Council's Workforce Management Strategy has a strong emphasis on providing opportunity for local youth and career development, and Rani is the perfect example of the intent of such strategy. We are proud of the pathways Council creates and even more proud to see a young lady flourish in a civil industry that is road construction and road maintenance."
Council has implemented numerous traineeships and apprenticeship roles across the breadth of the organisation, with over 10% of Council's workforce on a formal traineeship or apprenticeship, helping grow our community as Council strives towards growing our population to 5,000.
An award like this is great recognition for Rani and showcases the opportunities for young people to grow a career here in Gilgandra.
