Paving the Way for Local Women

THREE local female councillors drew a crowd for international women’s day last night to talk about their experience as leading women in the community.

Local Leading Ladies: Deidre Peebles, Lorna Driscoll and Lee Watts at international women’s day celebrations

Lorna Driscoll began her service on local council with a majority female council under the president Bev Adams in 1989.

It was ground-breaking council and the Daily Telegraph visited Scone to do a story on the female dominated Council.

Lorna recalled they interviewed her husband John who said “she has always been the boss at home, but now she is also my boss at work”, she laughed.

In September Lorna will have served for 25 years on local Council and said it is because she enjoys being there for her community.

Deidre Peebles said she did not need a microphone for her speech, because she had been a school bus driver for 35 years, one of her many talents.

After her husband died she said working for the community became more important to her and she recommends all women consider how they can act locally to make a difference.

“I encourage all of you to build a future for girls which is bright, equal, safe and rewarding,” she said.

Lee Watts has been on Council for 11 years and said her passion for the community still drives her.

“I feel as long as something needs to be done in the community, then I should do something about it,” she said.

“Often it is the small things that can make a big difference,” she said.

Advice to potential Councillors:

Lorna: “Think for yourself and do what you think is needed in the community”.

Deidre: “Anyone can make a difference and being on Council is fun, because you can argue, sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t”.

Lee: “Don’t get onto Council because you have a road you want fixed, get on Council because you are passionate about the local community. You have a four year term, so if you are there for one agenda it is a long time, you need to be passionate about the community.”