Mrs Carter is a pharmacist with more than 25 years’ experience, owns two pharmacies in the region, and her son and daughter are both studying the discipline.

The Gunnedah woman has been elected to the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s NSW branch committee, a three-year role she went for because she’s “passionate about pharmacy and the future of pharmacy”.

Mrs Carter has been a registered pharmacist since 1990.

She did her bachelor of pharmacy and diploma of hospital pharmacy at Sydney University, then worked at Prince Henry Hospital in the renal and intensive care units.

Having grown up in Baan Baa, she moved back to the country to work in Wee Waa, Quirindi, Forbes and Gunnedah, and now owns pharmacies in Gunnedah and Narrabri.

“There’s a shortage of pharmacists in country areas – that’s one thing I’m hoping to address at the guild,” Mrs Carter said.

“That’s been the case for a long time, but the university at Armidale is helping.

“I think because a lot of people have partners in the city or study in the city, they stay in the city, so I think sometimes it’s just a change … It’s just trying to get them to experience country life, because it’s a great life to have.

“You get to know your customers very well ... you have a good relationship with other health professionals such as local doctors, physiotherapists, dietitians and podiatrists, so you can work in a team environment.

“There are lots of pluses to being in the country … I have a really interesting career.”

Mrs Carter was one of 24 candidates and joins 14 other people on the committee.

The next stage of electing office bearers will start next week, but Mrs Carter said she probably wouldn’t put herself forward for office during her first term.

According to The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, committees seek “to maintain community pharmacies as the most appropriate primary providers of health care to the community through optimum therapeutic use of drugs, drug management and related services”.