Mrs Rudd is an accredited pharmacist whose current role is providing Medicare-funded support through the federal government's Home Medication Reviews (HMRs) and Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs) programs.

Leeton currently has two pharmacies in town, but both were sold in 2010 and are now operated by the same owner.

Mrs Rudd said it had come to her attention members of the community were concerned both

pharmacies were owned by the same group, leaving little competition in town.

She has put in an application for a third pharmacy at the Leeton Market Plaza, but it was rejected by the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority.

Mrs Rudd will soon put in a second application to open a pharmacy near the new medical surgery opening in Kurrajong Avenue.

However, she knows due to regulations the third pharmacy must be a minimum distance from the two established stores and therefore this application will also be rejected.

But there is a silver lining to that rejection.

"Once it is rejected then we can appeal and that's where the community comes in," Mrs Rudd said.

"I'm pre-empting that rejection and I've started a petition that residents can sign stating they think there is a need for a third pharmacy in Leeton.

"My argument is that since both pharmacies are owned by the same people they should be considered as one pharmacy and as a town we have the right to have competition in this market."

The petition will be presented to the Minister for Health and Ageing to ask for ministerial discretion in the granting of an additional pharmacy approval for Leeton.

"There's still no guarantee the minister would approve it and the way it works is once the location has been rejected and we've launched an appeal, she will have three months to decide whether or not to consider it and then another three months to decide whether she will approve or reject the proposal," Mrs Rudd said.

"It's not an easy process and that's why I need the community's support.

"It's also not just about competiveness, but stock holding as well.

"I've heard stories where people need to travel out of town to get their medicine because it's not here in Leeton and that shouldn't be happening."

Ideally, Mrs Rudd would like to have 8000 signatures on her petition.

The petition can be found at all medical surgeries in Leeton, Leeton Physiotherapy, Leeton Shire Council, The Irrigator, Golden Apple Super Store, the Murrami post office, the Yanco Shop, Robin's Nest at Whitton and other business houses in the shire.