Miss Player has started as a museum development officer which will encompass the shire's six museums.

The position came about through funding from the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal under its Investing in Rural Community Futures initiative.

It is a working collaboration with Leeton Shire Council, as well as Western Riverina Arts that will see Petra work to improve the shire's museums, promoting them and encouraging residents and visitors alike to get through the doors and explore.

Miss Player grew up in Whitton, also attending high school in Leeton, before moving to Sydney where she completed an archaeology degree with the University of Sydney.

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She has also just started a Masters degree with the University of New England.

Miss Player moved back to Leeton during the pandemic and started volunteering at the Leeton Museum and Gallery.

Her new position is funded for the next 18 months.

Council's events and cultural services co-ordinator Suesann Vos said Miss Player was the perfect person for the role.

"When we heard about the grant we thought it would be an amazing opportunity ... it's a nice partnership between local government, not-for-profits (Western Riverina Arts) and funding bodies," she said.

"We want to see some plans, strategies and plans moving forward for our museums and really put Leeton shire on the map as an arts and culture destination."

Miss Player will be helping to develop and improve the shire's six museums - the Leeton Museum and Gallery, the Yanco Powerhouse Museum, the Whitton Courthouse and Historical Museum, the museum at the Yanco Agricultural Institute, the Rocking Horse Museum at Murrami and Antiques and Oil Leaks in Wattle Hill.

"I'm really excited to work with these museums to implement new ideas and strategies ... it's something I'm really passionate about," Miss Player said.

"We're lucky to have so many of these great places in our shire, so we want to sure we are helping them to thrive."

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