“We do community service to help others and we don’t expect anything for doing that,” she said.
However State MP for Granville, Julia Finn, who nominated her for the award, says it recognises the many years of community contributions both as a Rotarian, including as past president of the Rotary Club of Granville, and through the Hindu Council of Australia.
Working as lead civil engineer at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Ms Rengarajan says she has come a long way since being one of only four girls studying civil and structural engineering in India in the 1990s in a class dominated by men.
Being naturally shy and reserved made finding a place in what was then a male-dominated profession especially difficult.
“It was a really big challenge for me,” she said.
“They hardly listened to me. I was very tiny, very soft and very humble.”
She said her late father also supported and encouraged her whenever she felt like giving up in those early days.
“He kept saying to me, ‘oh, you have to be brave, you have to be bold’,” she said.
“After marriage, it is the same thing I was able to find in my husband. He’s the backbone for me. He’s such a positive person and he keeps on encouraging me. All the courage, I got from him.
“He pushed me to my limit and made me to realise what my strengths are.”
