Shannon Voss | The Weekend Edition

Shannon Voss, Owner, Nine Owls Tea

People who are not afraid to be a voice for the voiceless ...

It all started with a cup of homegrown Lemon Myrtle and Mint tea. Inspired by the tea rooms of the 1930s and 1940s, where the women entrepreneurs would name their tea rooms after animals, Shannon started Nine Owls Tea in Brisbane in homage to the old Nine Owls Tea Rooms in Pembroke, America. Crafting organic, hand-blended leaf teas, Nine Owls Tea is the result of Shannon turning her passion for making a morning cuppa from herbs grown on her farm into a business. With Nine Owls Tea turning two this year and having two dedicated staff to help her keep this baby ticking along in Brisbane, Shannon was able to make another dream of hers come true. She has recently relocated to East Arnhem Land to work for the Arnhem Land Progress Association as a duty manager in a very remote dry community. The Weekend Edition caught up with Shannon to discuss her dream of working with aboriginal people and her weekend essentials.

By Linsey Rendell

How do you like to start your weekend?
Usually with a good cider.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
A good sleep in (depending on cider intake) and a hot cuppa in bed.

How do you like to unwind?
A hot bath and a good book and, without sounding like a soak, a good glass of red.

What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Wallet, keys, car.

What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Going to the West End markets.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Cook the Sunday feast.

What are you looking forward to next weekend?
My housewarming party …

What are you reading at the moment?
An Intruder’s Guide to East Arnhem Land by Andrew McMillan.

What inspires you?
People who are not afraid to be a voice for the voiceless.

What was your childhood dream?
To work with aboriginal people.

What has been your greatest achievement?
Being able to have a successful business, with outstanding employees. You know who you are ladies …

What is success to you?
Living life. Money doesn’t equal success.

What are your words of wisdom?
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got and you’ll always have what you’ve always had.

Only a local would know … you never go fishing for barramundi at the barge landing.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Botanic Gardens
Relax … At home
Dine … Sono, Hamilton
Indulge … GOMA
Shop … Nook, West End
Catch-up … Brew Cafe and Wine Bar, Brisbane City
Be inspired … Kunstkammer (Cabinet of Curiosities)