SHAI Burns spent her childhood underground in Coober Pedy, was an assistant manager of a resort in Canada, and is now starting a new adventure as the new manager of Apsley’s Border Inn.
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“I’ve found the community to be very welcoming,” Shai said.
“The staff have been wonderful, I would be lost without Vanessa (Grigg).”
Vanessa is the current publican, who will be officially passing over the reins this Sunday.
Shai was born in Cowell, but her family moved to Coober Pedy in her childhood. Her parents still live there.
She has a sister in Naracoorte, who is the branch manager at the local People’s Choice. Her brother works on an oil rig, and is also based in Naracoorte.
Shai heard about the opportunity to run the Border Inn from her sister-in-law, Sian. Previously she had spent the last four years as an assistant manager at the Manning Park Resort in Canada.
Manning Park is located in British Columbia, and is three hours away from Vancouver. Ironically, in one of the snowiest places in the world Shai met a fellow Australian – Rhys, a Queenslander who is now her partner.
Shai and Rhys have settled into Apsley, and while it’s early days at the Border Inn, the couple are enjoying the fact there are plenty of friendly locals around to help them find their feet.
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