Morisset Show Girl, Hannah Greenshields, is a farmer, businesswoman and opera singer

But Hannah’s is no ordinary voice.

She is one of the rising stars on the Australian opera scene.

Her talents have taken her to perform in Rome, Venice, Zurich and Shanghai.

“But my favourite spot to perform is the Sydney Opera House, and I’ve done that twice,” she said.

At 21, Hannah considers herself too young to join a company such as Opera Australia. But that hasn’t stopped her scoring some high-profile gigs.

“In 2012, I got to sing the national anthem at the Australian Olympic swimming trials in Adelaide,” she said.

And last year, the Wyong Creek farmer won the best female voice award at the prestigious Sydney Eisteddfod.

Hannah discovered her talent for opera singing in unusual circumstances. As a young child, singing was prescribed as therapy.

Her mum Annette Greenshields is a classical clarinetist, but it was a pediatrician (who was also a classical musician) who suggested young Hannah’s misguided childhood energies might best be harnessed through singing.

But why opera?

“Because every man and his dog is a pop singer,” Hannah joked.

“I was a problem child. I’d kick holes in walls and what started out as me screaming in the supermarket turned into opera singing,” she said.

“That was my audition.”

She now has plans to achieve a Masters degree in music.

That is, after she completes her current degree in Speech Pathology.

She has two years to run in that course at Newcastle University, after which she plans to develop a portable speech pathology clinic that she can use to take to clients in rural areas.

It’s that sort of innovative thinking and entrepreneurial nous that led to Hannah and her partner Tim Eyes launching their Eggs on Legs business two years ago.

“We sell backyard chickens to people – that’s portable chicken houses and the chickens – but on a rent, try, buy basis,” she said.

It allows families to trial the chickens, with the option to return the lot if it doesn’t work out for them.

“But we’ve never had one chicken returned,” she said.

“People just seem to fall in love with the chickens, and they become part of their family. It also gives people a chance to have a little piece of agriculture in their backyard.”

The couple also raises and shows Charolais cattle, and have worked as stewards at cattle shows, including at Morisset.

As Morisset Show Girl for 2016, Hannah said she hoped to champion the farmers and growers of the district.

“I’m really passionate about promoting the agriculture of Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast, and I’d also like to inspire other young women to get involved in the Morisset Show because it really is an opportunity to develop your confidence and local knowledge.”