Cracking the Whip with Giaan Zammataro

October 24, 2024

Although Year 7 Boarder, Giaan Zammataro, has only been here at Fairholme for a short time she has already enriched the Fairholme culture by introducing many of us to the unique sport of competitive whip cracking.

Giaan comes from Alice Creek, a small town about half an hour out of Kingaroy. Since she was in primary school Giaan has been involved in competitive whip cracking.


Giaan states that whip cracking had “always been on the farm”, however she got into it competitively because she was “a bit jealous” of her brother doing it when they were in primary school.


Recently she competed in the Australian Titles at the Ekka where she placed third in the junior age category. This comes after she came first in the juvenile age group at the State Titles in Boona earlier this year.


Giaan competes against kids from all over the country with most of her competitors being from Victoria and New South Wales.


Giaan loves whip cracking because she thinks it is “a really cool skill to have” and enjoys showing off all the “really cool tricks” she has learnt. She also loves that she gets to “meet new people” from all across Australia through travelling for competitions. Giaan’s whip cracking is so impressive that she is now sponsored by whip maker, Chris Barr.


Support from sponsors helps her keep this unique sport going which, in turn, helps Giaan keep this important “Aussie tradition” alive.


Giaan chose to start boarding at Fairholme after hearing about it from some friends. She was drawn to Fairholme by their “value for the boarders” and wide variety of opportunities that the school provides. She says that her favourite part of boarding “is having the privilege to wake up in the morning and do sport” and being surrounded by so many other like-minded girls. When she is not being a champion whip cracker Giaan also participates in swimming, tennis, touch, futsal, choir, band, and speed, power, strength at Fairholme.


The Fairholme boarding house is very supportive of Giaan’s whip cracking, organising news crews to come interview her to promote her sport, and allowing her to practice out in the Daisy Culpin courtyard most afternoons or in the Assembly Hall, like when it was raining during the lead up to the Australian titles.


Although whip cracking has recently decreased in popularity Giaan is striving to keep her beloved sport alive and has already recruited some more girls from the Boarding House to join her in whip cracking in the afternoons.


Giaan has inspired other girls to try whip cracking and she has even encouraged one of her friends, Ella, to join in competing in an upcoming

whip cracking competition. She also has many other friends come out with her in the afternoon to give whip cracking a try, “a lot of girls have come out and had a little go,” which is great to see how our girls support each other and want to join in, to keep the whip cracking tradition alive.


Giaan’s next whip cracking competition is coming up in Clifton, starting off the next season, but she is also looking to travel out of state to join in some other competitions in the future.


The entire Fairholme community is behind Giaan, fully supporting her endeavours in this exciting sport and we cannot wait to see where her unique talent takes her in the future.

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