Songwriter of the Year
February 4, 2026
The incredible talent of Year 9 student, Giaan Zammataro, has captured national attention with Giaan announced as the 2025 Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) National Songwriting Competition – Young Songwriter of the Year.
Not only did Giaan take out first place in the Years 7 – 8 category, she also won the overall APRA AMCOS Award for her powerful original song, ‘to the kid’. In this Q&A, we chat with Giaan about her songwriting journey, the inspiration behind the song, and what this outstanding recognition means to her.
When did you first discover your love of music?
I’ve grown up with music. My older siblings also did music when I was very young, which meant that music has always been a big part of my life. As I watched them perform in musicals and concerts, I was so intrigued by the sound, words, and the costumes that I knew I had to also get involved. So I did, performing in my first ever eisteddfod and first musical when I was 4 years old, which led to many more after that. I love the buzz I get from performing and making audiences happy.
Have you been writing your own original songs for long?
I have always tried to write my own songs as I have been inspired to become an artist. My brother and I used to make up funny little songs when we were little, and a couple of years ago I wrote a song for my sister’s 21st. However, I actually only started writing proper songs like ‘To The Kid’ in about Term 2, 2025.
Are there any musical influences that have shaped you?
I have had so many mentors along my musical journey, starting off with my singing and music like Mrs Julee-anne Bell, and Mrs Jane Iszlaub in Kingaroy, who gave me great roots in performing. I then enhanced my musical abilities when I came to Fairholme and began lessons with singing teacher Ms Alana Scott, and guitar teacher Mr Craig Gibbens. Mr Gibbens particularly has helped me with my guitar skills in many of my own songs, which I am very grateful for. These people have all been so supportive and I owe them so many thanks. I have also always loved listening to artists such as Taylor Swift, as her lyrics are so poetic and have definitely been an inspiration to my songs, inspiring me to write lyrics in a deeper way.
What inspired the song ‘To The Kid’?
‘To The Kid’ was originally created as a joke for my uncle as he was told the only great thing he could do in life was ‘paint lines on the road’, hence the first line of the song. He went on to become very successful in life. Over the years I have come in contact with people that have been mistreated or less fortunate, and I wrote the rest of the song to recognise and help these types of people know that we care for them and listen to them. Each line is someone’s story, and I hope that listeners can connect with the lyrics. I also wrote the melody in a way that would be at ease and peaceful, not in anger, but in calmness and understanding.
How long did it take you to write the piece?
To write the piece’s lyrics, it took me roughly 20 minutes. This is probably the shortest a piece has ever taken, and I think this is because I was thinking of the people’s stories, and it came very easy to transfer them into short song lyrics. I wrote the chords and melody shortly after which took about an hour, and then it took me a few weeks to come up with strumming patterns and fingerpicking. It felt like quite a long time before the song started to flow. Mr Gibbens was very supportive and patient while I was trying to work this out. He gave me great advice like ‘you can write a thousand songs and only one of them will be good.’ You just have to keep persevering.
How did it feel when you found out you’d won the Songwriter of the Year competition?
It felt super surreal. I had only found out about the competition a few days before it closed and only entered the night before it was due, so it was a very last-minute decision. I did not have any great hope that I would even place in the competition, and I just thought of it as a great experience. This meant that when my mum told me over the phone, I did not believe her, and I was in a lot of shock. It was a huge relief to hear that what I had created was actually good, and that all the judges loved it. I was so grateful that mum encouraged me to enter, and it was a great realisation that the song was not as bad as I believed!
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
If I could collaborate with any artist, it would be Taylor Swift 100%. This is because her lyrics and melodies are so incredible, and I really look up to her as a songwriter. She tells stories in a way that is so unique and is so intelligent with how she organises her pieces. However, if I couldn’t collaborate with Taylor, my second choice would be Keith Urban because of his insane guitar skills. I would love to hear his guitar riffs underneath some great lyrics and vocals. He is also so inspiring as he grew up in Caboolture and has gone on to play in bands and be a soloist. If I ever got to collaborate with him, I would really value his experience in the industry and what I could learn from him as well.
More News…
Congratulations to Year 9 student, Mia Geise, on her outstanding performance at the 2025 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Swimming Championships. Representing Fairholme Aquatics Swim Club, Mia set new personal bests over the holidays in four of her five events and walked away with an impressive haul of medals and records. Her championship results included: > 4 silver medals in the 12-14 Years Multi-Class 100m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke > Australian Records in the Open and 13 Years and Under Multi-Class 100m Breaststroke (SB16 Category) > Queensland Multi-Class Records in the Open 100m Breaststroke, Open 50m Backstroke, and 13 Years events across 50m Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly One of the standout moments of the championships was Mia’s qualification for three open finals, where she competed against some of the country’s most experienced swimmers, including two Paralympians and athletes who have represented Australia on the international stage. In elite company, Mia more than held her own, finishing 4th in the 50m Breaststroke, 5th in the 100m Breaststroke, and 6th in the 50m Backstroke. What makes these achievements even more extraordinary is the context behind them. Mia only returned to competitive swimming in December 2024, following an almost three-year break after undergoing her second liver transplant. Her results at this championship are not only a testament to her talent, but to her resilience, determination and unwavering commitment to the sport she loves. Adding to the celebrations, Mia’s coach Michael (Mick) Winton was recognised for his outstanding work at the Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia Awards, held during the championships. Mick was awarded the 2025 Multi-Class Emerging Championship Coach Award, a well-deserved honour that acknowledges his dedication and leadership in supporting Mia’s development over the past year.
Fairholme Year 10 students Georgie Cussons, Amelia Taylor, Anna Le Lievre and Claire Longmire are making the most of their exciting exchange at Oakham School in the United Kingdom, where they will spend six weeks fully immersed in British school life. From classroom learning and social events to sporting fixtures, the girls have wasted no time settling in and making the most of every opportunity. Also in the UK, Gemma Sullivan has begun an 11-week exchange at Bryanston School, where she is already keeping busy through her involvement in netball and the school’s swim, bike, run team. Cindy Deng is likewise enjoying her time abroad, experiencing the traditions and daily life of Rugby School during her own 11-week exchange. Back at Fairholme, we are delighted to be welcoming international students into our community. Joining us for Term 1 are Sienna Hoffman from Bryanston School and Charlotte Campbell from Rugby School, along with Mei Kawasaki and Rio Usami from Keisen High School in Japan. Each brings a unique perspective to campus life, enriching our classrooms and strengthening the global connections that sit at the heart of the Fairholme exchange program.
We are delighted to welcome Mr Rob Anderson as our new Head of Sport, bringing with him a wealth of experience across teaching, coaching, and sport administration throughout Queensland.
