Since she was six years old, Emi East has been developing her whip-cracking skills and now performs around the country.

Story + Photo Jeanette Severs

Children and adults flock to talk to 20-year-old Emilqua ‘Emi’ East after she performs her whip-cracking routines. During the performances she’ll sling a bullock whip around and crack to ‘Waltzing Matilda’ or well-known nursery rhymes such as ‘Mary had a little lamb’, as well as showing off difficult whip-cracking routines such as Hassett’s four corners, the whip-cracker’s salute and the Queensland crossover. Emi makes it appear easy, but each trick and routine is the result of hours of dedicated practice and hard work. She has the welts and scars to prove it.

This story excerpt is from Issue #126

Outback Magazine: Aug/Sep 2019