Episode 36
Scared, and Doing It Anyway: Farrah Buckland, Girls with Guns Australia
EP 36 — Scared, and Doing It Anyway: Farrah Buckland, Girls with Guns Australia
Farrah Buckland was a self-described "rainbows and butterflies, go hug a tree" kind of person. She was scared of roller coasters, spent a decade teaching meditation, and had never held a firearm. So she picked one up on purpose, precisely because it terrified her. That decision became Girls with Guns Australia, a women's come-and-try shooting community that sells out sessions within a day across Victoria and interstate.
In this episode Farrah talks about shaking through her first shot, how a few Facebook posts turned into a movement, and why women-only range days remove the biggest barrier for first-timers. She also shares how her first-ever competition was a Level 3 international IPSC match in Hungary, shot with an AR she'd barely touched, and how she came home with a medal. And she explains why she believes confidence isn't something you wait for. You choose it.
IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 — Welcome Farrah Buckland, founder of Girls with Guns Australia 00:44 — From never holding a gun to range nights with her friends 02:54 — The first shot: shaking hands and pushing through fear 05:03 — Being the only woman at the range 06:43 — The change you can see in women by the end of a session 08:32 — How a come-and-try day works: .22 rifle, .22 pistol, then 9mm 09:12 — 80% first-timers, bucket lists and rifle-licence holders 10:31 — IPSC, and the leap to a Level 3 international comp in Hungary 18:04 — Throwing her sister in the deep end as an instructor 19:21 — Teen girls, the 12+ age limit and "just try one shot" 21:47 — From empowerment workshops to firearms 24:09 — Meditation, breathing and visualisation on the firing line 27:47 — More women in rifle licence courses, and jealous husbands 29:33 — Why women-only events work 32:07 — The former Paralympian looking for a new sport 33:31 — Pressing "post" on the first event, and selling out in 24 hours 35:02 — Albury–Wodonga, ten Victorian ranges and the first interstate trip 38:51 — The vision: a Girls with Guns range in every state 42:53 — "I don't remember the last time I smiled" 45:40 — Choosing confidence: "you're never going to be ready" 50:13 — The four questions 53:41 — What's next for Girls with Guns 54:44 — Where to find Farrah
KEY TAKEAWAYS - Being scared isn't a reason not to start. - Women-only sessions take away the hardest part: walking into a club full of men on your own. - Start gentle and build up. Confidence comes shot by shot. - Remember to breathe. - You'll never feel ready. Choose confidence anyway.
FIND FARRAH & GIRLS WITH GUNS AUSTRALIA Instagram: @gwgaustralia — https://www.instagram.com/gwgaustralia Website: https://www.girlswithgunsaustralia.com.au Facebook group: Girls with Guns Group Australia Facebook page: Empowerment HQ
THANKS TO Beretta Australia and Lorco Firearms for supporting Girls with Guns Australia, and every range that has opened its gates to them.
Read the full story on the blog: https://womenwhohunt.com.au/blog/farrah-scared-and-doing-it-anyway
Join the Women Who Hunt community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenwhohunt.au
As always, do the things that light you up.