| The Australian way-of-life,
sense of humour, perspective & language is often a complete
mystery to those visiting our sunburnt shores. We are variously
described as laconic, laid-back or casual.
Much of what makes the species 'Aussie-a-saurus-rex' unique,
is its evolution from a society based on 'mateship'. The 'new'
country was more new than anyone could ever have imagined!
Animals that hopped, furry animals with duck-bills, big-birds
that can't fly, spiders, crocs and snakes; not to mention
natives throwing sticks that return to sender! This land was
one hell of a culture shock to the European visitors!!!
Historians believe a code of mutual aid, or mateship - 'mates
stick-up for mates'- was necessary to survive in the early
days of discovery and occupation in a harsh, and to the Europeans,
strange land. With any hope of re-supply many months away,
the new arrivals had to work as a group for any to survive.
The use of the word mate was widespread by the 1890s, and
is often linked with the harsh conditions on the Australian
frontier and colourful goldfield towns. It is to reaffirm
our egalitarian backgrounds that Aussies greet everyone they
meet with "G'day mate, ow-yer-goin'?". Translation:
Good Morning Sir. How are you today?
The other explanation for why we call everyone mate is that
we are a nation of lazy bastards, all just really hopeless
with names!
The idea of group solidarity - mateship - is a recurring
theme in Aussie relationships. This often results in a type
of behaviour which, on the surface - or to those uninitiated
in the ways of Oz - seems counter productive to group harmony.
But, when the underlying code is deciphered, the behaviour
serves to increase an isolated individual's adhesion and affiliation
with the group. (This type of 'us versus them' type of group
formation is just as important in today's world of the roadog,
where it is the world of the roadcrew versus the world of
the punter, as it was for the isolated explorers and settlers
battling the 'tyranny of distance.') For example : It is the
job of a mate, to 'payout' on other mates, and, as a mark
of respect, the more that you are mates with someone, the
more you are morally obliged to 'give 'em heaps!!' *
This helps in :
· maintaining group coherence by respecting each others
ability, not their 'position',
· promotes democratic processes by reminding all that
no one is better than the other or more valued than the group,
· Confirming the individuals acceptance into the 'mates
circle.'
The ultimate accolade or mark of acceptance from an Aussie
is …"yeah, he's not a bad bloke" , rising to
…he's 'a good/top bloke' or she's a 'top bird.'
It is also often proper to refer to your best friend as "a
total or stupid bastard.", often said loudly with raucous
affection. By contrast, an enemy is "a bit of a bastard"
and your worst enemy is just plain…"a bastard,"
said quietly yet firmly through clenched teeth!
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| DANGER!! As mates 'stick up for
each other', any stranger giving a mate 'heaps', may cause
a 'blue' to erupt.
For example, if you are a stranger
telling a story about a co-worker amongst a group of
Aussies, and one of the guys says softly…'that
bloke's a mate of mine", be very careful about
how you tell your story. No matter how funny or true!
The Aussie will 'go to bat' for his mate!
However, the same rules apply
in reverse. If the swag-of-mates realises that you are
telling the story from the perspective of being a friend
of their mate, you are allowed to laugh with/at him
like the rest of them. Furthermore, you'll be accepted
by the group, with the reference coming from being "a
mate of such & such's."
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| Like our Celtic (Scot/Irish) and Cockney cousins,
the typical Aussie is the master of the ironic understatement
and of 'rhyming slang.' On the hottest day in living record
it would not be unusual to hear an Aussie say - while wiping
rivers of sweat out of their eyes - "Why this cold-snap!
I could go a 'Terry-dear!!" Translation : God it's hot!!
I'd love a cold beer. (Rhyming slang - Terry dear = beer. Can
substitute anything that rhymes with beer, eg 'cherry cheer.'
It is also common to see it shortened even further to just 'a
Terry'.)
Aussies are notoriously casual when it comes to dealing with
authority and just can't understand rampant nationalism or
patriotism. Don't get me wrong, we're extremely proud to be
Ozzies, but just think it would be rude to rub everyone's
noses in it!
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Here's some more general hints about us mob:
- The shorter the nickname, the more we like you.
(If any word can be shortened, it will!)
- It's considered far better to be "down on your
luck" than "up yourself."
- Industrial design knows of no article more useful
than the milk crate. And, if it can't be fixed with
pantyhose and '8-guage fencing wire', it's not worth
fixing. (Yeah…& Gaffa tape!!!)
- The alpha male in any group is he who takes the
barbecue tongs from the hands of the host and blithely
begins turning the snags. (Sausages.)
- The bigger the hat, the smaller the station / farm.
(Never, ever a 'ranch!')
- The phrase "a simple picnic" is not known.
Or at least not acted upon. You should take everything.
If you don't need to make three trips back to the
car, you are not trying.
On picnics, the Esky (ice-box/cold
storage container) is always too small, creating a
food versus grog (alcohol) battle that can only ever
be resolved by leaving the salad at home.
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- The phrase "we've got a great lifestyle"
means everyone in the family loves a drink.
- A flash sports car driven by a middle-aged man does
not incite envy - as in America - but hilarity.
- If there's any sort of free event or party within
a hundred and fifty kilometres, you'd be a mug not
to go. Got to conquer the tyranny of distance!
- Whether it's the opening of Parliament, or the launch
of a new art gallery, there is no Australian event
that cannot be improved by a sausage-sizzle and onion
rings.
- There is no food that cannot be improved by the
application of tomato sauce. (Aka. 'dead horse' in
rhyming slang.) It's never, ever called 'ketsup' despite
the extensive marketing campaigns and the relentless
onslaught of globalisation.
- A thong is not a piece of scanty swimwear, as in
the 'good ole US of A, but a fine example of footwear.
A group of good-lookin' Aussie sheilas wearing black
rubber thongs may not be as exciting as you had hoped!!
- 'Rooting' for a team is not what you think!! The
only people Aussies 'root' for is their husbands/wives/girlfriends/very
good friends etc. We 'barrack' for our teams!
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And, finally, don't let the tourist books fool you. No one
says "cobber," and no Aussie would ever 'throw another
shrimp on the barbie'. (We only eat prawns.)
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