The Low Down on Understanding Aussies...

The Australian way-of-life, sense of humour, perspective & lingo is often a complete mystery to those visiting our sunburnt shores. We are best described as chillaxed and mega laid-back or casual.

Much of what makes the 'Aussie-a-saurus-rex' species 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 didn’t fly, spiders, crocs and snakes…not to mention natives throwing sticks that return to sender…WTF! This land was one hell of a culture shock to the European visitors!!!

Indigenous Aboriginal and his Boomerang 

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 and mateship is a recurring theme in Aussie relationships. It helps:

• Maintain group coherence by respecting each other’s 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!

Here's some more insider hints about us mob:

•    The shorter the nickname, the more we like you. 
(If any word can be shortened, it will…preferably ending in a vowel) Eg, Steven = Stevo

•   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.)

Typical Aussie bogans mates having a BBQ

•    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.

•    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 were 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!

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'…

FYI - We only eat prawns.

Put another shrimp prawn on the barbie!!