So, Who is Your Mate?
Friday 24 July 2020
WORDS: Bryan Walpole AM
When I was AMA Tasmania secretary to then-President Brendan Nelson, he always called everyone "mate", as we warmed to his informal style.
The word 'mate' has a long, proud, and distinctive history in Australia. From King Island to Bruny, "G'day mate, how ya going?" is the familiar phrase all Tasmanians instinctively understand.
It is a part of our culture found nowhere else in the world. One result of the prevalence of the 'mateship' culture is that we are anti-hierarchical. Mateship is the antithesis of the class structure of the British monarchy. "Jack is as good as his master" here.
Henry Lawson wrote –
They tramp in mateship side by side —
The Protestant and 'Roman' —
They call no biped lord or 'sir,'
And touch their hats to no man!
Anzac Day, for example, is a day when we remember the sacrifices our forebears made: the mateship, the loyalty, and the deaths to build and protect the freedom and rights we now enjoy. Perhaps in future, it will also become an occasion to recognise the ongoing struggles of today and thank those standing beside us in the fray of COVID-19.
The term 'mateship' can be traced back to the early convicts and was likely to have formed out of the predominantly Irish working-class egalitarianism present in British society in early colonial times. The harsh environment in which convicts and new settlers found themselves meant that men and women closely relied on each other for all sorts of help. In Australia, a 'mate' is more than just a friend. It is a term that implies a sense of shared experience, mutual respect, and unconditional assistance.
Personal achievement rarely occurs without a helping hand from others. Despite our differences, we all know that when adversity strikes, whether in the form of bushfires, floods, or a global pandemic, there will be a fellow Aussie
to help. It is the tradition of the digger; the character of mateship and it is still the essence of the Australian spirit.
So, remember, in times of difficulty "Talk to a mate".
A problem shared is half solved, and if you see someone struggling, "Are you OK?" is what a mate is for.
CONTACT:
Communications AMA Tasmania – Nadine Cove – 0409159285
