Stuck-Up Sticky Beats

22 August 2005



Australia’s Parliamentary Guards Can Use “Mate” After All

Thanks to Paul Hogan, even Americans know about putting a shrimp on the Barbie. The Aussie version of the English language is a delight to anyone who has been there, or even visited Earl’s Court in London. There is no word that better sums up Australia than “mate” and the underlying idea of “mate-ness.” So it was with no small joy one can announce that the stupid rule banning the term from the vocabulary of Parliament Hill security guards is gone.

Thursday, the guards were instructed to address people as “sir” or “ma’am.” Reuters quoted local media to the effect that “The ban was imposed after the head of a government department complained about being called ‘mate’.” Before the week-end, the onslaught of decent Aussie opinion had this rule tossed on the ash-heap of history.

According to Sue Butler, who edits the Macquarie Dictionary (sort of the Bible of Aussie English), “It would be a fairly churlish person who would be offended to hear it. Most tourists expect to hear it, the same as they expect to see the Opera House.” She explained that the origins of the word, originally British, has an antipodean meaning of rather deep social commitment. "In Australia, it was used by men who were opening up the outback, squatters and shearers. In opal mining and gold mining, people had mates, because these were dangerous jobs that you didn't want to do alone. Even swagmen [highwaymen] had track mates, people who traveled with them."

If the rule did nothing else, it united the politicians of Australia. According to the Australian newspaper, “Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said he ‘absolutely insists’ on being called mate. ‘I think it's just pathetic, frankly, that the Government would start insisting that everybody goes around saluting them’.” And the former Prime Minister Bob Hawke said, Former prime minister Bob Hawke said the rule was "pomposity gone mad."

The Australian says the rule has been relaxed, “It now says officers should be ‘aware of when a degree of informality may be acceptable’ and when ‘a more formal approach is required’.” Hint to all the guards concerned, most visitors to Australia would be glad to hear that word, and please note, most American women in their 30s hate being called “ma’am.” It’s an age thing, mate.



© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
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