Principles and fundamental aspects of our Australian character are seemingly being lost in the modern world; petty issues and distractions mean for some the idea of living a life built on principle and character is not a consideration. Hopefully this can be turned around if we remember some Australian cultural values such as mateship writes Tom Lovett .
Origins
To me, "mate" is a special word I learned to respect from a young age and in shearing sheds, the army and in business. Packed with the same deep rooted meanings all around Australia, in the bush, the towns and city offices, the clubs, pubs and venues where I engage in recreation. It holds an honoured place in Aussie hearts and minds. Everyone is entitled to have a mate.
It grates just a bit when I am called "mate" by a virtual stranger. "Mate" to me is too hallowed a word to be bandied about lightly.
In Australia, mateship developed from the culture of convict survival and is embedded in the Australian psyche. It had its origins in the dreadful treatment of convicts by our British colonial masters. It was fostered through the harsh life of the first settlers on the fringes of the driest continent, through many ship wrecks, droughts, fires and floods and the lonely woman-less life in the outback during the early 1800s. And it was refined through the rugged and victimised diggers' lives on the gold fields in the mid 1800s, and in the harsh existence of the itinerant bush worker, shearer, drover and stockman, and their wives having babies alone in the bush, often with only an Aboriginal as midwife. It reached its peak in the World Wars at Gallipoli, in France, and latter at Tobruk, Changi and Kakoda and in the trauma and suffering through the great depression.
It is a paradox that such great injustices and even greater suffering brought into existence perhaps the fairest nation on earth.
Just as it was offered to our immigrant forefathers, most modern Australians offer this unique form of friendship and equality to all comers − illegals and overstayers, as well as legitimate migrants and refugees − if they will not abuse it.
The most outspoken, passionate lovers of Australian culture and "mateship" that I meet are as likely to be the children of immigrants themselves as they are descendents of convicts like me.
What is a Mate?
Mateship n. 1. the quality or state of being a mate. 2. code of conduct among men stressing equality and fellowship. (Macquarie Dictionary)
A mate is a very close friend. Usually a man's best mate is like someone who is known in the United States as a "buddy", only lots more.
A mate is the one person who will come, sit and yarn with you when everyone else has turned their back. A mate is the epitome of the Good Samaritan. He will stick by you through thick and thin. And when you keel over in the heat of the outback and die he will dig your grave in the stony ground, mourn your passing, deliver your mementos to your family and see that they are cared for.
Few non-Australians understand the full meaning behind Australian mateship. New generations of Australians have incomplete understanding of it also. Mateship is no longer inculcated in the young by osmosis as it was in my day. It may be fading into the mists of folklore. Consumerism fostered by the media over the last 40 years threatens to swamp our traditional home grown culture and values. But in my childhood and youth it was a strong influence throughout society. You never desert a mate.
Mateship has four strong supporting pillars; Integrity, Humility, Fairness and Perseverance. Mateship can't last if any of the pillars is missing.
Humour is a major human bonding agent, especially the kind of humour that makes fun of self. Other bonding agents are mutual interests, values, place of origin, complementary abilities, but the strongest bonding agent is that of helping each other through severe hardship and suffering.
The majority of the members of previous generations of Australians were nurtured in hardships. Most Australians will reach out to others going through tough times no matter where they came from. And when the others can also laugh at themselves and what they're going through, that is when they will be recognised by Australians as true blue Aussies, and that is when they will find out that they also have plenty of mates; all of us not taking ourselves seriously. We don't want to be thanked; we only want the others to show that they will do likewise and reach out to help others when needed and not take themselves too seriously either.
Tom Lovett is the descendant of convicts and pioneers. He grew up on a farm, worked in the shearing sheds in the outback, was a soldier and then an editor and a consultant. He is now a writer and broadcaster. He can be contacted at aussietom@pnc.com.au
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