Mateship
Mateship is an Australian
Historical origins
Most simply, the term mateship describes "feelings of solidarity and fraternity that Australians, usually men, are typically alleged to exhibit."[1]
The historical origins of the term are explained in Nick Dyrenfurth's Mateship: a very Australian history (2015). He cites the work of historian Russell Ward, who argued that "a convict-derived ethos of matey anti-authoritarianism embedded itself in the Australian psyche from the beginning." The original obligations of mateship could be compared to 'codes amongst thieves.' It likely emerged out of a shared fear of authority. Men who betrayed their companions, or accepted authority over them, would be called 'dogs' for their betrayal.
According to Dyrenfurth, "Much of the rest of the world thinks of this practice as friendship, pure and simple. Yet in Australia, mateship evokes more than mere friendship.... Most Australian citizens ... associate mateship with wartime service - in particular, the Anzac tradition forged on the shores of faraway Gallipoli during April 1915."
Military context
Mateship is regarded as an Australian military virtue. For instance, the
The word mate bloomed during World War I, when many trenches were being built because of the machine gun. Many trenches were built which often stretched miles across war grounds. The words “diggers” and “mate” gained the same meaning and became interchangeable.[3]
Australian Constitutional preamble
During the
Australians are free to be proud of their country and heritage, free to realise themselves as individuals, and free to pursue their hopes and ideals. We value excellence as well as fairness, independence as dearly as mateship.
Murray was not supportive of the inclusion of "mateship" in the preamble, stating that it was "blokeish" and "not a real word", but the Prime Minister insisted it be included as the term, he said, had "a hallowed place in the Australian lexicon".[4] Howard reluctantly dropped the term from the preamble, after the Australian Democrats refused to allow it to be passed by the Senate where they held the balance of power.[5] If the proposed constitutional amendment had been adopted, it would have made Australia the first country in the world to constitutionally enshrine the concept of mateship. The BBC referred to the proposal as a "declaration of mateship" (a play on the American Declaration of Independence).[6]
Since the referendum the Australian government has introduced the concept of mateship as a possible part of an Australian citizenship test, although it was unclear how endorsement of the values of mateship would be tested.[7]
More than friendship
Mateship is a concept that can be traced back to 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 and is a term that implies a sense of shared experience, mutual respect and unconditional assistance.[8]
The term includes use in ways other than friendship like getting someone's attention, replacing a name, questioning a statement, letting one know to calm down and referring to someone in a rash or harsh way. The use of such in a harsh or negative way can be traced back to the word "bastard". Around the 16th century, the word "mate" adopted a similar meaning. Only within the last two centuries, has the term connected itself with a meaning of friendship.[9]
After the Beaconfield mine disaster, the miners involved presented the federal government with a "declaration of mateship and thanks".[10]
Common usage
According to the Lingo Dictionary of Favourite Australian Words and Phrases Australians use the salutation 'old mate' to "greet someone whose name you can't remember."[11]
See also
- Culture of Australia
- ANZAC spirit
References
- ISBN 9781925113532.
- Army Recruit Training Centre. Archived from the originalon 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ Cabinet, Department of the Prime Minister and. "Mateship, diggers and wartime | australia.gov.au". www.australia.gov.au. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
- ^ Kitson, Jill: Mateship..., Lingua Franca (Radio National), 24 April 1999.
- British Broadcasting Corporation, August 12, 1999.
- British Broadcasting Corporation, August 12, 1999.
- ^ Migrants need to learn mateship: PM, The Sydney Morning Herald, December 12, 2006.
- ^ Cabinet, Department of the Prime Minister and. "Mateship, diggers and wartime | australia.gov.au". www.australia.gov.au. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
- ISBN 9789027297990.
- ^ "Canberra reception for rescued miners". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2006-05-29. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17.
- ISBN 9781775590323.
Further reading
- Dyrenfurth, Nick (2015), Mateship: A Very Australian History, Scribe Publications, Melbourne
- Wikidata Q107291759. (fiction)
- Page, James S. (2002) 'Is Mateship a Virtue?' Australian Journal of Social Issues. 37(2): 193-200; available on-line at http://eprints.qut.edu.au/archive/00003567/
- Russel Ward, (1958), The Australian Legend, Oxford University Press, Melbourne