AUSSIE SLANG Words and Phrases SPECIAL FOCUS June 1999

Dinky-di Aussie Swagman

The Jolly Swagman Lessons Learned For those of you who are not familiar with Australian lore, the Aussie swaggie (Australian Swagman), the modern version of whom adorns the upper right corner of these "Aussie Slang" pages, presents considerable material for discussion about Australians, their language, and way of life. As indicated in the discussion about the Aussie song, "Waltzing Matilda," in the "Special Focus, April 1999," the Australian swagman of days gone by was an itinerant or tramp who wandered the bush. His sole possessions were carried in a bedroll (swag) across his shoulders. He cooked over an open fire in a pot with a wire handle called a "billy." His simple, carefree life necessitated the adoption of some unusual habits and modes of dress. These seemingly eccentric adaptations to an inhospitable climate evolved into the colorful stereotype of the swaggie that still exists. The "modern" swaggie that is shown sports an Akubra hat with its corks strung around the perimeter, a singlet, a pair of stubbies, and a pair of leather boots all of which represent a story unique to this arid land "down under." In addition, the can of beer and the "barbie" fork are synonymous with leisure time activities in a hot country largely without winter. The dinky-di, or fair-dinkum, (genuine and true) Aussie swaggie would more likely be holding a tin cup from which he drinks tea from his billy (a wire-handled pot for heating water or other liquid over an open fire). And the barbecure fork might be replaced by the swag (bed-roll) in which he carries all his belongings. The word "akubra" comes from an aboriginal word for head covering. The Akubra hat has become a national symbol for millions of Australians and an international symbol of being Australian since the advent of "Crocodile Dundee." Akubra is a brand rather than a style of hat, but is always wide-brimmed and made of rabbit fur (it feels more like a cross between felt and leather than fur). It can be purchased in a number of styles and colors. The British (known to most Aussies as Pommies) introduced rabbits to Australia, most likely because they were homesick for some of the familiar animals of the U.K. The rabbits flourished and soon overran many parts of the continent because there were no natural predators to cull the population. Thus, the British unwittingly initiated an endless supply of the natural material needed to produce a head covering that is both attractive and extremely practical. The Akubra may be worn by city-dwellers who wish to appear suave and respectable, or it may be worn by hard-working country folk until it is battered and worn. For the working man in the country this hat is vitally practical, as it protects its wearer from the heat and brightness of the sun's rays. Individuality is expressed in the way the hats are worn. For the swaggie who wandered the arid terrain of the bush and outback, a few corks and bits of string were added to keep the ever-present blowflies (much like houseflies in the U.S.) away from their faces. If you have never been subject to a constant barrage of flies flitting about your face, up your nose, and into your mouth, you may find this amusing. But once you have experienced an Aussie summer, even near the coast, you will appreciate the reason that a swaggie may take such measures to keep the pesky little bugs away. Since 1919 Australians have worn, lived, loved and died in their Akubras. They were the slouch hats that Aussie diggers (Aussie/New Zealand soldiers) wore through two world wars. They were the hats the rest of the country took off in remembrance of those who didn't come back. They were the hats that were raised to King/Queen and country on special occasions. And they were the hats that were tossed in the air when Sir Donald Bradman demolished the English at cricket. Today, 21 million hats later, they are exported all over the world and yet remain a symbol of Australia. The singlet is the Aussie t-shirt. In a country that may experience temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the Christmas holidays, the typical t-shirt with short sleeves that is worn my most American males under the normal shirt provides too much warmth. The singlet is a sleeveless t-shirt that we would likely call a tank top. The usual singlet is made completely of cotton that is more absorbent than most blends. The singlet may be worn under a regular shirt or by itself in more casual settings. If worn by itself for work, the singlet is normally a navy blue color. Aussies tend to wear less of most forms of clothing because of the hotter and longer summers (November through March), so it is understandable that men's pants would follow the trend of men's tops. Not only do Aussie men wear shorts more frequently than American men, the shorts they wear are "smaller" than those normally worn in the States. The shorts worn by many men in Oz are what Americans might call short shorts. In Australia they are called stubbies, which is actually the brand name. They are worn both in leisure situations and in the workplace for those who must labor outdoors on a daily basis. They are worn by both young and old no matter what their body size may be. The most common footwear for the everyday Aussie extends from the practical considerations of the heavy leather boot worn for work or bush treks to the casual coolness of thongs (known more commonly in the States as flip-flops). The boot is indispensable in the bush or outback where numerous venomous snakes abound. Australia boasts the largest number of the most-venomous and deadly snakes in the world. Flip-flops are nearly an Australian icon for leisure-wear in a country that is both hot and casual. Both men and women sport the inexpensive footwear in many settings including home/backyard, beach, and street wear in the smaller communities. The can of beer that my dinki-di Aussie swaggie is holding illustrates yet another Aussie icon. Aussies are known for their love of beer, which is quite understandable to those who know how refreshing a frosty beer can taste on a blazing hot summer's day. Australia boasts many brands of beer such as the very familiar Toohey's, Foster's, and XXXX (pronounced "4 X"). A common expression is to "throw a slab in the esky with some ice" (throw a case of beer into a cooler with some ice). Beer is considered an important part of Oz culture. In sports, cricket players are at the head of their class with their reputation for getting blind drunk on Sydney-to-London flights. Drinking is also a spectator sport, and cricket again leads the way. Since cricket is a long and rather "slow" sport (test series games last for as long as five days each), the cricket fans usually have a lot of spare time on their hands. Holding a can of cold beer occupies them and maintains an atmosphere of social interaction. Beer is also considered to be at the very top of the barbecue food pyramid since it doesn't take time to cook or utensils to consume. The can of beer and the barbecue (barbie) fork form a good pairing. While the snags and prawns (Australian sausage "hotdogs" and Australian shrimp) are sizzling on the barbie, a cold stubbie (in this case a stubbie is a short bottle of beer) keeps the "chef" cool on days when indoor cooking is impossible because of the extreme heat. Increasingly, more exotic meats such as kangaroo kebabs or crocodile steak are also making their way onto Aussie barbies. The overall availability and low cost of meat in Australia make it a very popular food item. Australia has the largest production of beef of any country in the world and a very large lamb production, too. The Australian barbecue on which all these tasty meats are prepared is either gas or electric powered, and the cooking surface is a solid metal plate. Pubs are also popular meeting places. The first building to be built in any town is the pub, so that all the locals have a place to meet and socialize. The pub is still considered a largely male domain, and not a proper place for most "ladies" to patronize. (There still are pubs where there are special rooms in which the ladies may imbibe if they so choose.) The constant quest for a coldie (container of cold beer) has lead to ground breaking discoveries such as the fact that the boot (trunk) of a Holden Kingswood (an Aussie car that is known for its large trunk space), lined with a tarpaulin, makes an excellent and spacious esky (cooler). Another popular pastime until recent times is the Aussie pub crawl, which is similar to our bar hopping. As in the States, it is now discouraged because of stricter drink driving (drunk driving) laws. So, as you can see, the jolly swagman does indeed still have something to teach us. Of all the colorful images that Australia has introduced to the world, the dinky-di Aussie swagman is surely one of the most fascinating.

When I was researching this article, I happened upon the following bit of Aussie humor that I thought would be a perfect ending for this monthly focus. Read and enjoy these titbits (tidbits) from Let's Travel Australia Let's get this straight.... We do speak English "down under." It does get cold in Oz. It does rain in Oz. A shark doesn't bite you every time you go to a beach. Do not pat crocodiles. We do have bugs and insects. Kangaroos don't generally hop down the main streets of towns; they prefer the back roads. We readily accept Australian dollars (with a smile). We have been known to barbecue shrimps and the occasional yabbies. We drink our beer cold any where, any time, any place. More than half the population wears clothes the other half feel they are optional. Thongs are part of our national dress. Durex is a brand of cellophane tape. Vegemite or might not. We really enjoy our long weekends. Akubra is a hat not an undergarment. We catch Barramundi, Tuesdi or Wednesdi.

Chris Townsend, Sarcoid Connection
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Last Modified September 9, 2002