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Mateship in Australia

            Early Australian literature has played a significant part in developing several beliefs and values that Australians consider important today. Poetry and ballads written by Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson focus a great deal on the bush, which is now an iconic Australian trait. Australians believe in mateship and a "fair go." These values originated from convicts and early colonialists who struggled against a harsh and unfamiliar land and often unfair authority. Australia's famous bushranger Ned Kelly protested against the poverty and injustice of a British class system. This weakened the hero's fight for "justice and freedom" and has been embraced as part of the national culture and inspired many books and movies. On the goldfields of the mid-1850s, diggers were portrayed in stories and songs as heroes who embraced democracy. The Eureka Stockade, where Victorian miners struggled with an authoritarian licensing system, came to symbolize a triumph of social equality. Later, during World War I, the courageous ANZAC soldiers who served in Gallipoli gave new meaning to the expression "tough Aussie.".
             Events such as the "Eureka Stockade" and stories of the legendary bushrangers have certainly played a major role in Australia, with nurses and teachers hitting the streets and protesting against the authority. Such events that have been influenced by the past. Australian bushrangers went to extreme lengths to obtain freedom and wealth. "For we scorn to live in slavery, bound down in iron chains." The words of Bold Jack Donahue, a man who robbed the most wealthy, disobeying police along the way, wouldn't settle for anything less then freedom. A key event in developing the Australian democracy was the Eureka Stockade. Miners fought for what they believed was fair, resulting in both death and triumph. This pushed Australians to fight for what they believe in, which today has changed the outcomes of many political and social decisions.


Essays Related to Mateship in Australia

1. Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

It is certain that the Australians that fought at Gallipoli, and other campaigns in WW1, the Australian forces in WW2 and future engagements, and local Australian heroes, did and still do display the attributes of Bravery, Prowess, and Mateship, that uniformly sets them apart from other country's seminal heroes. ... It is recognition of the distinctly Australian qualities, bravery, mateship, disrespect for authority and physical prowess, that was epitomised in the Gallipoli, and at select other events in Australian history since. ... The Australians at Gallipoli, did extraordinary thin...

  • Word Count: 1507
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. The Impact of Early Australian Literature

Early Australian literature has played a significant part in developing several beliefs and values that Australians consider important today. ... Australians believe in mateship and a "fair go." ... Mateship is an iconic Australian trait that perfectly describes the ANZACS. ... These days mateship is found everywhere within Australia, whether it be in your local footy side or during the recent floods that left much of Australia devastated. ... "We value excellence as well as fairness, independence as dearly as mateship," Henry Lawson's famous line in which brushes over the values tha...

  • Word Count: 744
  • Approx Pages: 3

3. Australian National Identity

Who is truly Australian? And is there a single Australian identity? ... As we heard in the lecture Historical Introduction of National identity on 18th march 2004 this promoted values like "mateship", which is still often used to describe Australians. ... By the 1880's three quarters of Australia's population had been born in Australia. ... I reckon that values like mateship will still remain in their national self-definition, although it is questionable if mateship is only a special Australian value. ...

  • Word Count: 1535
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. The ANZAC Legend

The Australian and New Zealand soldiers demonstrated the spirit of mateship, courage, loyalty, bravery, sacrifice, heroism, dedication, honour, integrity, initiative and determination throughout the Gallipoli campaign as they battled against daunting odds. ... From the moment the Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Anzac cove the spirit of courage, loyalty, bravery, initiative, sacrifice and mateship was evident. ... Mateship was one of the most important traits of an Anzac soldier. ... The men and women of our Army, Navy and Airforce have upheld the Anzac spirit and legend of courage,...

  • Word Count: 1118
  • Approx Pages: 4

5. Sterotyping Australia

I am here today to talk to you about the real Australia, because I am concerned that many of you hold inaccurate or stereotypical views of Australia and Australians. ... It's wrong to stereotype Australia as a whole because all Australians are individuals. ... Australia has often been known as a white nation but that's not the case. ... Traditionally, Mateship was the key element of the stereotypical vision of Australia, that has been portrayed in the film Galipoli. ... Mateship is still apparent in today's society but it's not just the men. ...

  • Word Count: 510
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Australian Poetry

The unique Australian image was established when they participated as a nation in World War One. ... This poem also gives the sense that it would have been a group chant, illustrating a sense of the great Australian mateship. The Diggers, written by Leon Gellert, also emphasises great mateship. ... It illustrates the bravery that the Australian person has been recognised for. ... The participation in World War One by Australia as a nation allowed the Australian person to demonstrate their bravery and strength, which formed the unique image seen today. ...

  • Word Count: 696
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. THE REMOVALISTS - A PLAY BY DAVID WILLIAMSON

THE REMOVALISTS - A PLAY BY DAVID WILLIAMSON Theatre Programme The Vision of the Director: David Williamson, widely regarded as Australia's most successful playwright, has created a very controversial and very "Australian" glimpse of the Australian society during the early 1970's. ... In The Removalists Williamson effectively dispels the myth of mateship in Australia. ... Another less obvious example of mateship is the idea of sisterhood. ... Another form of mateship is also examined in the play. ... He trusts that the mateship of the working-class will see him through. ...

  • Word Count: 1309
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Australian National Cinema

Australian cinema is a social bond uniting and excluding diverse people [...] ... Australia is charactered as a cast of colourful, freakish characters. ... To understanf this theme it is neccessary to examine Australia`s history. ... Australian films of the 20`s, 30`s and 40`s portrayed the country as ... ... Films throughout the later 70's were the fruits of plentiful funding by the Australian Film + Television Corporation which later became the Australian Film Comission (AFC). ...

  • Word Count: 7147
  • Approx Pages: 29
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Gallipolli

While the stereotypical qualities of the Australian identity - such as the country lifestyle, family values, mateship and sport - that are evident in the film Gallipoli still exist today, they have inevitably evolved to form new variations of their old meanings. ... Archie risked his chances in a running competition by taking the risk of sprinting across the harsh Australian outback barefoot for the sake of a dare and in defiance against bigotry, holding true his mateship with and loyalty to his coloured friend. ... This fine example of mateship displayed by Archie is one that is not so common...

  • Word Count: 1201
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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