The concept of Mateship is the Australian cultural idiom that
embodies equality, loyalty and friendship (Caroll, 1982). I have read so many
things about complex cultures and the associated beliefs, values and
ideologies. I have found these overwhelmingly difficult at times to understand
why the cultures need to be so complex.
I then came to Australia to study. I feel in love with the
easy going nature of the people, the friendly nature and the acceptance that
everyone receives. The celebrations, the problems, the sorry, the thank you; it’s
all manageable with the ‘No Worries Mate’. No one is overly serious. I absolutely
love it.
The big question to me is how the Australian culture of mateship is going to evolve with the
increasing migration levels and people arriving in Australia from different
parts of the culture, different backgrounds and different beliefs. I am not
necessarily implying that the Australian cultural will be impacted in a
negative way. I only hope that people coming into Australia can realise the importance
and the power of simplicity that the mateship
culture is.
Hats off to the simplicity and easy going attribute of the Australian
culture.
References
Carroll, John (1982). Intruders In The Bush: The Australian
Quest For Identity (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. p.
114. ISBN 0-19-553374-7.
Between a Hard Rock and a Place. Cam Harris Blog. Online on 13
August 2012 at http://camharris.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/mate.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment