'MATES'
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G'day guys,
Today I introduce a powerful word in Australia - MATE. What's a mate? In this country it is considered to be someone who will stick by you through thick and thin. We have seen it in wars, sport, during disasters like floods and bushfires and by all walks of life.
'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. It's a term that implies a sense of shared experience, mutual respect and unconditional assistance.
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'Black Saturday' bushfires, Australia
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Mateship is a term traditionally used among men, and it is a term frequently used to describe the relationship between men during times of challenge. The popular notion of mateship came to the fore during the First World War. During this period the word 'mate' became interchangeable with the word 'digger', which had its roots in the gold digging fields of the 1850s. The myth of the digger and the larrikin hero is an important part of the
Australian experience of pastoralism, the goldfields, bushranging, shearing and droving.
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Anzac Day, Australia - mates!
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Here are some photographs that depict mateship around the world. I'm talking about humans and animals ... and a combination of both.
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Copyright Clancy Tucker (c)
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Copyright Vicki Tyley (c)
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'CT & Ged"
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Copyright Clancy Tucker (c)
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Copyright Vicki Tyley (c)
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Copyright Clancy Tucker (c)
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Copyright Vicki Tyley (c)
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Copyright Clancy Tucker (c)
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RIP!
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Clancy's comment: Always look out for your mates - male, female, kids or animals ... because it's right. And, you never know when you might need them.
I'm ...
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