Australia study (social and political cultures) Essay

Australia study (social and political cultures) - Essay Example The phrase â€Å"ANZAC traditions† has its roots firmly in the First World War when the mother country called for troops from its colonies in order to fight the war. The combined forces of Australia and New Zealand were better known as the ANZACs or the Australian and New Zealand Corps. In battle the soldiers from the ANZAC division showed remarkable bravery and determination to win the war. Over time within the war years the ANZAC tradition came to denote the very characteristics that defined these soldiers namely their courage, good humour, mateship, endurance, ingenuity and larrikinism (Howe, 1995). This tradition meant that the soldiers from the ANZAC division were perceived impervious to the class and cultural differences found in British society. This phrase not only has meaning in connection to the First World War alone but can be seen as a defining moment for Australian national history. Previously Australians perceived themselves as subjects of the mother country but following the social and cultural consolidation after the First World War, the Australians begun to see themselves as a separate nation. Even today this phrase is used to indicate the nascent years of Australian nationhood (Smith, 2006). In a similar manner, the word mateship has come to symbolise Australian culture over time. As seen in the preceding phrase, the ANZAC tradition one of the defining features of the Australian soldiers was mateship (McDonald, 2009). Mateship refers to an embodiment of equality, friendship and loyalty. There has been rampant debate as to the origins of mateship as a word in common use. Some texts have inaccurately traced the origins of mateship to the early convicts who were settled in Australia when it was treated as a penal colony. However other research has conclusively proved that the word mateship emerged out of the predominantly Irish working class that was present in British society. Nineteenth century Australia