Modul 6
National Identities
&
Basic Values
The Classical Legends of Australian
Identities
I. A. The Bushman Legend
Dr. Russel Wird’s description on
Bushman’s stereotypes :
1 A practical man
1 Rough
1 Ready in his manner
1 Quick to decray affection
1 Great improviser
1 No impulse to work hard
1 Gambles heavily and drinks
deeply
1 Skeptical on religious values,
intellectual and cultural
pursuits
1 Independent person
1 Hates officiousness and
authority
1 Hospitable and has strong
mate ship
B.
The Founding Fathers
1 Convicts, ex - convicts,
and currency
 Working class
 Brutality of the prison
system




Harshness of life in
colony
Anti - authoritarian
morality
Strong physical
endurance
Resourcefulness
C.
Celts and Currency
1 Mostly Irish immigrants
1 Working class  middle class
1 Antipathy to British rule
1 Precocity
1 Rough
1 Disliking authority
1 Independence
1 Egalitarianism
D.
The Bush Rangers
1 Convicts or ex - convicts who
broke the mate ship
among
them
1 Runaway convicts  labor
1 Completely independent
1 Anti - authoritarian
1 Tough and resourceful
1 Loyal to his mates
1 Considered as the “wild
colonial boys” excluding
women
II.
The Pioneer Legend
Pastoralist and farmers immigrants
(1880’s – 1890’s) professional men,
squatters
1 Characteristics
 Courage
 Enterprise
 Hard work
 Perseverance
 Pioneers
 Including women
1 Enemies
 Drought
 Flood
 Fire
 Attacks of the Aborigins
 Middle - men
 Lack of capital
III.
Ned Kelly, folk hero
1 Wild
1 Out - law Person  anti authoritarian
1 Rough
1 Mate ship
IV. Anzac
1 Heroism
1 Physical endurance
1 Anti - authoritarian
1 Strong mate ship
Modern Legends
I. Suburbanist
1 Love outdoor activities
 Shopping
 Discotheque
 Sport cars
 Surf board
II.
Fair go, mate
1 Money
1 Providing work for men
1 “Battler” underdog  top dog
1 Casual / ordinary
1 Mate ship
III. Having a good time
1 Beer consumption
1 Sport
 Worshipping the body
 Sand and sea 
identity
1 Simple pleasure
Causes of the Change of Australia Identity
I. Disappearance of British Empire
Monarch >< republic
II. No longer dominated by people from
British Isles
White >< non - white
III. Located in Asia
Profitable areas for Australian good and
services
IV.
Modernization
1 No more in common with the
legend of bushman
1 Living in comfortable suburb
1 Working in white - collar jobs
1 Requiring high level education
V. Australian Basic Values
Three Basic Values
1 Mateship
A strict code of conducts among
men that stresses equality
and
friendship. It is male concept.
1 Egalitarianism
The belief that all people are equal
or the spirit of asserting the
equality of people
1 Fair Go
Giving people a fair chance to do
something. Nothing should stop
people from reaching their goals.
VI.
The change concept of egalitarianism
Before 1970’s
After 1970’s
Narrow definition
Encouraging multiculturalism
Encouraging mediocrity
Supporting equal
employment opportunity
Authoritarianism
Access and equity in public
services
Behavioral uniformity
Facilitating the minority
groups
Conformity
Only for men
Not for women, ethnic
minorities, or Aborigines