What does the term 'True Blue Aussie' mean?

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Elizabeth

These explanations are from:
http://www.johnwilliamson.com.au/html/music.html

True Blue
Steadfast loyal Australian who displays the Aussie ideals of a fair go for all, mateship, having a go, and solving problems.
So I'd say that's probably similar to a Red blooded American.

Fair Dinkum
Virtually the same as True Blue - honest, reliable, trustworthy, dinki-di; someone who has embraced the Aussie attitudes to everything, especially mateship. 'Are you fair dinkum?' means 'are you telling the truth?'

So, a True Blue Fair Dinkum Aussie Bloke is a pretty good sort of fella.

I don't know the origins of either term.

zucchinisisback

Elizabeth's answer is a good one, but does not touch on the issue of what is or is not a "real Australian". Some Aussies would say that people born in other countries, or particular countries, or belonging to particular religions, could never be "true blue", whereas others [like me] would say that anyone who is "steadfast, loyal, and displays the Aussie ideals" etc can be a "true blue, fair dinkum" Aussie! And not just blokes!

You'd have to ask the Kiwis if they have an equivalent phrase.

Ergot W

The other answers are correct but gaia is wrong- it has nothing to do with whatever ancestry your forebears were - if it was restricted to ony one ethnicity then most of us who are secended from early settlers would be excluded, since they were from many different countries, and to me, it means any citizen who belives in our common values (honesty, egalitarianism, a fair go, etc etc)

jade=)

It's as Australian as you can get
Pretty much the stereotypical view of Australians foreigners have
(before my friend came to Australia she cried and cried because she thought she'll be living on a farm riding kangaroos; she was 10)

Jay

A true blue Aussie is a person that shows great mateship, which helped make Australia such a great country. You can't build anything with enemies, but with mates you can do anything.

Astrid

'True Blue Aussie' is, essentially, the same as 'Red Blooded American'; it's like saying a person is 'totally Australian'. You could say that it's a person who embodies all of the aspects of Australia that patriots embrace - our sense of mateship, sportsmanship and love of beer being a few. A 'true blue Aussie' could also refer to someone who is stereotypically Australian, like a 'yobbo' or a 'sheila', someone with a beer gut and a hat with corks hanging off it, stubbie in one hand and thongs on his feet.

The origin of 'true blue Aussie' was probably a term made up by convicts who travelled to Australia, in the late 1800s. Most of our slang was formed during that time.

As for a NZ equivalent, it's quite possible that they use a term like 'true blue Kiwi' as well, or 'a total Kiwi'. A lot of New Zealand and Australian slang is the same or very similar.

gaia

We have sayings like this but they no longer have meaning.
You would have some trouble finding a true blue aussie.
Australia is a melting pot.

Catherine

A true blue aussie is a true australian i guess..

The nz equivalent is sheep f****r .. NO, i'm joking dont take it seriously..

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