How aussie are ya?

Is it just me or does everyone think we need to preserve whatever it is that makes us Australian?

In the 1980's I think we went through a dangerous cultural cringe. I know I did. I thought everything about Australia was embarrassing, I threw away my thongs and embraced English music and magazines. My Dad used to deliberately say things like Bonza and Drongo just to watch me roll my eyes.

I don’t know exactly when, but I came back. And I love everything that sets us apart from the rest of the world.

These days, probably my most used phrase is ‘no worries’. Strangely, I'm still not good at 'g’day' I have to say, I love it when someone says it to me, but I always say it in a sort of embarrassing way…more sort of good day… I need to go to g'day school!

I’m happy to say though, a survey has been released claiming Australianisms are some of the most common words used in Australia.

Number one on the list of Aussie expressions is "No worries'', with 79 per cent of people surveyed by newspoll saying they use it fairly regularly.

Other favourites include "Good on ya'', "I reckon'' and "She'll be right''.

There are some expressions that only the older folk use - apparently ‘fair dinkum'' and "too right'' are becoming outdated and favoured by those aged over 50. I love those two, so fair dinkum, I’m going to make sure I use them more often. Too right I am.

Apparently those under 34 have adopted phrases such as `"no worries", "How's it goin'?'' and "mate''.

Then there's "whad'ya reckon'', "bloody oath'', and I don’t actually know that many people who say "strewth'', "rack off'' or "flamin' galah''…but my Dad did, so good on ya!