Waltzing
Matilda
Waltzing Matilda; what a lovely
expression. Now have you ever wondered just what those words
really mean? I believe there is little doubt that the origins of
the phrase are from Germany, and the saying came across to
Australia with the German settlers, in one form or another and
truly found favour with the Swagman/Shearers of the outback.
Waltzing,
is derived from the German term auf der walz meaning to
go on the walz or on the tramp. This expression
referred to the custom where an apprentice in various trades or
crafts, was required to serve an allotted period travelling around
the country or outside Germany gaining experience and new
techniques for their trade.
During this period auf der walz,
the apprentice gained employment with master craftsman in various
towns, earning his living as he went and sleeping where he could.
All this was part of the guild system for apprentice tradesmen,
and was not abolished until about 1911. He was required to carry a
special book [handwerksbook] in which he had to have entered by
each master that employed him, particulars of the work he learnt,
its duration, and his conduct. Upon the completion of his allotted
time for being on the walz the apprentice could return to his
village and practice as a tradesman.
The word Matilda comes from
Teutonic origin meaning Mighty Battle Maiden. Then
through the years was the name given to the females that followed
the soldiers in the thirty year European war.
These Matildas that
followed the soldiers would keep them warm at night. So
the word was then used to describe the grey army coats that the
soldiers wore or carried with them, thus Matilda was the
name given to the swag or blanket that was carried, usually over
the shoulder, to keep them warm at night. Hence; Waltzing
Matilda, to go walkabout looking for a job with your tools of
trade and the things that kept you warm at night.
Whenever and wherever Australians
gather together to celebrate; Waltzing Matilda is there. Matilda
has marched Australians into battle and marched them home again,
celebrated sporting victories, echoed around school room walls and
walked Prime Ministers into office. Waltzing Matilda could not
possibly have been written in any country other than Australia.
When a referendum was held to select
our National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair was chosen
ahead of Waltzing Matilda. At that time very few
Australians had any idea when or why Waltzing Matilda was written
or, for that matter what it meant.
Without the volatile and turbulent
1894 Shearers Strike, a mysterious love affair, and a series of
coincidental events stretching from as far south as Warrnambool,
nestled in lush green country-side of the Western Victorian coast,
to Dagworth Station on the unforgiving and sometimes barren
North-Western plains of Queensland, there would be no Waltzing
Matilda.
Our lovely little song has found
its way from the remote Queensland plains to every corner of the
earth, and the Swagman, or [jolly] Swagman has become a symbol of
the Australian identity.
Waltzing Matilda; to go walkabout
looking for a job carrying your swag.
| These Swagman
were mostly shearers, following the shearing season,
shearing millions of sheep. At times, enduring appalling
conditions, these men would perform their back breaking
task with a wit and humour that unfortunately is being
lost to modern Australia. |
![[Shearers of the 1890's]](images/shearers.jpg) |
These very same men forged the
term mateship, and through their unity and trust bonded together
to form unions in the 1890’s. To these men we owe a great debt,
if it had not been for their unshakable resolve, Australia would
have been burdened and inhibited by British class distinctions.
Yes! these were the Swagman of
the 1890’s that went Waltzing Matilda.
|
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