Edauction around the campfire- Fair Dinkum

I would think that the content of the following bit of Australian education would be well suited for a late night campfire when the audience is full of tucker and half full of beer, and more inclined to stay than waddle of to the swag.

FAIR-DINKUM

Fair- Dinkum is a fair dinkum Australian phrase. In casual terms it means genuine or true, or both. If it is both it can then be Fair Bloody Dinkum, which stresses the truth of whatever has just been put forward even if that put forward is not true. Using Fair Dinkum is not asking anyone to believe you, as you are stating that it is Fair Dinkum, whether anyone believes it or not, Fair Dinkum, would I lie to you?

People, and ones mate's can be Fair Dinkum: "He's a fair dinkum bloke." "He is a good mate, Fair Dinkum." "He is bloody useless, Fair Dinkum." "He's as handy as an ashtray on a motor bike, Fair Dinkum.", or not fair dinkum in the genuine and true interpretation.

The versatility of Fair Dinkum is within a range, far greater than any other phrase that you have ever heard of, Fair Dinkum.

Let us look at a little of that range: Fair, in itself means evenly proportioned, or evenly distributed within a certain range or scope, for example: "It's a fair way, mate". indicates that the distance is further than "It's fairly close". However the actual distances in numbers is only determined by the person, and the area in which either phrase is said.

In the city, a "Fair Way" could mean it is not far, but because of the transport problems of most large metropolises, it could take a fairly long time to get there. When you have told the enquirer of this distance they will most often say "Fair Dinkum." (Down heartedly)

On the other hand, if you tell the enquirer that his/her proposed destination is just around the corner, or fairly close, they will invariably say "Fair Dinkum" (Happy).

Of course all these meanings change when you are in the Outback, or even the rural sector. Distances become Fair if they are within two or three hundred miles, Fair Dinkum. Just around the corner can be just as far, if you are being directed by a dinkum, true blue, Aussie, who is Fair Dinkum about what he is saying.

Another manner of determining distance in the Outback is to give it in amounts of beer that could be normally consumed in the trip, hence, "Yeah! Cunnamulla, Oh! about two slabs I reckon."  "Fair  Dinkum" is the usual reply.  ( A slab is one carton of stubbies)

Another example of the wonderful, all explanatory phrase goes like this:

"I lost me' wallet, yesterd'y."

"Fair Dinkum." Appropriately sympathetic sounding.

"Yeah, but a woman found it and I got it back."
"Fair Dinkum." Surprise and interest, after all he is your mate,hey?

"No money or nuffin' missin' either."

"Fair Bloody Dinkum. She must'a been a real Fair Dinkum Shelia, mate, hey?"

"Yep, not many Fair bloody Dinkum people around like that."

"Na! and that's Fair Dinkum, for sure mate." Adding 'for sure' is a qualification given when there could be some doubt of the 'for suredness' of the Fair Dinkum statement.

When practising the usage of this phrase, one should be careful to include the many ranges of Dinkum, but also the many nuances of Fair.

You might hear someone say "It's a Fair Cow." Now, is that person referring to the cow as maybe, a blonde cow (Note the spelling, blonde for female, blond for bloke, and for those of you that are not sure, a cow is usually female) The reason I brought this matter up is to show that I am a fair dinkum bloke and educator.

Things can be a fair pain in the butt, a fair drop, like in "Agggh! Now that's what I call a fair drop, Fair Dinkum." Of course, this person has just downed a goodly swig of great Australian beer.

We wont get into Fair Enough, fair enough? We wont get into Fairly either as that is another cuppa-tea.

So, It has been great to impart this valuable knowledge of the Aussie slang, to help edakate your noggin' . Fair Dinkum, you have been a Fair Bloody Dinkum Grouse Audience.