Version 1.7
Sunday 7 Oct 2001
compiled by Mulga Bill (Mulga_Bill@auswww.com)
Contributions and corrections welcome by e-mail

CONTENTS:
==========

1.0 - Welcome

2.0 - What's New

3.0 - The Charter

4.0 - Frequently Asked Questions.

4.1 What is aus.culture.true-blue?

4.2 - What is a true-blue?( WIP)
4.2.1 Some definitions
4.2.2 True-blue Attributes.

4.3 - History of the NG

4.4 - Who are the Townsville Taliban (WIP)
4.4.1 The Key Conspirators

4.5 What was "The Great FAQ Duffing"

4.6 What Was the "The Great NG Hijack"

4.7 Common terms

4.8 Where can I find archived messages?

4.9 Who moderates aus.culture.true-blue?

5.0 - Contributors

6.0 - Additions / Amendments to the FAQ

1.0 WELCOME
=============

Welcome to aus.culture.trueblue, an open, unmoderated newsgroup
for the discussion of all TrueBlue topics in an open forum dedicated to
Free Speech and rights for all.

Anyone with an interest in Aussie culture, the attributes of a TrueBlue,
the principle of a Fair Go, Billy tea and Drop Bears is welcome
to participate, within the charter provisions.

"Have a go, ya mug..." ;-)

'Tis strange that in a land so strong,
So strong and bold in mighty youth,
We have no poet's voice of truth
To sing for us a wondrous song.

- Banjo Patterson
"Song of the Future"

2.0 What's new:
=============


Congratulations to the genuine, Fair Dinkum true-blues
for their complete triumph over those who sought to seize
control of the true-blue NG, the totally routed Townsville
Taliban! B^D

This is wonderful news for those who treasure the true-blue
values of A Fair Go For ALL, and a kick in the nuts for the
enemies of free speech, and for the elements of Ausadmin
who extended them partisan support for what was widely declaimed
as a deeply flawed and unjust proposal, advanced in complete
disregard for due process. The Ausadmin process itself fell into
such disrepute as a consequence of that partisan involvement,
that it has become largely defunct. Such is the fate of all
tyrants, those who so arrogantly proclaimed:

"Freedom of the presses is to the owners of the press.
If you wish to have free speech then the only option
is for you to buy a news server and even then your
right of free speech only exists on that news
server and no other." - ausadmin

Their news NG silent, their site is a mere shell of inactivity
and no longer even contains the agreed links to the official
aus.culture.true-blue FAQ at the official website:

http://oocities.com/fairdinkum_trueblue/

The original spokes-Orcs for the Taliban have all abandoned the
field in complete capitulation and humiliating defeat, leaving
only a couple of insignificant camp followers, Osama Bin Latham
and Mulla Dogwood, who are too thick to apprehend their own
failure and embarrassment.


The official aus.culture.true-blue website, built and nurtured
by a coalition of fair dinkum true-blues opposed to Taliban
hegemony continues to grow and attract favourable comment!

It contains a bowdlerised version of the newsgroups original
FAQ, prepared for, and approved by ausadmin, for them to
officially link to.
Much of the accurate detailing of NG history had been expunged in
accordance with ausadmin direction to enable an ausadmin approved
link.

Ausadmin insisted all references to members of the Townsville
Taliban by name, be censored. As the posting of unattributed
material is plagiarism, something the Taliban frequently
do, this generally meant removing their contributions as well
As their contributions were very slight, this has not materially
Affected the result.

It does rpresent a politically doctored history of
the NG in accordance with ausadmin's requirements,
but 'The truth is out there'.
Readers interested in the truth may refer to
FAQ versions 1.3 and earlier in the google.com archives
for uncensored and accurate accounts of events.
Or these uncensored versions posted direct to the NG
Which do not need any vetting by the tools of the Net Barons.
Or the threads cited can provide independent verification B^]

True-blues prefer to see through their own eyes, and not
through the eyes, or censorship, of others.

Che Guava, founding member of aus.culture.true-blue,
proponent and creator of the original FAQ, and the
NGs most prolific contributor and staunchest defender
of it's Charter declared upon the victory over the Taliban
and the preservation of the NG's freedom "My work here
is done", handed over the maintenance of the official FAQ
to Mulga Bill, and, like Bilbo, arranged to 'mysteriously'
vanish, but the Fair Dinkum tradition lives on!

Apparently on his farm in Northern Victoria,

http://www.oocities.org/che_guava_fanclub

and elsewhere;

http://www.oocities.org/elnido_palawan/

Thanks to Che for his past support and contributions.

3.0 THE CHARTER
================

CHARTER from CFV:

The newsgroup aus.culture.true-blue is intended to
provide a forum for the discussion of all issues
regarding the True Blue culture practiced within
Australia. At present, there is no other newsgroup
which caters specifically for this unique culture.

The "True Blue" name is used with the local
(Australian) meaning. By no means is it intended
to specifically suggest this culture is the
only "genuine" culture within Australia's
multicultural society.

CHARTER: aus.culture.true-blue

An unmoderated newsgroup which would provide a
forum for the discussion of
the True-Blue Australian culture.

Possible discussions are, but not limited to:

- culture, history, dialects;
- society, traditions, customs, folklore;
- music, poetry;
- food, cookery;
- current affairs and issues;
- non-commercial announcements of events.

This group will be unmoderated.
Binary postings, chain letters and unrelated
commercial advertisements are prohibited.

Cross-posting should be discouraged. Any cross-posted messages should
either be ignored or have the other groups removed when replying.

4.0 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
================================

4.1 What is aus.culture.true-blue?

Aus.culture.true-blue is the Internet network news forum
for discussing true-blue issues in a fair dinkum way, cobber!

4.2 - What is a true-blue? ( WIP)

There are some commonly agreed attributes,
A belief in a Fair Go for All,
a helping hand, especially to new chums,
loyalty and mateship,
a larriken sense of humour and
a wry disdain for authority are some,
but there is also plenty of room for disagreement and
even the odd stousch over what it really means..
trueblues are independent, freethinking and tug the
forelock to no orthodoxy.

The Townsville Taliban, insist on a an enforced orthodoxy,
and yet are strangely reticent to spell out its specific content.
Some have unkindly suggested this is simply because they
don't know, others that their loose coalition would fall apart
in acrimonious disputation were they ever to actually discuss
what it is they believe in.... ;-)

Whatever the reasons for their silence, they have left the
running to the Fair Dinkum Trueblues, who actively encourage
lively and robust debate on this issue, permit a wide range of views
to be held and expressed and actually maintain that this is the
whole purpose of having a Usenet discussion group.. to share
DIFFERENT perspectives.

Here are some starting points, feel free to discuss your own:

4.2.1 Some definitions

The Macquarie Dictionary (2nd Revised edition) 1989

true blue - n 1. non fading blue dye or pigment. 2. one who is
true-blue. 3. a staunch conservative [orig the colour adopted by
the 17th cent Covenanters of England and Scotland,
in contradistinction to the royal red

true-blue - unchanging; unwavering; staunch; true
- staunchly conservative

Collins English Dictionary, Australian - Updated Third Edition 1995
unwavering or staunchly loyal; especially to a person, a cause
Chiefly British, a staunch royalist or Conservative

Some Individual Perspectives:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
a conservative (?), 'intuitive' view:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Trueblue is an Australian cultural term describing a particular type of
(IMO, incomplete) worldview and the person who holds it.
Trueblue is an iconic reference to an idealised type of Australian
and those that aspire to that ideal.

IMO, I think it is fair to say that only one thoroughly immersed
in traditional Anglo/Celtic Australian culture can completely and
*instinctively* grasp what and who is trueblue.
The instinctive nature of the comprehension of trueblue is,
IMO, very important. Since trueblue is undeniably a uniquely
Australian cultural term it follows that only those who are
*culturally* Australian can understand what is trueblue.
Its a bit like the old joke about how much a Rolls-Royce costs.
If you have to ask, you can't afford it! If you do not understand
what is trueblue culture and need it explained to you, then you
are not yet yourself trueblue

Here are some components of the TrueBlue
worldview:

i) The "Fair Go"
An admirable egalitarian and implicitly
anti-racist viewpoint. Justice for
the common man. Non-interference
from government.

ii) "She'll Be Right"
Don't stress over unimportant issues.
Optimism.

iii) Mateship
Mates stand up for each other. Loyalty.
Sacrifice.

These are admirable components of a worldview.
Trueblues aspire to and uphold these.
I would be interested to see what other
characteristics other posters will list.

I said the trueblue worldview is incomplete.
This is because the trueblue Australian is an icon.
Being an icon, trueblue is idealized, hagiographic.
There are no negative characteristics in the trueblue,
though, of course, traditional Anglo/Celtic
Australian culture contains many (like all cultures).

Being hagiographic, trueblue has the useful
characteristic of being able to inspire change.
Australians can exhort each other to be trueblue
and be totally confident they are promulgating a
wholesome, noble philosophy. Trueblue is a great
role model. Maybe it should be taught in schools!

Are non-Anglo/Celtic Australians trueblue?
They *can* be provided they become
*culturally* Australian as well as *technically*
Australian by citizenship or residence.
Many second or third generation non-Anglo/Celtic
Australians are trueblue.

How does one become trueblue? By cultural
assimilation. Being born into or living in
a traditional trueblue neighbourhood will help
as will education in a trueblue school, though
neither of these are strictly necessary.
- Craig

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A linguistic derivation:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

true blue..

..is a reflection of the origins of the name.

True blue is derived from the blue bags that were once common in
laundries and medicine cabinets around the land.

These blue bags were used for whitening clothes and as a poultice on
bites and stings.

If someone took you blue bag, you'd have to fight them to get it back,
and so was born the saying blue for fight.

Later on, Gwen meredith continued this usage when she wrote her radio
play about rural arguments and called it blue hills.

And, as we all know that readheads are hot heads, blue is also applied
to redheaded people, people who'd rather have a fight than a feed.

-Suzi

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A larriken or 'Fair Dinkum' view:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cultures are kept alive and vibrant, not by preservation
of fossilised remnants in a museum, politely viewed,
discussed reverentially, and used to construct stifling
and static orthodoxies... but by being constantly
adapted, re-interpreted and applied to modern requirements
and circumstances....
i.e. cultures are lived, not passively consumed!

For example, the historical events surrounding Ned Kelly and Eureka
contain central true-blue issues of 'a fair go for all',
a fight for justice, the need to sometimes oppose authority
which lacks moral force, a sense of mateship or cameraderie
and what can be achieved by people sticking together.
But these principles become hollow hypocrisy if those who
talk about them, do not act them out in real life, in today's
world.
In this view people who are irreverent towards authority
who *act* to achieve a fair go, rather than merely pay lip-
service to it, who speak their mind with bluntness or
wry satire.. they are living the tradition of the Geebung
Polo Club.. they are carrying on the Spirit of Fair Dinkum
Trueblues.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4.2.2 Trueblue Attributes.

An on-line interactive course TrueBlue Attributes by numbers
is available for all genuine apprentice trueblues.
Although the NG is unmoderated, the tutorial sessions
are a structured program where each lesson builds on
the successful completion of previous ones.

Trueblue behavioural standards will be expected,
no thongs and overalls after 7:00 pm in the Ladies Lounge. ;-)

Lessons completed so far in the *foundation* course
Note: the biggies (Fair Go, Wry Scepticism, Mateship,
Cheerful optimism , Larriken Humour, A Helping Hand,
(esp for the New Chum)), should not be attempted
until the preparatory lessons are learnt: ;-)

#1 "Don't come the raw prawn" - Manners
#2 "Have a go ya Mug" - Ability to learn from experience
#3 "As honest as the day is long" - Reliability
#4 "Hang about" - Patience
#5 "Calling a spade a bloody shovel" - Forthrightness
#6 "She'll be right" - being positive, cheerful and optimistic
#7 "Pull the other one" - Wry Scepticism
#8 "Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff" - Focus on what is genuine and
important.



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4.3- History of the NG

The first RFD was proposed by a One Nation party apparatchiki
[## Name Censored for ausadmin compliance ##] but received
great opposition and was withdrawn, the second was defeated
on the same basis of unpopularity, and a third, proposed by his sister,
(although the relationship was not disclosed) [## Name Censored for ausadmin
compliance ##] contained pragraphs paying lip service to tolerant
mainstream multiculturalism and free speech was more acceptable
to genuine true-blues and passed by 78 founding yes voters.

During the RFD a political group associated with One Nation
indicated it's intentions to make this Aussie Icon their "home".

As soon as the NG was created they began a relentless persecution
of anyone who challenged their self-appointed right to dictate
the operation, membership and participation in discussions
within the NG. This Group, co-ordinated behind the scenes
via a secret, closed e-mail group were wryly dubbed the "Townsville
Taliban" for their fanatical and rabid tactics in suppressing all
dissent to their claim to "Speak and decide for all!"
This group has impersonated other posters, forged posts
to discredit those who disagree with them, launched venomous
campaigns of character assassination and personal attack,
including offline activities requiring TIO intervention, but has
continued to suffer a string of defections and is now a mere toxic rump.


Their intent and purpose was revealed in three critical events;
In July 2000 The attempted "Kangaroo Court Lynching"
and "The Great FAQ duffing" and
12 months later in abandoning their public committment to free
speech and an unmoderated NG in the "Great NG Hijack"


A titanic struggle between the genuine true-blues, committed to
a fair go for all, and the faux true-blue pretenders, determined
to control every aspect of their "Home" , ensued.



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4.4 - Who are the Townsville Taliban (WIP)


4.4.1 The Key Conspirators

The Townsville Taliban are a small but politically active cell
of the former Pauline Hanson One Nation (PHONie) cult,
supporters, public advocates, party organisers, sympathisers,
apologists and stooges.
They have infected what was supported by many true-blues
as a culture group, they repudiate the specific charter endorsement
of true-blues as a part of modern multicultural Australia, persecute
any posters who raise social justice issues in pursuit of a fair go for all,
and even attack those who discuss traditions such as our Christian heritage,
but they provide succor and support for racists, bigots, neo-nazis,
foulmouthed bovver boys, and other voices of the political Far-Right,
attacking and character assassinating any opposition to their intent.


[## Censored for ausadmin compliance ##]

[refer to google.com FAQ V1.3 or earlier, for details ]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4.5 What was "The Great FAQ Duffing"

An open, democratic proposal for a FAQ involving ALL
the NG members was proposed by Che_Guava, but this was
met with significant political oppositition from the Townsville
Taliban who wished to have complete control over the NG.
The Townsville Taliban seized on this initiative, hijacked the
proposal and perverted it to their own purpose.
Removing all democratic and consultative elements in the proposal
they declared "THEY WOULD SPEAK AND DECIDE FOR EVERYONE!"

Unfortunately, by tipping their hand before they had even begun to
work out what a true-blue really is, they gave the genuine true-blues,
those committed to a FAIR GO, an opportunity to beat them
to the punch and establish an interim, official FAQ.

Thus the first, original and genuine FAQ, authored by Che Guava,
was published on the 4th July 2000. The archives show this was
the first aus.culture-true-blue FAQ and generated lively debate.
The Taliban imitation appeared some-time later and was largely ignored
within the NG, despite intense promotion by the PHONies.

Since then the Taliban have constructed a foreign based website,
which they misrepresented to ausadmin as having NG support,
(no open consultation or vote was ever held), they
persistantly refuse any non-white nominations for it's true-blue
hall of fame, and by the simple artifice of posting a bogus
'foundation date' (June 2000) it pretends to be original! B^D



Exhibit a:
----------
Subject: Proposal for an FAQ for aus.culture.true-blue
From: Che Guava
Newsgroups: aus.culture.true-blue
Date: Mon, 03 Jul 2000 01:50:53 +1000
Message-ID: <395F64DD.2B37492F@my-deja.com>

[refer to google com FAQ V1.3 or earlier, for details ]


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4.6 What was "The Great NG Hijack"

In May 2001, their support waning and their numbers dwindling
to a mere handful, the Townsville Taliban made their last, desperate
attempt to sieze political control of the a.c.t-b NG.

Using as a pretext that they wished to 'moderate' the NG,
they submitted to ausadmin an RFD which surreptitiously removed
the charter rationale provisions which gave specific endorsment
to tolerant multiculturalism, removing the explicit anti-
discrimination clauses which were political anathema to the PHONies
and creating a significantly altered charter, (which was in fact
identical to the earlier One Nation Charter which had failed dismally
to obtain popular support).

Although this material change to the charter represented a
significant altreration to the NG's purpose and modus operandi,
and should therefore have been treated as a new NG proposal,
it was given uniquely partisan treatment, allowed to proceed
as a 'moderation', but one which would completely replace and destroy
the existing NG, despite the protests of those who actually used it!

The RFD proponents were given virtual carte blanche, ausadmin
arguing that no procedures existed for this unusual exercise, and yet
no other proposals would be allowed to proceed under this 'absence of
due process'! B^p
The fair dinkum true-blues, who had never been consulted in the
proposal to hijack the NG they shared with the PHONies, were now faced
with the prospect that if their NG was moderated, it was THEY who would
have to apply for a NEW NG, subject to all the usual procedural
constraints.

This assault on trueblue belief in open, free and unfettered speech
is at present still to be determined, but one thing is clear,
the group who initiated foul abuse, crossposts, net fraud and
impersonations, and venomous online and offline pogroms and
character assasinations, and then hypocritically claimed THEY
should be given total political control to prevent crossposts,
bad language and abuse, may be called many things,
...but TRUEBLUE is not one of them!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4.7 Common terms

4.7.1 What is "damper"

bush bread, (also what you get standing in the
rain eating it ;-)

4.7.2 What is "Billy Tea"

Booker T's blind, harmonica playing, Brother,
also: tea made in a tin can with a handle (usually ;-)

4.7.3 What is a drop bear?

the reason you never stand under a gum tree without a pointy
wizards hat!

4.7.4 What is ad-hom


'ad-hom', a contraction for 'ad-hominem argument',
means literally 'argument against the man'.
In a.c.t-b ad-hom is synonomous with 'abuse'.
This is in disctinction to the formal meaning of
ad-hominem argument in which the truth or falsity
of a proposition is said to follow from the source
of the proposition.

Thus, the statement "you are stupid" is merely
abuse while the statement "your argument is wrong
because you have derived it from the White Australia
Party web-site" is ad-hom.

4.7.5 What does "Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff" mean
seperating the worthy from the unworthy.

4.7.6 What does "You are Pulling My leg" mean
You must be joking, that's unbelievable.

4.7.7 What does "Duff" mean - to steal, as in cattle duffing,
or "they duffed my FAQ proposal" ;-)

4.7.8 What is a "Ringer" - a secret substitute, as in
horse racing where a glue-factory nag is replaced
by a champion thoroughbred once the odds are
long and large bets are down. ;-)

4.7.9 What does "Slow as a wet week" mean
Very slow, possibly even slower than Muttley.

4.7.10 What is a "Drongo", "fruit loop", "Boofhead", "Bozo", "mullet",

"nong", "rabbit" ..an idiot

4.7.11 What is a "Dunny" - a rudimentary toilet, hence Dunny paper

4.7.12 Who is "Aunty" -the true blue's TV & radio the ABC

4.7.13 What is the "Aussie Salute" - the True Blue salutes
no man because he doesn't believe in authority,
but if you see someone waving their hand around or
slapping themself in the face, they're probably being
annoyed by flies

4.7.14 What is "Cooee" - a call that carries in the bush

4.7.15 What is an "Ankle-biter" - a (small) child
(cf: apprentice true blue ;-)

4.7.16 What is a "Wanker" - someone prone to self-abuse, often in public. eg: Ned Latham


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4.8. Where can I find archived messages?

Posts are archived at www.google.com.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4.9 Who moderates aus.culture.true-blue?

No-one. This is an unmoderated NG.
Anyone is free to post here within the charter and the
defamation, libel and vilification laws of the land

This was the founding principle of the NG and was supported,
at least in public pronouncements, by all groups including the
Townsville Taliban until they abandoned their principles and
reneged on their own words:

"True Blue Australians believe in free speech,
hence the newsgroup is unmoderated. "
"The aus.culture.true-blue newsgroup was proposed and created with
free speech in mind. The benefits of free speech overruled the possibility
of off topic posts and flame wars - hence the newsgroup was proposed
and "voted in" as an unmoderated newsgroup.
Considering this is what was voted on by the 78 members of the Usenet public
who wanted the newsgroup created, we must attempt to adhere to its specifications. "
- The Townsville Taliban website [as at May 2001]
- http://www.aussie-culture.net/faq_txt.html

5.0 CONTRIBUTORS
================

Banjo Patterson -Comic Inspiration
Che Guava -FAQ creator
Craig Siviour -a definition of trueblue, ad hom
## Censored for ausadmin compliance ##
Wild Colonial Boy -some trueblue terms & suggestion on poetry corner
Suzi - the origins of True-Blue
Stereotype -some trueblue terms
## Censored for ausadmin compliance ##
## Censored for ausadmin compliance ##

6.0 - ADDITIONS / AMENDMENTS TO THE FAQ
=======================================
send an email to Mulga Bill <Mulga_Bill@auswww.com>