What is the Great Australian Salute?
The Great Australian Salute is a humorous name for the hand-waving motion Australians make to brush flies away from their faces. It is especially common in the outback during warm months, when bush flies swarm around people.
Bush flies are small flies that are attracted to moisture around the eyes, nose and mouth. They are especially common in inland Australia during spring and summer, and they can be very persistent.
Because people constantly wave their hands in front of their faces to keep the flies away, the gesture looks a little like a salute. The joke name is often explained to visitors on outback tours.
Dealing with flies
Many travelers in the outback wear fly nets over their hats to keep flies off their faces. Insect repellent can also help, although it does not always stop the most persistent flies.
The number of bush flies increased after cattle and sheep were introduced, because the flies breed in animal dung. In the 1960s, CSIRO introduced dung beetles from Africa and Europe to break down dung and reduce fly breeding.
The Great Australian Salute is often mentioned in jokes, souvenirs and tourism materials as part of the outback experience. It also appears in Australian humor about the harsh but beautiful conditions of the bush.