Must say that is my impression too. We still use Wally as a sort of affectionate reference when a friend does something stupid. But you are correct, the use is fading.
A “dag” is a knob of sheep dropping which has been caught in the wool around the rear orifice. One of the annual tasks for a sheep farmer is to “dag” his sheep which means to crutch (shear) the rear end of the animal to remove the wool which droppings can stick to.
This is important because if dags build up, flies nest in them leading to maggots which bore into the living animal causing an cruel condition called “fly strike”.
I recall visiting my uncle who was a cow farmer and naive about sheep of which he had a few. My dad suddenly saw with horror that there was a fly-struck sheep desperately rubbing its back end against a hedge. Dad found some kerosene and drenched the hind quarters whilst quietly swearing. It is a scene I will not forget.
Anyway the term “dag” as an affectionate reference has probably disappeared in NZ and Oz by now.
I’m not Australia but I am Australian so I can confirm that at least 1/23 millionth of the country still says dag or daggy, even though I rarely need to discuss sheep hygiene.
I haven’t said Wally in a long time, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear someone else say it. It doesn’t feel archaic like cobber.
I wouldn’t have had a clue what an Astra Wally was, I don’t hear the term Wally or Dag used very much these days. Also Drongo is uncommon now. With the Americanisation of our language due to TV, a lot of the old Aussie sayings are fading away but we still have Hoons and Bogans.
Mate is still common speak but Cobber has pretty much gone.
I still say G’Day when I meet someone rather than Hello, always have always will.
And for the Kiwis out there, I’ll take VB over DB any frigging day thank you mite.
Apparently from a racehorse named Drongo who never won a race. But for me, the word just has a good sound to it, almost as good as ‘nong’ (which has a similar meaning).
Don’t know for sure, cause I was trying to look it up myself. I used to See Rose Tattoo when I was a kid. There was a pub/hotel at Bondi Beach named the Astra, where the Tatts performed a few times. It was kind of a rough place, that I wasn’t really supposed to go. Maybe that is where the name came from?
FTR, Pontiac produced a little station wagon called an Astra in the late '70s. I bought a used one in the mid-80s, and it was an absolute piece of shit!
As a former driver of a Holden Astra [rebadged Opel or Vauxhall Astra] I am shocked that anybody might have thought a wally could have been allowed to drive such a totally cool car.
I used to go by the username Caz of Oz back in the day.
