Comments on: GDAY WORLD #220 – Russell Buckley on Mobile Marketing and Slavery

By: Jim Rockingham

Jim Rockingham — Wed, 09 May 2007 10:31:50 +0000

I agree with the other comment I always thought it came from the mark POHM convicts had marked on their cloths â€œPrisoner of His Majestyâ€. All the best Jim

By: Cameron Reilly

Cameron Reilly — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:50:31 +0000

The department store makes sense. I always thought Buckley must have been one of those outback explorers who never made it home.

By: Miriam Parkinson

Miriam Parkinson — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:35:04 +0000

There were quite a few Buckley’s which have been suggested as possible origins of the term however an escaped convict seems to be the most likely option.

Then there’s the expression “Buckley’s and none” which was probably a pun on the Melbourne department store “Buckley and Nunn”.

Gotta love Australian slang.

By: Cameron Reilly

Cameron Reilly — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:19:17 +0000

Thanks for coming on Russell. According to this site (http://www.anu.edu.au/andc/ozwords/Oct%202000/Buckley's.html), there seems to be little idea who Buckley was at all! How strange that the origin of the phrase, which is VERY common even today, should be unknown.

Of course, people who follow the AFL might suggest it nowadays relates to the captain of the Collingwood footbal team, Nathan Buckley, and his chances of winning a Premiership. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Buckley)

For the record, I had dinner with Nathan about ten years ago, and found him to be a nice bloke.

By: Russell Buckley

Russell Buckley — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:06:09 +0000

Thanks for inviting me on the show, Cam.

Another relevant bit of Aussie slang is actually “Buckley’s Chance” as in “You don’t have a Buckley’s [chance] of finding the real origin of Pom”.

Again the origins are a little obscure, but one of my distant relatives obviously wasn’t too successful at something down under!

Russell

By: Cameron Reilly

Cameron Reilly — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 21:31:06 +0000

yeah mum I read that too, but according to wikipedia:

“These etymologies are believed to be false, as the term “pommy” was coined long before acronyms were used in common parlance. Moreover, there is no record of prisoners in Australia ever wearing such uniforms.”

By: granjan

granjan — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:31:07 +0000

Just a comment about the “pommy” origin. There is a school of thought who believe it came from the convict days when the prisoners had “POHM” marked on their shirts which stood for “Prisoner of His Majesty”.

By: Miriam Parkinson

Miriam Parkinson — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:02:29 +0000

That can be an issue. I still have my aunts copy of “the coming plague” I’ve had it for years now. I’m sure she’ll ask for it back if she needs it though so I’m not overly fussed.
Perhaps the rule should be only borrow books from people who you know will nag you to get them back

By: Cameron Reilly

Cameron Reilly — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:07:12 +0000

thanks Mim. I’d like to read it but as a rule I try not to borrow books. I have a habit of never giving them back. And then I just feel guilty.

By: Miriam Parkinson

Miriam Parkinson — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 08:11:34 +0000

Very interesting show.

If you haven’t read Affluenza and you’d like to Cam, I have a copy you could borrow.