Why go
An informal greeting or nickname need not signal disrespect. Such language can reflect ideals of mateship and modest, unpretentious behaviour in everyday conversation. Knowing this helps a visitor interpret conversation while still following the tone of the individual person or setting.
The full story
'Mateship' describes an ideal of loyalty and mutual support that recurs in Australian accounts of social life. It has been linked to hardship among colonial settlers, though it should not stand in for the different experiences of Indigenous peoples or more recent communities. The related figure of the 'Aussie battler' presents persistence through difficulty as a virtue. Another familiar theme is suspicion of people who appear to put themselves above others. 'Tall poppy syndrome' names criticism directed at visible success or perceived self-importance. It helps explain why modesty and humour can matter in public talk, but it is not a reliable prediction of how any individual will respond. First names and affectionate nicknames are common in informal conversation. In a conversation, take the other person's lead: the setting and relationship tell you more than a national stereotype. The phrase 'the lucky country' is also often used approvingly, although Donald Horne originally coined it as a criticism of complacency.