The History of
Stef Jaric
Australians are famous for not taking ourselves
too seriously and being able to laugh at our own
expense, so it makes sense that Wog Humour
took shape in Australia and formed itself out of
the most unlikely base of that of a derogatory
term.
The word “Wog”, has its origins from the British
in the early 1900’s, but in modern Australian
culture it began its widespread use shortly
after WW2 to refer to the New Australian’s or
immigrants, fleeing post-war Europe for a better
life in Australia.
Faced with a massive influx of new cultures and
nationalities, there were clashes of opinion from
existing Australians and the term, “Wog” came
to be used in a derogatory fashion to label those
of European descent.
However from a Comedy standpoint, the mass
immigration was setting the scene for what
collectively became possibly the greatest
humorous ‘fish out of water’ joke, ever as the
seeds of what would eventually become a
distinct genre of comedy were sewn.
I am the son of European migrants, my father
emigrated to Melbourne from East Europe in the
early 60’s and from his descriptions of the time,
The term initially referred to those of despite “Wog” being a word one wouldn’t use in
Mediterranean descent, primarily from Greece polite company, Wog-Humour was taking shape
& Italy, however it eventually came to refer in the same way all genres of humour start out..
to almost all Caucasian immigrants from the amongst the general public, where Wog jokes
Middle-East and Continental-Europe.
& funny stories were swapped at work, homes
and of course down at the pub.
But it’s use as a derogatory term didn’t last, and
today, Wog Humour is old hat, it’s as Australian A joke my father likes to retell from that time,
as a Chicken Parma’ down at the Pub washed is one where three New-Australians are
down with a Japanese beer.
complaining bitterly about how much they
hate being called “Wogs”, and decide to take
It wasn’t always like this, and it took some time
Australian Citizenship, believing that in doing
for the term Wog to emerge from an insult, into
so, they will become real Aussies and be free
a label of pride that was taken ownership of and
from racial slurs.
made into what we now know as “Wog Humour”.
So off they head for the nearest immigration
1945 to 1970’s - Post WW2 European Migrants
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