The Turning Terms

Wobbegong is a common name given to several species of carpet sharks—small, bottom-dwelling sharks native to shallow waters in the Pacific and Indian oceans. The name is derived from an Australian Aboriginal word. Vic Lang… read analysis of Wobbegong

A craypot is a basked-shape trap used to catch crayfish, typically lowered into the water, set, and retrieved later with a catch inside. read analysis of Craypot

A dinghy is a small boat, usually a rowboat or a boat equipped with an outboard motor. read analysis of Dinghy

Pom is a colloquial Australian term for British immigrants. It is derived from pomegranate, referring to the bright red color of their sunburnt skin. read analysis of Pom

Caravan parks in Australia are facilities where people on holiday trips can park trailers and RVs. They’re often equipped with separate bathroom and laundry facilities. read analysis of Caravan Park

“Blackfella” is a colloquial term for Aboriginal Australians, generally used within the community and in contrast to “whitefellas,” Australians of European descent. While generally not considered a slur, usage of the term by white Australians… read analysis of Blackfella

Royal commissions are Australia’s highest form of public inquiry, conducted only in extreme circumstances. Commissions range in scope, recently having investigated veteran suicides, abuse and neglect of people with disabilities, and misconduct in banking. The… read analysis of Royal Commission

Cadets are members of the Australian Defence Force Cadets, a youth-development organization linked to the Australian military with over 20,000 members. While the cadets train in camping, outdoorsmanship, and other activities, the organization’s function as… read analysis of Cadet

“Moll” is a pejorative term in Australia and New Zealand for a woman of loose sexual morals, or a sex worker. In Western Australia, however, moll carries a more specific connotation and can also be… read analysis of Moll

Neuralgia is an extreme pain caused by nerve damage. Vic Lang suffers from postherpetic neuralgia, the result of shingles, a common if painful complication of the disease. read analysis of Neuralgia

A skeet trap is used to launch clay pigeon targets, which are then shot at with a shotgun. Typically trap shooting refers to targets moving away from the shooter, while skeet shooting refers to targets… read analysis of Skeet Trap