"G'day digger, good to see ya."
Where "Digger" Comes From
Traces back to the goldfields of the 1850s, where "digger" simply meant a miner digging for gold, later adopted by soldiers in WWI who saw themselves in a similar light — working hard, often literally digging trenches.
It became permanently associated with Australian (and New Zealand) soldiers through Gallipoli and the wider ANZAC legend, carrying deep respect ever since.
How Aussies Actually Use It
Still used formally to refer to Australian soldiers, especially veterans, with genuine reverence around Anzac Day.
Casually, it's also used as a friendly term of address similar to "mate" — "g'day digger, good to see ya" — though this usage carries an old-school, blokey tone.
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