Bogan - Regional Equivalent Terms

Regional Equivalent Terms

Although the term 'bogan' is understood across Australia and New Zealand, certain regions have their own slang terms for the same group of people. These terms include:

• "Chigger" (also "chigga" or "chig") in Hobart, Tasmania. This appears to be a reference to the Hobart suburb of Chigwell.
• "Bevan" or "Bev" in Queensland
• "Booner" or "boon" in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
• "Scozza" in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
• "Lexie" in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia.
• "Div" or "Divo" in New Zealand
• "Derro" (a contraction of "derelict") in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

The term "westie" or "westy" is not synonymous with bogan, although westies are often stereotyped as being bogans. "Westie" seems to predate bogan by some years, and originated in Sydney in the 1970s, to refer to people from that city's western suburbs. As Sydney's western suburbs are predominantly working class blue collar areas, the term connotes a predominantly working class blue collar person - someone with little education, little intelligence, little taste, and very limited horizons. Someone whose idea of a good time is meat pies, beer, cigarettes and playing the poker machines at the local football club. "Westie" is now in wide use in many cities and towns across both Australia and New Zealand, where it especially refers to the denizens of West Auckland. "Bogan" is referred to by Ja'mie in "Summer Heights High" when she enrolls in a public school and is surprised at the students lack of education. She calls them "fat ugly Bogans"