Aussie salute

The Aussie salute, also known as the Barcoo salute (after the Barcoo River) or Bush salute is the waving of one's hand in front of the face at regular intervals in order to prevent bush flies from landing on it, or entering one's nose or mouth. Pianka characterizes it as a gesture that is "diagnostic of Australia". [cite book|title=The Fortunate Life of a Vindicatrix Boy|author=John Williams|pages=44|date=2005|publisher=BookSurge Australia|id=ISBN 1921019212] [cite book|title=Queensland|author=Joseph Bindloss|pages=484|date=2002|publisher=Lonely Planet|id=ISBN 0864427123] cite book|title=The Lizard Man Speaks|author=Eric R. Pianka|pages=120–121|date=1994|publisher=University of Texas Press|id=ISBN 0292765525]

Bush flies are disease vectors, since they walk on dung and on carrion, and if not prevented from doing so can lead to infections, including eye infections such as "sandy blight". Pianka reports that the Aussie salute is effective only as long as the flies are not too sticky, and that once a fly has tasted sweat, hand waving is generally useless at encouraging it to leave, with physically wiping the fly off being required.

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