Aussie salute

The Aussie salute, otherwise known as the Barcoo salute (named after the region around Barcoo River, Queensland), is the gesture commonly deployed all across Australia to deter bush flies (Musca vetustissima) from the human face.

The movement responds to the fly found in Australia, the bush fly. The Musca vetustissima is attracted to such fluids as saliva, tears and sweat, resulting in them often hovering around human faces. With measures such as cork hats popularized to help keep off the fly, the gesture can be spotted across the country, not just in regional areas. The gesture is so common in Australia, it can be commonly seen in media. Such illustrations of the gesture colloquially referred to as the "Aussie salute" include YouTube videos, national television, and online publications.