Early minute
Many of the first white folk to settle in large numbers in South Australia were Lutherans, fleeing religious persecution during the reign of King Frederick William III in Prussia. The Lutheran character has had a long-lasting and profound influence on South Australian culture, the ‘early minute’ being a shining example of the Protestant work ethic in effect.In South Australia, school children are told that if they are well-behaved or perform a task successfully they may be rewarded with an early minute: being allowed to leave school a full sixty seconds early.
In adulthood South Australians will take an early minute: leave work slightly early, with the implication that taking the minute is an act petty thievery, perhaps on a level with stealing office supplies.
South Australians are surprised to discover that the term is only used within the state (an informal online search found that the term was employed most often by South Australian headmasters and by South Australian surf reporters), in the same way that they are surprised when seeing Australians from other states litter.
In the rest of the country, a nation renowned for it’s relaxed attitude, they don’t take an early minute. They take a sick day. [CG]