joeytheboy: the phrase comes from a bit of famous bush poetry by Banjo Paterson, 'Waltzing Matilda' (here: http://www.uq.edu.au/~mlwham/banjo/waltzing_matilda.html )
It's supposed to be based on the story of a bloke whose wife, Matilda, died. He named his swag after her and took up wandering (or 'waltzing') out bush. The poem-turned-song is one of the favourites should Australia ever change her national anthem.
/history lesson
joeytheboy: the phrase comes from a bit of famous bush poetry by Banjo Paterson, 'Waltzing Matilda' (here: http://www.uq.edu.au/~mlwham/banjo/waltzing_matilda.html ) It's supposed to be based on the story of a bloke whose wife, Matilda, died. He named his swag after her and took up wandering (or 'waltzing') out bush. The poem-turned-song is one of the favourites should Australia ever change her national anthem. /history lesson