@chm, ok well it is always good to pick up some Australian slang, so thank you hfor helping me learn something today. For the etymology nerds out there, here is what the OED says about "ta" along with its first use (where "tar" is evidently a variant of "ta"):
Quote:
Etymology: Perhaps originally representing a child's pronunciation of thank you phr. colloq. An infantile form of: thank you. Now also commonly in adult use.
1772 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1862) 2nd Ser. I. 457 You would not say 'Ta' to me for my congratulation.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz