In Australia it is fairly common for men to call each other "mate", regardless of how well they know each other or not (it's the equivalent of "buddy" or "pal" in the US). It's not common for men to refer to other women that way but they might, usually where there is friendship involved. It's even less common for women to call men mate unless the woman is a bit blokey, very familiar with the man or she is using it sarcastically. Women can, but rarely use it to address each other.
Generally I always loathed men calling me mate and could never use it myself, except dripping with sarcasm. I was generally OK with close friends, male or female, calling me mate. Transition has pretty much taken care of that though!
That is also what my mother has called me for as long as I can remember and it has never really bothered me much. When I transitioned she said she'd still always call me mate, probably acknowledging it wasn't something women used amongst each other and she certainly never called my sister "mate". I told her I was fine with that. Phone calls usually wound up with, "OK, mate, it's been nice talking..."
Last week and today though she used "my dear" instead.
