re. Picture of Ned Kelly
From: Alan Crichton [rcr87285@bigpond.net.au] 31 Dec 05
Dear Julie, I believe this is a Carrington sketch. A mixture of fancy clothing and pose from a circulated photo of Aaron Sherritt after his death.Shirt and pants Ned wore at Glenrowan.It is believed Ned was not impressed when supposedly shown the sketch. P.S. Check it out in The Last Stand book available from the Shop

All the Best for 2006
From: Paul O'Keefe [paul@kellygangeducational.com] 30 Dec 05
Dear Brad, Wishing you the best for 2006 and look forward to reading more amazing stories on the "Juggernaut" that Ironoutlaw has become. I just wish more people would take time to read thoroughly through the hundreds of pages which make up your incredible website..But If they do though a word of warning.They might get addicted to one of the most amazing stories in this countries history.
Cheers Mate,
Paul O'Keefe
kellygangeducational.com

The Glenrowan Letter
From: Alan Crichton [rcr87285@bigpond.net.au] 28 Dec 05
Hi Brad, I wish to acquaint you with some of the occurrences of the present, past and…. Future? In or about April of 2002, I had a heart attack while driving to work. During the first week of my recuperation my tactful wife brought me home a book titled A Short Life. This was my first introduction to the life of Edward Kelly. Since that day, I have been drawn back in time to a most intriguing part of our history from which I cannot escape. I have read thousands of pages of all things Kelly and carefully scanned every photograph I could find. The only thing I needed to do was to fly south and see these places for myself from Beveridge to Jerilderie, I wasn't disappointed.

The sweet fresh air, the mountain ranges, the carefully preserved Victorian homes and the friendly people. Out of all the places that I have visited, the town of Glenrowan seemed to hold a fascination for me. From that tiny corner block of land to the railway station… so many ghosts. The quaint little shops, escaping for a moment in conversation with Gary Dean, and more than a moment trying to escape from Gary Dean. I just love Glenrowan, so why would any bugger want to seriously propose a plan for a concrete monolith that seems to be a cross between an R.S.L Club and an Air Traffic Control Tower to be a Ned Kelly Tourist Centre? What worries me even more, it was designed by a Kelly researcher and placed on a website.

My old ticker wasn't expecting this to jump out of the screen at me and took two angina tablets to get it under control. My plan to stop anything like this becoming a reality is to get Paul O’Keefe, Dave Griffith, Noeleen Lloyd and Leigh Olver to form another “Kelly Gang”, to ride the ranges and preserve these sacred sites and to keep the developers and groovy designers away from these places. Round them all up and send them to Brisbane where we're used to having historic buildings demolished and replaced with corporate coffins. Could you imagine something like this in the middle of Beechworth? What will happen to the local merchants of Glenrowan?

They tell us the building has to keep with modern times, to tell you the truth, sometimes I'm bloody sick of the modern times. Maybe it would be more suited for Wodonga or the Albury Airport. At least the council has knocked this one on the head, but I'm sure there will be more.
Keep the buggers at bay.
I am a widow’s son outraged
And my orders must be obeyed (If it’s ok with you guys)
P.S. Maybe a concrete lighthouse could be built at Stringybark Creek to point me in the direction of these two huts.

Picture of Ned Kelly
From: Julie Hannah [julie_hannah@iinet.net.au] 24 Dec 05
Hi. I am trying to find out where a certain picture of Ned Kelly originates. Is it actually him? It is the picture that features on the front of Keith Dunstans’ book Saint Ned although this is the head only. I have attached. I have seen an illustrated version in a book called The Great Treasury of Australian Folklore compiled by A.K. MacDougall on page 130 where it is the full length of Ned Kelly leaning on a stump. The illustrations in this book were drawn principally from nineteenth century and early twentieth century books and periodicals. If you can help or steer me in the correct direction that would be great. Thanks.

Mail Order
From: Neil Whitehead [NWhitehead@wodonga.vic.gov.au] 22 Dec 05
Good afternoon Brad. Just a quick note to say hi and wish you and all @ Ironoutlaw the very best for the festive season. Had not logged on to Ironoutlaw for a month or so , and was delighted to find when visiting on Monday that The Last Outlaw was finally available on DVD - fantastic ! Have therefore sent a cheque in the mail today for that "must have" copy which I'm sure will be a wonderful improvement on my grainy videos which are wearing out. Keep up the great work with the web site and again best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Cheers!

re. Luck of the Irish be Buggered!
From: Katrina Jackson [kat_jak@hotmail.com] 22 Dec 05
Mr Crichton, In Ned's time photographs where expensive and for people like himself and his family those sort of things where a luxuary as what ever money they could spare was spent on essential things like food etc. There was only a few photography's taken of the other member's of the gang (Steve Hart and Joe Byrne). I also believe there was only one or two of Dan Kelly made and I think they where when he was in prision. Joe Byrne only had one photo taken while he alive.

Oh my God!
From: Aidan Phelan [aidan_phelan@yahoo.com.au] 15 Dec 05
OMG! It finally happened! "The Last Outlaw" is on DVD!!! How long has it been since we all started badgering channel seven to release it? I only just found out. I hadn't checked the site for ages. Once I get my affairs together, I'm going to order a copy. This is fantastic news! I'd like to here more about how it came to be. Hope to hear from you soon. Well, “in the Beginning there was dark and”...

The Last Outlaw
From: Steve Gerlach [gerlach7@ains.net.au] 15 Dec 05
Just picked up The Last Outlaw on DVD. Very excited I was to find we FINALLY have this terrific mini-series on DVD, and as a "Collector's Edition" no less! I hurried home, eager to find the extras that made this such an extra special "Collector's Edition"! What could be better? A commentary by Ian Jones for each episode! A commentary by the directors maybe! Interviews with John Jarratt and other cast members! A look inside the production from behind the scenes! PR materials! Advertising! Photo Gallery! I mean, it's a "Collector's Edition" right? It'll have stuff like this! Well, well, well, I get home and find there's nothing. Not one thing. The four episodes (not digitally remastered) and a plastic case. Well, jeeez, thanks for making this "Collector's Edition" nothing more than a "Standard Edition". After waiting so much time for this release, and having to put up with the buck passing between Jones and Channel 7, they give us the most uncollectible "Collector's Edition" ever. Thanks for your support, here have this knock-off. Also, interesting to see Channel 7's logo all over the release, considering they told me on numerous occasions they had no rights or interest in it. Good to have the mini series released on DVD, but this "Collector's Edition" is surely false advertising. Poor form all round! I guess we will all just have to wait for the “Remastered Gold Super Special Limited Box Set Collector's Edition”...

re: Luck of the Irish be Buggered!
From: Paul O'Keefe [paul@kellygangeducational.com]11 Dec 05
Dear Brad, I really liked the feedback from Alan Crichton. I agree that poor Ned didn't have much luck on his side. I dont know if Alan is aware but when the police took position prior to all the gunfire at the siege Hare yelled out to Ned... "Surrender in the name of the Queen" and Ned yelled back "Surrender be Buggered" Well bugger me! (not literally of course...)

Luck of the Irish be Buggered!
From: Alan Crichton [rcr87285@bigpond.net.au] 10 Dec 05
Hi Brad. Just having a bit of a look at some of the events that had an impact on Ned over his short life:

1 A stroll along a creek as a ten year old, sees him seconds later struggling for his own life saving Dick Shelton from drowning - Bugger!
2 Goes off with Harry Power to earn some money for his family and comes back with bugger all and half dead - Bugger!
3 Gets blamed for Harry's capture and has his own family turn against him - Bugger!
4 Delivers a note for Ben Gould and gets arrested for indecent behaviour - Bugger!
5 Gets out of prison and finds a lost horse of a family friend, gets shot at and bashed over the head with a revolver and given three years - Bugger!
6 Has a quiet drink in Benalla after he gets out, and wakes up in the local cell. Next morning he's in the middle of a brawl with four coppers with one of them got him by the tiny taters in the bootmakers shop - Bugger!
7 While holding up four police for their guns and horses,ends up having to kill three of them in self defence,and the one he was warned to handcuff earlier, knocks off his mates horse and escapes - Bugger!
8 Writes 8300 words in a document to explain why he did what he did and wants it printed in the paper. After holding up the whole town the only bugger who gets away is the bloody editor. The next thing you know it's in the hands of the police and lost for 50 years - Bugger!
9 Holds up the town of Glenrowan to hit back at the police and tears up the tracks to stop the train. The only hostage he trusts and lets go, stops the train and warns the police - Bugger!
10 At the start of the first volley, dressed in 40 kilos of iron armour, gets shot in the big toe - Bugger!
11 Then someone lets off the bloody rockets, and all hell breaks loose - Bugger!
12 After escaping, finds out his brother and his mate are still in the inn, so then he's got to go back and save them - Bugger!
13 Even Ned couldn't get out of this one, so after capture, months later he's facing a judge who hates his guts, defended by a first year barrister who doesn't know his case - Bugger!
14 As they placed the rope around his neck, I'm sure Ned's last words were “Well I s'pose it has come to this - Bugger!”

P.S. I have seen five photographs of Ned.Two taken at 15 and 18,two taken for his family at Melbourne Jail,and the boxing one.I was wondering if you knew of others that were in family possessions that were not for public viewing?It seems strange that a man of Ned's character,(in your face)would not have had more taken. Well thought out Alan!

Ned Kelly in The Scotsman
From: Simon Whitaker [simonjwhitaker@yahoo.com] 02 Dec 05
I have long been a fan of your site, I just wanted to let you know that The Scotsman newspaper has all their old editions online, I discovered an interesting article of the capture of Ned. It was not in a saveable format you you'll have to read it online, just go to archive.scotsman.com and sign up for a free trial. The story is in the Tuesday 10th August 1880 edition, or just do a search on Ned Kelly. One interesting aspect is that Jones' Hotel is descibed as a bluestone building, I've never heard that mentioned before. The free trial ends on the 7th Dec. I think. Keep up the good work!

Puzzled
From: Jacqi Akers [akersoflawn@optusnet.com.au] 16 Nov 05
To whome it may concern. I am puzzled why a web site about Ned Kelly would not have any information about Ned Kelly himself? I find this very weird. Thankyou. I know, I know, I have way too much stuff about Kylie Minogue here don’t I...

Ned Kelly - Hero of the Common Man
From: L Edmonston [abberdeen@bigpond.com] 13 Nov 05
Dear Sir, I am an unashamed Kelly supporter, who has also read "The Inner History of the Kelly Gang" and thought it an excellent and truthful read. My blood boils when I hear untruths about the Kelly's, as the basis of their story is that the English hated the Irish, which has roots in the way the Irish fought to save their country from being invaded centuries ago, and these hatreds were brought out to Australia and exercised by English soldiers on the Irish miners (Eureka Rebellion) and by English police on settlers like the Kelly's at every available opportunity. Ned Kelly and others like him, were almost forced into doing what they did to survive. Ned Kelly was not a murderer, but rather only shot in self-defence. There were many police in the Kelly story who deserved to be hanged before him. Ned Kelly was careful and respectful of women and children, but at the siege of Glenrowan, police fired into women and children without a thought. Australia did have real bushrangers, like Mad-dog Morgan etc. but Ned Kelly should never be put in the same box as these. He was a cut-above most others in the Kelly story, because he was essentially a decent, popular, good human being who responded to the "loaded dice" he was dealt.

Thomas Curnow
From: Michael Ball [michaelball@optusnet.com.au] 09 Nov 05
Hi. I have many books on Ned (some purchased from you) and in one of them I read, was that he left the area and changed his name... But I cannot find my source. Can you put me out of my misery? I am doing a time line on Ned and wanted to include this in the time line. P.S. Looking forward to Einstein Factor next Sunday! Best bet is to read over Justin Corfield’s massive tome “The Ned Kelly Encyclopaedia”

Ned Kelly Books in Large Print
From: Therese Lafferty [ndlaff@iinet.net.au] 31 Oct 05
Hi. I'm trying to find any Ned Kelly books that have been published in large print, for my 75 year old mother. Do you have anything like this in stock, or would you know of any suppliers that may be able to help? With many thanks. Check your local library

Royal Commission Report
From: Mick Phillips [sinloi@optusnet.com.au] 28 Oct 05
G'day Brad. I've been scouring Ned Kelly websites for quite a while (yours is outstanding). I'm trying to locate a copy of the Royal Commission Report into the Kelly Outbreak, particularly a facsimile edition which was produced by Griffin Press in 1968. It was a numbered edition and I actually had the chance to buy a copy years ago in Glenrowan but unfortunately I was a very poor apprentice printer at the time. Anyway, do you know this publication I'm referring to, and better still, could you put me on the trail of a copy for sale? Any and all help would be much appreciated. You could try Abe Books or even eBay if you’re feeling lucky...

Kelly Armour
From: Steve Bevin [vu_doo2@hotmail.com] 27 Oct 05
I am writing to you in the hope that I maybe able to track down a copy of a print of the kelly armour which I believe was taken whilst the set was together in 2003 at the Melbourne Jail. I can only describe it as being a black and white print of all four sets together possibly taken by a company ironsidepublishing (which I am unable to find). I have a print of Ned's Armour taken by these people but would like to have one of all four together if possible. Any help would be appreciated.

Early Movie, 1890s?
From: David Watson [david.watson@thing.net] 27 Oct 05
Hi. Some years ago, during a series on Australian movies at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, I saw a short clip of an early Ned Kelly movie. I believe it dated from the 1890s. All that was left was a remnant of a couple of minutes, but very powerful. Do you know anything about this? I 'd love to see it again, thanks. Close, it was 1906. For more details head over here

Australian Son
From: Brian McDonald [brianmac@isp.net.au] 24 Oct 05
Congratulations Brad on the release of Australian Son. An excellent publication. It's fantastic that Max's revised and extended version is now available. Well done mate.

Brothers In Arms
From: Alan Ros [rcr87285@bigpond.net.au] 22 Oct 05
Hi Brad. Just having a bit of a look at Carrington's book The Last Stand  and looking at the drawing he did of the two young men lying side by side in the back room of Anne Jones Innpresumably dead. Looking closely at the drawing, i see two boys who have died a painful death. Their heads back, their hands clenched into fists, and their legs drawn up. I believe Dan found that small parcel he was frantically looking for prior to the police arrival. He even had Curnow helping him find it. What was going through the minds of these two boys? One of their minders and mentors shot dead at the bar,and the other captured by police. Ned, brother, mentor and leader,will he die at the station from his wounds, or from the hangman's rope? They are not to know.
The last of the people left in the inn have gone, and they are standing side by side, brothers in arms, alone. Dan now knows the burden a leader carries, for Steve is looking to him for direction. He knows there is no hope, and remembers the pact they had all taken. They laid themselves out in the back room after they had taken the poison, and waited for it to take effect. The side effect was painful, but they would see it through. The police would not take them alive so they can die at the end of a rope. The pain was so severe, they clenched their fists and drew up their legs to ride it out. While waiting for death, did Dan regret not going with Fitzpatrick over a horsestealing charge, which ultimately led them down a path of destruction? Who's to know. I do know one thing, and so did their families. DAN AND STEVE DIED SIDE BY SIDE AT GLENROWAN, ALONE, AND WITH COURAGE. Food for thought.

Australian Son by Max Brown
From: Lisa [captain1@ozemail.com.au] 20 Oct 05
Dear Brad, I just wanted to write and thank you very much for the copy of Max Brown's Australian Son, which I received yesterday.Thank you very much also for the copy of Ned the Exhibition and the great bookmark that you kindly added, I really appreciate it. Max Brown's book is without doubt one of the best ever written about the boys, and I can't wait to read the revised edition! The new edition has one of the best covers ever on a Kelly Gang book, it is really beautiful. It is really great that you released this brilliant book! Thanks again and best wishes to you.

re. Police Uniforms
From: Glenn [tony@wyntercourt.fsnet.co.uk] 08 Oct 05
Many thanks for the Picture. So, this would be the Uniform worn at Glenrowan and Stringybark Creek? I've only ever seen Gregor Jordans Ned Kelly so how do the uniforms compare to reality? I need to piece some great detail together as some people here in the UK are interested in re-enacting the Kelly Saga, the Police being a major focus. Any information would be an awesome help! Best wishes. Anyone else got any leads?

Family History
From: Amanda Brown [tuppenyone@austarnet.com.au] 05 Oct 05
I have, for the last few years, been researching my family history. My great-grandfather ALFRED WILLIAM SWALLING lived in the Riverina district during Ned Kelly's life and supposedly was a Ned Kelly sympathiser. Apparently, my great-grandfather was called "the Bishop" by the Kelly gang because he always wore black. One of my mother's older cousins has related to me that my great-grand father was actually in the bank at the Seige of Jerilderee, but was told by one of the Kelly gang "you can go, Bishop." Since I have not found anything to verify this, I assume the story is a load of bunkum. What do you think. By the way, I have only just stumbled on your site. Congratulations! What an abundance of information.

Such and Such
From: Josh Rutledge [kriegkind@yahoo.com] 05 Oct 05
I am wondering were I could find Ned's last speech in its entirety? Contrary to popular myth, Ned didn't make a rambling dialogue just before he dropped to eternity. Reports say his final words were simply “Arr well, I suppose it has to come to this. Such... (is life?)”

One 26 year old Proud Australian Patriot
From: Mr Mofo Al [godspeeddude@yahoo.com.au] 30 Sep 05
Hello ironoutlaw, one of and perhaps the best site for Ned Kelly info in Australia and while im at it 'the world!'. I recently traveled through Victoria from Melbourne (yes i did the Ned Kelly goal tour and the Victoria police museum) to Canberra and we decided to take our time in visiting the landmarks of our brilliant honorable identities known as the Kelly gang, we were very fascinated by places such as the Benalla museum. However when we pulled into Glenrowan, the most infamous site of the whole saga as known by most Australians who even may have the smallest amount of Ned Kelly knowledge. Im not completely certain if there are some Australian/Victorian laws concerning historical landmarks being left untouched, but we were very disappointed to find the vacant land where the last stand was, to be in complete disorder. This town Glenrowan basis so much of its income on the fact it is so rich in history and can allow tourist to come bask in! its splendor. We drove straight past the Anne Jones inn site at first and had to look at the map because we couldn't find it. Because the fact that the land itself is surrounded by a decaying wire fence, the ground is covered in long weeds, trees and littered with what looked like an old bath and goodness knows what else i didn't see at the time. I wouldn't let my horse or sheep walk around on this property. Perhaps people may think im being a little too disheartened to all this, but i just expected a little more effort from a country's government to display a more prestigious monument to such a historical pinnacle. Thank you, signed one 26 year old proud Australian patriot.

Sheila Denham
From: Lesley Dewar [dewar912@iinet.net.au] 25 Sep 05
Can you please give me a contact email address for Ian Jones? I am trying to confirm with him (as the writer of the Mike Jagger version of Ned Kelly) of the role played in the movie by my mother in law, Sheila Denham. Sheila was well known personally to Jagger, Faithful, Richardson and others. She was not allowed to speak because of her Anglo Indian accent. Ian's not on the Internet. He's an old fashioned kind of guy. Your best bet is to write to him via his publisher Lothian Books and they will pass it on

Police Uniforms
From: Glenn [tony@wyntercourt.fsnet.co.uk] 20 Sep 05
Hi there. Fantastic website, I take my hat off to you. I was wondering, could you point me in the right direction on how to find detailed pictures or descriptions of the Uniforms worn by Police Officers during the Kelly saga? Were they along the lines of the ones in 2003 movie?? Any help greatly appreciated. Here's one from the magical brush of Norman Lindsay...

A Penny for your Thoughts
From: John Chris Dotson [jdotson@pngpower.com.pg] 07 Sep 05
I have an Australian penny coin dated 1943 for sale. Could you help me find a buyer for this coin. I am from Papua New Guinea a former colony of Australia. Try eBay...

From smh.com.au
From: Barry El-Tahche [Bashir.Eltahche@netapp.com] 06 Sep 05
Found some info on smh.com.au. Hi, was surfing smh.com.au and found the following article titled True pictures of the Kelly Gang. Justed scratch the surface. May be of interest. Thanks for the heads up! Bloody cow horns... A crap piece of artwork from a dubious origin. Anyone who forks out big bucks to buy something as worthless as this doesn't deserve to hold onto their money in the first place! As for “True”, think Peter Carey and you’ll catch my drift...

Gorilla Warfare?
From: Alan Crichton [rcr87285@bigpond.net.au] 03 Sep 05
Hi Brad, just having a bit of a look at page 47 of Jerilderie Letter and reading the boys' normal appreciation & description of the Victoria police. "More like the species of a baboon or guerilla than a man". My question is, for boys from the bush, where did they come across this word "GUERILLA"? Have a sneaky suspicion they didn't read too many books on primates. In their mind when writing this letter, there was only one way of spelling this word, the way they had seen it many times before. Had the boys been secretly subscribing to GUERILLA WEEKLY, or was this just a slip of the pen? Guerilla: member of irregular armed force especially fighting established force eg. Government etc. I believe they considered themselves guerillas and knew exactly what the word meant NOT OUTLAWS, and this was their justification for what they did. Food for thought.

Re: Michael Nolan
From: Sharon Hollingsworth [sharonandchuck@myfastmail.com] 23 Aug 05
Dear Brad, in response to the gentleman seeking information on his ancestor, Michael Nolan, a "Michael Nolan" of Greta was on the police list of known Kelly sympathisers (found in the Documents section of Ironoutlaw), and he was considered to be part of the "Greta Mob" according to that same list. Also, in the book "Ned and the Others" by Dagmar Balcarek and Gary Dean, it says that Michael Nolan went to Melbourne along with Tom Lloyd and Ned's sisters Maggie and Kate to buy ammunition for the gang from Rosier's Gunshop. See J.J. Kenneally's book "The Inner History of the Kelly Gang" for more details of this trip and the delivery of the ammo to the gang, though Nolan is not specifically named. Hope this helps!

Michael Nolan
From: Mick Nolan [mandanolan@optusnet.com.au] 23 Aug 05
Have you any info on the Michael Nolan? He was locked up for been a Kelly friend! I am the great grand son of him in QLD and worked at Ned Kelly's last Stand in Glennrowan as an an actor a few year's ago, and need some info if you have it. I do have a Jack Nolan in my records, any relation?

Phenix City, Alabama
From: Stephenie McGucken [chsoblover08@aol.com] 20 Aug 05
I am a fifteen year old high school student in the US who is working with two other people on a History Project. We have chosen Ned Kelly as our topic, as we feel that he is an important person in history because of the stand he took. We were wondering if you might have any suggestions for us concerning all things Ned. Start here

re. Max Brown
From: Brian McDonald [brianmac@isp.net.au] 19 Aug 05
Hi Brad. In reply to Alan regarding the dust wrapper to the first edition of Australian Son. I believe that the wrapper was the same for all the editions, the only thing that may have changed is the price printed (12/6 net) on the bottom of the section folded in the book i.e. under the information about the author. This is the price for the first edition but I'm not sure whether the price is on the other editions or if the triangular section was cut off (as was the practice) if the book price increased. (Sometimes referred to by bookdealers as "price clipped" in their descriptions). I know that the cover illustration on Kenneally's book differed from the second and subsequent editions. The first edition has the portrait of Kelly without the helmet on. Hope this helps and I will be sending you the money for the pre-purchase in the next few days. Congratulations again Brad for making this update available. Thanks for your support Brian. After the publishers I approached wanted to make moronic changes to the Australian Son manuscript which we knew would be against Max's wishes, Chester Eagle and I decided to bank-roll the project ourselves...

Ned Kelly Relative
From: Madelene Davis [mdavi162@eq.edu.au] 17 Aug 05
I am doin a spoken assignment for english at school and we have to research about Australian idols and icons so i thought that ned kelly could be one of the things that i talk about in my speech, i was reading the information you produced about Ned Kelly and i saw the bit that said you were related to him in some way, i am also related to Ned Kelly in some way through Blood... im not sure how because my mother has yet to do our family tree, i might be wrong about this somewhere along the line, but his was mother was madelene kelly or some thing and and she is my nana's great great great grandmother or something like that, im not to sure how it works but yes, forgive me if i am wrong because i very well could be! Small world isnt it? Apparently it’s very small as I don’t remember saying I was related to Ned!

Max Brown
From: Alan Crichton [rcr87285@bigpond.net.au] 16 Aug 05
I have just recently purchased a first edition copy of Max Brown's AUSTRALIAN SON from a shop in Glenrowan. However after reading your book review page my copy has the 1956 dust jacket. Could you please tell me what the 1948 edition looks like? I hope i haven't been misled. First edition was definitely 1948. Unfortunately I don't have a copy myself so the cover may or may not be different to the 1956 edition. Read more about the book in our Australian Son section

Ned Kelly’s Jurors
From: Cassandra Gallagher [cass.chris@xtra.co.nz] 04 Aug 05
Hi, have just visted your web site and I wondered if there is any way of finding out who was in the jury for Ned Kelly. Any information will be appreciated. Check out Justin Corfield’s “The Ned Kelly Encyclopaedia” for all your answers...

Ned Kelly Fireman Tattoo
From: Simone Herriman [ashben64@bigpond.com] 02 Aug 05
I was just womdering if anyone could help me find the tattoo of Ned Kelly with fire hose and axe have seen one put just can not get my hands on a copy please help already have several tattoos of ned now but have special interest in this one as i am a firefighter.

The Last Outlaw
From: Grace Canazza [grace.canazza@bigpond.com] 31 Jul 05
I wish to say I support the petition to Channel 7. Managed to tape some of a recent rerun of this great series but my tapes chewed up. Would love it on DVD, I was under the impression this was coming out last year but I have never seen it in the shops and this is obviously why. It was still terrific to see after all these years especially after that dreadful movie with Health Ledger. What were they thinking? I see Ned was in the Age today - very interesting article indeed. Could you please add my name to any future emals with info on the hopeful release of this mini series? I see in the ABC shop quite a few classic Australian show are finally being released. You can add me to the petition as well with the words - it is high time we get to see again this well made and well acted mini series on an important part of Australian history. That petition is well and truely closed. I sent it off to Channel 7 ages ago without any reply. Still, one day a DVD may appear...

Relations
From: Faith Eden [Faith.Eden@stclaresc.act.edu.au] 29 Jul 05
Someone told me they are related to Joe (member of the Kelly gang) there last name is Kirby I was wondering if you could help me with this and get back to me as soon as possible thanks heaps.

The Last Outlaw
From: Faith Eden [Faith.Eden@stclaresc.act.edu.au] 28 Jul 05
I'm sorry to anybody that doesn't like what I'm going to say but I hope at least one person is going to read this. it is more than understandable that people want The last outlaw to be shown on TV or to come out on DVD but it seems that all we are doing is going around in one big circle channel 7 have already said that they will not play the mini series and I think people should learn to live with that fact and not do stupid things like try and copy it illegally and if they had any brains they would realise that if they did decide to put it on DVD they would get alot of money from it. BUT THERE NOT! and I think people should just get over it there's no point hammering a nail into a brick wall! Still, we mustn't lose Faith...

Steve Hart
From: Mel Cockram [mco54666@bigpond.net.au] 20 Jul 05
I was wondering did Steve Hart have any siblings beacause I am doing a project on him. Thanks if you can help. Yes, that's how Paul O'Keefe is walking this fine brown land...

Another Relative
From: Malcolm White [finewhites@clear.net.nz] 19 Jul 05
I am Michael White and I am related to Ned Kelly himself. He is my distant cousin. See yah. Yours sincerly. Yes, how “sincer"

re. Dan Kelly, Cr Tully and James Ryan
From: Lola Rowe [lolar@ozemail.com.au] 14 Jul 05
Being 125 years since the death of Steve Hart & Dan Kelly at Glenrowan, there is always somebody who would like to make a bigger story than the truth, Mr. Tully being one of these people along with many more fictional Authors, our Australian History does not need embellishments. Coming up to 125 yrs. since Ned was hung, I am sure there will be many more FICTIONAL tales, beware. The Grandaughter of J.J.Kenneally has added her weight behind this fictional story along with others and I am sure we know a little more than Mr.Tully.

Dan Kelly
From: Warren Trick [Trick.Warren@aqis.gov.au] 05 Jul 05
I once read that every travelling show in the backblocks of of Queensland and NSW during the depression years had a “Dan Kelly"” or “Steve Hart” to pull in the crowds. I'd bet money the showmen didn't take the old imposters too close to the Victorian border though.

Query from Germany
From: Mareike Marx [roofkick@socialdistortion.de] 05 Jul 05
Hello! First of all, this is really a great page! For an university paper I needed information about Ned Kelly and the gang, and your page really helped me a lot! I hope you don't mind if I will cite and refer to your material for my term paper?! Please tell me how to cite your stuff. Thanks a lot and best wishes from Germany! A new BMW will suffice...

Dan Kelly, Cr Tully and James Ryan
From: Ellen Hollow [hollow@alphalink.com.au] 01 Jul 05
This unproven myth has been around for years and raises it's head every so often. So it is no surprise that Cr Tully is at it again. The story first appeared in print , I believe, in the book "Tales and Legends of the Canberra Pioneers" by Sam Shemuck, which included an account of Dan Kelly's alleged escape but it does not identify the alleged Dan Kelly by alias, the persons who claimed they met Dan were two shearers in South Western NSW in about 1880. In "The Melbourne Truth" in 1930's, then in "People" Magazine in 1960's. These claims were later reprinted in "The Australian Pensioner" as fortnightly feature October - November 1983. When in Queensland Charles Devine Tindall and Jack Day made the claim that they were indeed the escaped Steve Hart and Dan Kelly "The Courier Mail" September 1996 revived the story along with "The Boarder Mail" when Gary Dean edited the memoirs of the late Donald Hamlbeton Johnson in a book titled "Horseman Bold." Which was the story of Charles Devine Tindall and Jack Day. On 26th and 28th November 1999 the Herald Sun once again ran the story corresponding with the release of Barry McArthur's Book on the subject.

Another story given publicity in Queensland over several years was the claim by another alleged Dan Kelly, a vagrant named James Ryan who lived in the Ipswich area. He sort out the press for publicity from time to time, beginning in the late 1920's until his death in 1948. This tale has been given further publicity in June 2002, both in the print and TV media, due to Cr Tully of Ipswich who has proposed memorial to be placed to honour Ryan. Launched in September 2002 a book by Vince Allen "Burnt to a Cinder ,Was I?" would appear to be a rehash of the James Ryan yarn. On 27th September 2001 this story appeared in the press due to Gary Dean and Tim Anson exhuming a body of Charles Devine Tindall for DNA testing in Toowoomba, Queensland. We have never heard further of the results of this exercise. The varying tales are supposed to be accounts of persons, long dead, who between eighty and one hundred and twelve years ago saw, spoke to, worked with, lived next door to etc. etc. and have been handed down from generation to generation. As with all good yarns growing with each re telling.

The story which seems to have been given the most publicity is the memoirs of the late Donald Hamlbeton Johnson. These memoirs lay claim to this gentleman being the grand nephew of Steve Hart. The story also claims that Steve Hart went by the name Fred Layton and that a man known as Jack Day was Daniel Kelly. I won't bore you with the genealogy of the descendants of Fred Layton, but there is not a shred of primary evidence to link them to Steve Hart. Jack Day never had issue. However, in the memoirs of Donald Hamlbeton Johnson there was made claim to the knowledge of the location of the burial place. If this body was produced for DNA testing there are three suitable donors in Victoria myself and two descendants of Margaret Kelly. To put this rumour to bed once and for all, I have offered my DNA cross matching of Mitochondrial DNA samples, and all the documentation to support my lineage. Mitochondrial DNA is only passed along the female line. In the past there has been no interest. I believe this disinterest is because the rumour is exactly that.

It is not up to me to speak on behalf of the Hart descendants I know there are several suitable descendants of Steve Hart's sisters who's DNA could be matched against the DNA of Fred Layton or his descendants. Unable to be proven, but worthy of some consideration is my family oral history. Over the years as this and other stories have appeared in the press or other publications, naturally the family have discussed and investigated the possibility of any truth in these theories and rumours. Both my Mother and her brother , who lived with Ellen Kelly from 1917 until her death in 1923 dismissed the story and were insistent that the Dan Kelly and Steve Hart fleeing to Queensland Story had no basis for truth. Their reasons:

• There would have been contact made with the family. This never occurred. My mother was sure they would have known.
• Jim was never away from Greta for any length of time and certainly not long enough to visit Queeensland as claimed in the memoirs of Donald Hamlbeton Johnson.

So once again to correspond with the 125th anniversary of Glenrowan Cr Tully now poses to apply for exhumation of the bodies in Greta Cemetery. It was the firm belief that the facts are as history records them. Let them rest in peace at Greta with their kin.