Ned Kelly Australian Ironoutlaw

Disturbing story out of Beechworth with the seemingly troubled tale of back room dealings in awarding the Tender for the Beechworth Gaol. Since the new owner "won" the rights to purchase the complex, little has been done with it to benefit the local region. While it all smacks of nepotism the media has been conspicuous in their silence. Maybe it's time the Victorian Government came clean on how it determined this Tender – won by nothing more than a 100% finance deal. Seems it's not what you know, but who you know. As a follow up to the report above, it has now come to light the Indigo Shire Council has received an application for a housing type development at the Beechworth Gaol including a request for a part demolition. What a great way to retain our heritage...

Further to our report above, I was contacted by a Melbourne Herald Sun reporter at the start of November keen to run a story on the perceived nepotism in granting the awarding of the tender. Seems more than one person thought 2 million dollars was a pittance for the purchase of such a vast track of land in Beechworth, where the average house sells for close to 400 grand! Considering the Governor's residence alone would be worth nearly a million dollars, the new owner got a bloody great bargain. However, this story was grounded long before it grew wings. I'm guessing the eager reporter sent his idea further up the food chain where it was neatly placed in moth balls never to be heard of again. On further investigation it seems the new owner has big and powerful friends on both sides of the political fence, so sit back dear reader and watch as the Beechworth Gaol transforms itself into a multi-million dollar property development. As a small green fellow once said, "Never underestimate the power of the dark side".

Further reading:
Sympathisers gang up on Beechworth jail developer Orietta Guerrera. Feb 14, 2007

27 November 2006
Minister gets a History Lesson
source: news.com.au

"The Federal Government has blamed the states for Australian students' shocking history knowledge and said a national curriculum should be implemented. A report commissioned by the federal, state and territory education ministers shows that more than three-quarters of Australian teenagers do not know why we celebrate Australia Day. Excepts of the reports published in The Australian showed an overwhelming majority of schoolchildren are also ignorant of the reason for Anzac Day, or for the inclusion of the Union Jack on the Australian flag. About 77 per cent of Year 10 students and 93 per cent of Year 6 students across the nation cannot nominate the official responsibilities of the governor-general, and the great majority do not know the Queen is Australia's head of state."

But it's not just students who have little grasp on certain aspects of Australian History. New South Wales Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt was caught napping when a Nova969 DJ asked her why we celebrate Australia Day. "Well we celebrate Australia Day because that is the day that we became a nation, when the states joined together, the federation of Australia and it's an important day to understand that history," Ms Tebbutt said. The DJ pointed out, Federation Day is celebrated on January 1 and Australia Day, the day British settlers arrived in Sydney is marked on January 26. What hope do school kids have when the chest beating politicians can't even get the facts right?

Further reading:
Blainey to lead history review Justine Ferrari. June 26, 2007
The rightwing blindfold view of history Tim Dunlop. June 26, 2007

12 November 2006
The Wreck of the Bay: $7m to Save the Cerberus
Kate Hagan
source: theage.com.au

Enter the HMVS Cerberus, the last flagship of the Victorian Colonial Navy scuttled as a breakwater off Black Rock in 1926. Seems this pile of rust is sinking in to the sand at 20 cm a year. A 500 strong support group has banded together to demand the State and Federal governments chip in 7.1 million to stabilise this crumbling hulk. Am I missing something here? It was SCUTTLED 90 YEARS AGO! All those millions are not going to see it sail again, so what is the point? Actually, the point is we have a significant historical location which could be saved for a fraction of the price. Ned Kelly's Beveridge home is still standing (just), but without restoration all we will have in 90 years is a blue stone chimney, if we're lucky...

Further reading: Kelly Landmarks

25 July 2003
Bigpond Broadband
Telstra

Telstra has a new internet based advertising campaign promoting it’s broadband services. The animated gif (pictured above) shows a helmet clad figure which represents Mr Edward Kelly. But what has Ned got to do with nine clicks? And surfing the net wearing an iron helmet makes it very hard to see the screen (so Ben Collins tells me). I must admit Telstra’s TVC (television ad) is magnificent. The computer graphics are awesome. Seeing Ned, being chased by mounted troopers, riding out of the sea and onto the deck of the fishing trawler is quite impressive. Gregor Jordan obviously had nothing to do with that production! Actually I'm not really raging at this entry, I just want to highlight a new ad campaign starring the Ironoutlaw (Ned, not us), and hold out a vain hope Bigpond will offer us free hosting seeing they are feeling so warm and fuzzy towards Ned (but I won’t hold my breath).

11 Jun 03
The State of the “Cemetery” at Pentridge Prison

A law of 1855 required that all executed prisoners were to be buried in unconsecrated prison grounds. Ned’s remains were supposedly transferred to Pentridge Cemetery at Urquhart Street, Coburg from the Melbourne Gaol after they were disturbed by developers in the late 1920s. How much of Ned — minus his head — is buried is up for discussion. Many bones were claimed as “souvenirs” during the relocation, and all the prisoner’s remains were mixed up.

Once again developers have disturbed the site as they go about their greedy business building overly expensive townhouses and retail shops. Without any upkeep to the area the developers have let the Cemetery go to weeds. It has become overgrown and unattractive. A cynic may say the developers are hoping the Cemetery will be swamped by the weeds, hiding this “ugly” vision from the café swilling yuppies who will eventually settle in the area. However, Father Peter Norden of the Jesuit Social Services in Richmond is attempting to have the developers rectify this. If you feel like giving him support I am sure he would appreciate it. The grave site is located in a lawn/garden area below D Division.

30 March 2003
Truth takes back seat in new Aussie 'western'
By Derek Ballantine
source: heraldsun.news.com.au

Poor Derek Ballantine — one moment he thinks he is a journalist and the next moment he thinks he is an historian. Yet when you read his article "Truth takes back seat in new Aussie 'western'" you realise he is neither! What this article highlights is that both Derek Ballantine and the movie "Ned Kelly" are both flawed when it comes to stating the facts. So much for journalistic integrity. Ultimately Ballantine is just another reason why I refuse to buy a copy of the Melbourne Herald-Sun. Below is his article with my comments in blue.

Everyone in prison is innocent. It pays to keep that in mind when watching the new film Ned Kelly, even when Heath Ledger's bad Irish brogue grates on the nerves and Rachel Griffiths mangles the accent dear to the Scots. Yes, everybody in jail has been framed by corrupt police. We know this because they say so, spend most of their idle time working on appeals and the rest lamenting a social system loaded against them from birth.

It must have been the same in Ned Kelly's day. We know this because Ned Kelly, which opened in Victoria on Thursday, tells us so through its Robin Hood interpretation of the bushranger's life, in which there are no shades of grey to cloud the moral issues. The poor Irish are good, the English and their police lackeys are bad.

The bloodthirsty coppers are so dastardly they even shoot a monkey and a circus lion in the 1880 siege at Glenrowan - a long stretch of the imagination because, in reality, no animal more exotic than a dog was present. The siege is an explosion of violence in which innocent hostages are mowed down by police and, in their turn, many police are felled by Kelly Gang marksmanship.

No matter that history tells us only one outlaw was killed directly by police fire and that one boy was wounded (and later died) when shot leaving the Glenrowan Hotel. What history Ballantine? Yours? Read ANY historical account of the siege of Glenrowan and you will discover a long list of hostage casualties. History takes a back seat in a movie and this poorly researched story of stilted dialogue, oddly contrived excursions into lust and more gunplay than a 1950s Hollywood western.

Movie FANTASY: Ned finds a stray horse, rides into town, and is miffed when a constable accuses him of theft. The impression is that police persecution is solely responsible for pushing an otherwise good Irish lad into a life of crime.

Ballantine’s FACT: Ned was brought up in a criminal environment. His father, Red Kelly, transported to Tasmania in 1842 for stealing two pigs, is thought to have murdered a man in Ireland. This hearsay has NO grounding in historical fact. In Victoria, Red supplemented his farming income by stealing horses. He was never charged with horse stealing. On Red's death, widow Ellen Kelly moved the family to northeast Victoria, where they lived alongside Quinn and Lloyd relatives notorious for horse stealing. Ned boasted of having stolen 500 or more. He had a criminal record from an early age, having robbed a Chinese gold-digger at 14, and was apprenticed to a notorious bushranger from about 10. Rubbish, Ned was acquitted of the robbery charged. As for bushranging from the age of ten, Ned was still at school at eleven when he saved young Richard Shelton from drowning in Hughes Creek, Avenel. For a short period of time when Ned was fourteen, he was “apprenticed” to Harry Power. He went straight for three years after serving time in Pentridge, but his crimes soon escalated to the murder of police.

Movie FANTASY: The Kelly Gang's final confrontation with police at Glenrowan is of Wild West proportions. The battlefield is strewn with casualties. Innocent victims of the police assault on the hotel include a travelling showman - even his monkey and lion!

Ballantine’s FACT: Ned and his men were first to fire on police at Glenrowan. Superintendent Hare was wounded in the wrist. Police also feared friends and supporters of the gang in the hotel, rather than being hostages, would fight on Ned's side. Though police shooting was indiscriminate, only gang members were killed inside the hotel by bullets. Dear God when will this garbage end? Martin Cherry, a platelayer, lies buried in the Benalla Cemetery, thanks to a police bullet. Their bullets also caused the death of a child named Johnny Jones. Furthermore his sister, Jane Jones, was wounded in the forehead (and died two years later), Michael Reardon was wounded in the shoulder, and William Metcalf was wounded in the eye. Police were on edge when people left the hotel during a truce, believing the gang would come out in disguises. One policeman fired, fatally wounding a teenage boy in the back. Really, in the back? No lion, monkey or showman were present. Yes Ballantine, you are the only showman here.

Movie FANTASY: On the run from police, who have poisoned the waterholes, desperately thirsty gang members drink blood from a horse Ned slays with his knife.

Ballantine’s FACT: It would have taken an operation on a Gulf War scale to deny the gang a drink in an area with many waterways. Yes I actually agree with you on that one.

Movie FANTASY: All police in the colonial era are thugs, liars, drunks and enemies of Kelly.

Ballantine’s FACT: Constable Fitzpatrick was a troublemaker with an anti-Kelly agenda. Yet he was sacked from the force when his superiors recognised he was a "liar and a larrikin". After Stringybark Creek, Fitzpatrick was transferred to Lancefield. He was there only nine months before his superior, Senior Constable Mayes, accused him of "not being fit to be in the police force; that he associated with the lowest persons in Lancefield; that he could not be trusted out of sight; and that he never did his duty". Needless to say these charges lead to Fitzpatrick's dismissal from the police force but by this stage it was too late for Ned Kelly and his clan. Sergeant Steele fired the shotgun that sprayed people leaving the hotel, including a woman and her children. But another officer yelled: "If you fire at that woman again, I'm damned if I don't shoot you." Steele also brought Ned down with shots to the legs. As Steele placed his gun at the prostate Ned's head, another officer threatened: "Shoot him now and I shoot you." Hmm, it sounds like he has been reading some of my pages here. Yet, instead of being charged with attempted murder, Steele receive a sizeable portion of the reward money, over 290 pounds for his part in the capture. The 1881 Royal Commission recommended that Steele be reduced in ranks because of his “highly censurable” failure to follow the Kelly Gang when he lead a heavily armed party in the Warby Ranges near Wangaratta during November 1878. However, this was not implemented.

Movie FANTASY: The Kelly Gang engages in a manly gunfight with police at Stringybark Creek.

Ballantine’s FACT: Ned and his men surprised two officers at a bush camp, Ned shooting one in the temple when he put his hand on his gun. Which of McIntyre’s sworn testimonies was this from? He changed his story countless times, perjuring himself on numerous occasions. Two other officers returning to the camp were surprised by the gang, one killed instantly and the other shot while trying to escape. He begged for his life for the sake of his family, but Ned killed him, justifying the murder on the grounds he was putting the wounded man out of his misery. Ned's bullet in the back of the officer's head went through the skull, tearing off most of the face. Police who recovered the dead officer found several bullets in the body, causing outrage in the colony. Rubbish, autopsy reports show no such findings. Ned's final shot was directed to Kennedy’s heart. These police were heavily armed, their pack horses carried body straps and they were not in uniform. Put simply, they were on a seek and destroy mission.

Movie FANTASY: The lecherous Constable Fitzgerald You mean Fitzpatrick forces his attentions on Kate Kelly, threatens the family and is eventually run off the property, his lies inflaming tensions.

Ballantine’s FACT: Fitzpatrick has no credibility, but the events at the house are more confused and contradictory than the film would have us believe. The constable was shot in the wrist, after which Mrs Kelly dressed his wound and gave him a drink. They agreed to make no more of it, but Fitzpatrick later invented a heroic story which included a confrontation with Ned, who was not there. Mrs Kelly was jailed for her part in the affray, which may have included assaulting Fitzpatrick. I agree but what is your point?

Movie FANTASY: Ned and his men are more romantic than Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, bedding women on the run, including the wife of a bank manager they have robbed.

Ballantine’s FACT: They had plenty to say for themselves in their short lives, but no love letters exist and there are no legends about amorous conquests. They would have been very smelly bedmates after spending much of their time in the bush with only horses for company. I'm guessing Ballantine is speaking from experience here.

Movie FANTASY: Dan Kelly and Steve Hart commit suicide during the siege.

Ballantine’s FACT: It is not known how they died. Fire ravaged their bodies and no autopsies were carried out. Yes I agree with that appraisal.

Movie FANTASY: Ned Kelly makes his last stand at Glenrowan.

Ballantine’s FACT: Ned left the hotel, possibly to warn supporters he believed were coming to his aid, and collapsed from loss of blood and exhaustion. He appeared behind police lines at dawn and was captured while his gang members were still alive and fighting inside the building. Once again correct but what is your point?

FANTASY: The author of this piece “journalism” Derek Ballantine thinks he is some sort of historical expert.

FACT: Has anyone else noticed how the Herald Sun only lets Ballantine loose on Sundays? Is this some sort of community service order?

22 August 2002
Is This The Worst Kelly Book Of All Time?
“Burnt to a Cinder, was I?”
The escape and life of outlaw Dan Kelly, member of the notorious Ned Kelly gang
Written by Vince and Carolyn Allen
Email artisans@halenet.com.au
ISBN 0958120803

This is the press release that came in my email today:

Dan Kelly! Extraordinary claims made by an elderly author:
“Dan, brother of Ned Kelly, was a good friend of my grandfather's, and because of that, I talked with Dan in 1945. The history of the Kelly gang has never been told properly - not the way it happened. I got the truth from Dan Kelly, and that means he was never burned to death in that fire at Glenrowan!” Vince Allen 2002

These topics are explored to a certain extent in the book Burnt to a Cinder, was I? The escape and life of outlaw Dan Kelly, member of the notorious Ned Kelly gang. This is the title of Artisans Attic’s new book to be published on the 1st September 2002. The book tells the exciting story of how Dan Kelly escaped from the inferno at Glenrowan, survived the most horrifying burns, led an exciting life joining a horse thieving gang and nearly lost his life a second time when he rescued a family in the floods. He eluded capture, sometimes by the skin of his teeth, until the end of his life in 1948.

As published in the Truth of 29th December 1935, Dan Kelly was identified by different people, among whom was Jack (John) Allen - the grandfather of one of the authors - Vince Allen. Jack, a contemporary of the Kellys, and a bush telegraph for the gang, was well acquainted with the Kellys before and during their bushranging days. He spent a lot of time chatting about old times with Dan during the late 1930s.

It was through Jack and the descendants of Kate Kelly that Vince got to know Dan Kelly — and to hear his story in the 1940s. Newspaper photographs of Jack Allen and Dan Kelly talking together at the Redbank Hotel in 1935 are presently held at the John Oxley Library, Brisbane. The story as told by Dan Kelly differs in many ways from the official version and may change some of what has been recorded about the gang.

When I first read this email I thought it was a joke. I even phoned the author to make sure he was on the level (although which level I’m still not sure). Needless to say Mr Allen had never heard of ironoutlaw.com, so I knew he was a serious Kelly buff! As the author mentions Kate Kelly in his book, I spoke to Kate’s great grand daughter Ellen Hollow. Among her main concerns were the author’s claim “It was through Jack and the descendants of Kate Kelly that Vince got to know Dan Kelly - and to hear his story in the 1940s”. However, to “get to know” Kate’s descendants he would have had to know either Ellen’s mother or brother, neither of whom, Ellen assures me, ever met Mr Vince Allen.

Within the time frame Vince Allen claims he had gleaned this information from Kate's descendants, Ellen Hollow’s uncle, having served in the Middle East, was recovering from a war injury overseas. Ellen’s mother, she assured me, would never have spoken of Kelly business to any one outside the family. In fact both were very careful what they said and to whom. Vince told us he was in contact with the alleged descendants in 1945! Amazing stuff. It seems poor Vince has little understanding of the Kelly Story. So let's hope all these fine books Vince had printed go to a good cause, keeping someone warm this winter — as fire wood. I won’t even talk about the dreadful “circa primary school” design on the front cover. Yes you’ve got to love self publishers...

Read Nicky Cowie and full book review at: bailup.com/booksVinceAllen.htm

01 August 2002
Yes, Commissioner Gordon...
re: Ned gets his suit together
Herald Sun 28 June 2002

Heafty Nixon This is the face of the Victorian police forces’ top cop, Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon. Comments she made at the Old Melbourne Gaol on June 28 highlights the fact that Australian history was not taught at the police academy when Christine attended. During the ‘reunification’ of the suits of armour, which saw the un–jumbling occur by a simple process involving three rehearsed ‘swaps’, Victoria’s police chief remarked that it was a shame we Australians celebrate a bushranger, that Ned murdered people and “may have murdered many more”. Is it the attitude of the police to assume a persons guilt based on their reputation alone? Wouldn’t the police require some sort of evidence before accusing someone of murder?

The Chief Commissioner’s off handed remarks show that Nixon continues to ignore the fact that police shot and killed a number of innocent civilians during the siege at Glenrowan. Their bullets caused the death of plate layer Martin Cherry and a child named Johnny Jones. Furthermore, Jane Jones was wounded in the forehead, Michael Reardon was wounded in the shoulder, and William Metcalf was wounded in the eye. Should we instead hail the exploits of men like Sergeant Arthur Steele who actively sought to shoot civilians during the Siege at Glenrowan? I don’t think so! The most perplexing thing about Christine Nixon’s ill informed comments was that this Chief Commissioner continues to ignore the rampant corruption in her own police force! Maybe what we need is a modern day Ned Kelly to sort these dodgy traps out, because Nixon has no interest in routing these mongrels herself. In the meantime Christine, stick to what you know best — looking stupid in photographs!

31 JUL 2002
Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, Rupert Hammond...
re: Town honours Kelly iron man
Herald Sun 01 July 2002

Rusty Rupert In case you aren’t aware, one of Australia’s most valued treasures, the armour of Joe Byrne, has been in the hands of a private collector since 1880. When it pleases Mr Hammond, the public sometimes get to view the armour. And, as in the case of Ned: The Exhibition, which was held at the Old Melbourne Gaol until the end of July, Joe joined the other members of the gang for the briefest of time. In January, Byrne's armour graced the Exhibition for less than a month even though the Exhibition ran for nine! It seems dear Rupert didn't like the level of security within the Gaol. Seems when you own the prize you can dictate the terms. Then we hear that the armour sat in a tent for all to see (and some to wear) during a dinner at Glenrowan in early July! What’s he playing at? And what right does he have to claim the armour as his?

Lets go back to 1880. Joe's armour was removed from his body at Glenrowan and subsequently given to the Clarke family by Superintendent Hare. This was a reward for the assistance rendered to him in the months he spent convalescing at Rupertswood in Sunbury. Hare was related to the Clarke’s by marriage to their niece. It seems poor Hare received a wound to the wrist during the first exchange between police and the Gang. This “wound” saw Hare beat a hasty retreat in the special police train, an action which was severely criticised by the 1881 Royal Commission, as it effectively left no senior officer in charge at the siege. What right did Hare have to take a souvenir? Why hasn't the government claimed it back on behalf of the people? And why would Hammond want it, a man who is supposedly a Queens Counselor?

01 November 2001
Paul Gray Is Not Our True Voice
re: Kelly was not our true voice
Herald Sun 22 October 2001

Paul Gray writes a column in the Herald Sun, therefore we would categorise him as a journalist. But is he an historian? Read his article from the October 22, 2001 edition and you’ll discover the answer is a definite NO. Part of the Herald Sun’s appeal is its ability to attract the common folk. The newspaper is filled with large emotive photos, bold headings, and brash pull quotes. Gray took the opportunity to begin his article by isolating a passage of Kelly's Jerilderie Letter which threatens the Union Jack with dire retribution for the incarceration of his mother. Did Gray fully explain the passage? No. Did he allow the reader a glimpse into events which led to the Kelly's being outlawed? No. And why not? Because it would ruin the tenuous link Gray attempted to highlight between the violence of the Kelly outbreak and the violence currently being enacted on the world stage.

So who does Paul Gray think the people of Australia should listen to? Him? Hardly. A man like Gray, with his limited historical knowledge, would hold in high regard people like Major Mitchell and Benjamin Warby (Warby Ranges, Victoria). And why not. Didn’t these brave men forge the new nation of Australia. Weren’t their daring deeds worthy of historical recollection. Yes. Of course. These men also murdered hundreds of aborigines; poisoning their water supply, shooting their women and children and, as is the case with Mr Warby, simply herding them over a cliff. But why don’t we read about these men in the papers? Because history is written by the victors. It is far easier to target an Australian icon tarnished by a brutal colonial rule, apply 21st century logic and morals then attribute his actions to that of a mad man. Paul Gray should stick to reporting on what he knows best, children's birthdays and dog shows. Because as an historian he just doesn't cut it.

19 October 2001
What's Up With Tip Top?
source tiptop.com.au

Is there such thing as a Ned Kelly bandwagon? If so then Australian bread baker Tip Top must be firmly holding the reins. Some half witted marketing guru has convinced a quarter witted Tip Top executive to run with an armour clad Ned Kelly to promote their cash give away. Given the historical fact that Ned never wore armour during any of his hold ups seems to have been missed by the boffins running the Tip Top campaign. And having personally worked in advertising agencies I can relate, dear reader, that the average creative has no idea of the world outside his cafe latté.