Ned Kelly's burial

Ned Kelly was finally be buried in the Greta West cemetery in north-east Victoria, near where his mother Ellen lies in an unmarked grave, during a private burial on Sunday 20th January (after a memorial service the previous Friday in Wangaratta). A statement from the Kelly family says they wanted the burial to be in keeping with the bushranger's last wish before his execution in 1880. 'The descendants of the Kelly family wish to give effect to Ned Kelly's last wish and that he now be buried in consecrated ground with only his family in attendance in order to ensure a private, respectful and dignified funeral. The family wish for their privacy to be respected so that they may farewell a very much loved member of their family.'

Link: Ned's last wish: bushranger to be buried with family

Ned Kelly GPS tour

IronOutlaw.com is proud to be associated with the development and launch of the Ned Kelly GPS Tour, an all-in-one audio book, tour guide and satellite navigation system which provides the user with a unique travel experience. Now, with the touch of a screen, travellers can be entertained and informed with historical information and legendary local stories. Our interactive guide encompasses a planned route rich in multimedia content and direct navigation instructions to chosen Kelly Country locations. With the Ned Kelly GPS Tour you and your family, from the comfort of your own vehicle, will be taken on a journey back in time to nineteenth century Victoria! Available to hire for one, two and three day Kelly Country tours.

Link: Ned Kelly GPS Tour

Brighton cemetery walkthrough

On Sunday March 18th from 2pm, Brighton Cemetorians Inc will conduct a Kelly Gang walkthrough at the Brighton General Cemetery to highlight a number of people whose lives were interwoven with Ned's. The walk will cover a variety of gravesite stories including the Sherriff of Victoria who signed Ned’s Death Warrant. The organisers promise some interesting and little known facts relating to the life of Ned Kelly. Brighton General Cemetery is located in North Road, Caulfield South in Victoria. For further information regarding the walk email Brighton Cemetorians.

The girl who loved Ned Kelly

In 1926 a woman dies in Balmain Hospital, taking to her grave one of the greatest untold love stories in Australian history, she was the love Ned Kelly left behind. With recently released and previously unseen historical documents, on Wednesday 7 March from 6:30pm at the Balmain Library, Paul O’Keefe, her great, great grandson paints an amazing and tragic picture of a remarkable young woman who was an integral part of this defining period in Australian history. While this is a Free Event bookings are essential on 02 9367 9211.

Link: The Girl who loved Ned Kelly

Check out Steve Meacham's interview with Paul O'Keefe in the Sydney Morning Herald. Paul talks about his maternal great-great-grandmother Ettie Hart (sister of Steve) and her love for the great man, Ned Kelly.

Link: Childhood Sweetheart Ned's Secret Love

Touring the State Library

While it's always fun to watch the pigeons crap all over the hanging Judge Redmond Barry's head outside the State Library of Victoria in Swanston Street, apparently it's also worth a visit inside. Seems not only is there lots of books to read but IronOutlaw.com's very own Airi Repetti has been taking punters on a Kelly inspired tour of the establishment for the past four years now. However, the tours will finish up at the end of February 2012 as Airi plans to depart Melbourne and see the world. So the remaining tour time table is Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 1pm. Contact the State Library of Victoria on 03 8666 7214 or visit their web site for more details.

Link: How a Finnish Girl ended up as a Kelly Tour Guide

History repeating?

Back in Ned's day there was this inept Victorian Chief Commissioner called Captain Frederick Charles Standish who was ripped a new one after the 1881 Royal Commission. Fast forward a few years to 2010 and it seems we have another bird-brained Chief Commissioner in Simon Overland. This goose carried live ammo on board a Qantas flight and, unlike any other punter who'd end up in chains, got a rap over his hairless knuckles for being a moron. Perhaps Simple-Simon should stick to doing very bad 'Sam the Eagle' impersonations instead of carrying around a loaded gun! And don't get me started on ex Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon and her hunger pains...

Link: Victorian Police

Captain Jack to the rescue

Captain Jack Hoyle turns his attention to 19th century journalism and their uncanny ability to sensationalise and embellish. Something we're use to everyday but back then it was an art form. This time around we look at a piece titled Chit Chat about the Kellys. You'll be left wondering how the big mouth interviewee didn't end up with a lead pellet in his head...

Link: Chit Chat about the Kellys

Ambushed? You bet ya!

In a belated attempt to rewrite history the Victorian Police Museum is putting on a exhibition lovingly titled 'Ambush: Ned Kelly and the Stringybark Creek murders'. Now you can learn the horrible truth about Ned Kelly while skimming over any mention of Constable Thomas McIntyre and the number of times he perjured himself after Stringybark Creek. I'm also guessing there will be no mention of the corrupt police which roamed the North East during the 1870s like Hall, Fitzpatrick, Smith, Steele, etc... And if you do go don't mention the people shot and killed by the police during the Glenrowan siege! Poor dead Martin Cherry and the child Johnny Jones. Police were also responsible for wounding his sister Jane Jones in the forehead (later to die), Michael Reardon in the shoulder, and William Metcalf in the eye. Maybe they could get that speed demon Ken Lay (the guy with the girly voice) to put some 'spin' on this sham exhibition. Feel free to let the Museum know what you think, after all, they seem an open, affable bunch of whingers...

Link: Ambushed

Tom Baxter is giving everyone a headache

I've banged on about this nutbag Baxter for years. Everyone in the know reckons he is as crazy as a cut snake. The head he loves to cradle to sleep each night is not Ned Kelly's skull. Sure it has an EK etched into it's side but the initials stand for Ernest Knox, who was executed in 1894 for the shooting death of a jeweller's son during a bungled armed robbery. The real skull was stolen from the Old Melbourne Gaol back in 1978 as a university prank by a well known ex-Prime Minister's son. Trouble is he forgot to give it back. How Baxter got to keep this skull is weird enough, but it probably says more about the complete stupidity of the West Australian police (the Freddo Frog saga is proof enough) more than Baxter being a modern day Indiana Jones...

Link: Claimed Ned Kelly Skull returned

Here comes another Ned Kelly documentary

ABC1 presents the documentary Ned Kelly Uncovered tonight (9th July) at 8:30pm, hosted by well-known British actor, author and presenter Tony Robinson (from Blackadder). Based on an archaeological dig undertaken in Glenrowan, the show will reportedly 'unearth' new details of Ned Kelly's infamous last gun battle in 1880. Will the dig site shed new light on the motivations of a man cast into legend by history? Or have souvenir hunters destroyed any chance historians have of uncovering the truth? While I'm sure we are all looking forward to Ian Jones' commentary, the same cannot be said for that other 'expert' Alex McDermott...

Link: Ned Kelly Uncovered

Ned on the air

Annie Hastwell's report on the 2008 Beechworth Weekend went to air on Saturday March 28th on ABC Radio National AM 621 in Victoria on the new features program 360. To quote the report, 'He has been dead for almost 130 years but Ned Kelly continues to dominate the lives of a surprising number of Australians. We meet some of them at Beechworth's annual Ned Kelly Festival. Beechworth is actually the town where Kelly was committed for the trial that resulted in his hanging, but ironically, these days, he's the town's favourite son.'  Check out the site to listen to the program's podcast and while you're there check out some of Alan Crichton's photos from the event.

Link: Program 360

Corrupt police and that Beechworth weekend

With news that former Victoria Police assistant commissioner Noel Ashby has been ordered to stand trial on 13 counts of perjury, it'll be interesting to see what spin these 'experts' (and just who the hell is Dr Robert Haldane?) put on these crooked events during the pro-police forum at the Kelly Beechworth Weekend Saturday night 'gala'. As McDermott refuses to acknowledge any wrong doing on behalf of Standish, Steele, Ward and the numerous other dodgy cops which littered the Victorian Police force at the end of the 19th century who wouldn't want to fork out $33 each to listen to such 'enlightened' garbage...

Link: Real Villains

Watching it all turn to dust

Drafting the 'Save The Kelly House At Beveridge' petition which will be sent to the Federal Heritage Minister Peter Garrett (remember when he really stood for something?) is well under way. However this little story Our Oldest House? caught my attention as it parallels the plight of Ned's boyhood home. Watch this space...

Link: Our oldest house? Demolisher's delight

Charles 'Bud" Tingwell is dead

Legendary Australian actor Charles 'Bud' Tingwell has died today (15 May 2009) in a Melbourne hospital after a battle with prostate cancer. His agent confirmed the 86-year-old iconic star of 'The Castle' and TV cop show 'Homicide' passed away this morning. I met Bud at the launch of the Heath Ledger Ned Kelly movie in Melbourne a few years ago and got a chance to ask him about his association with Ned through the movies. He said it was one of the privileges of a long acting career which allowed him to feature in such iconic Australian movies like 'The Glenrowan Affair'. Tingwell was born in the Sydney beach side suburb of Coogee on January 3, 1923. It was not until after his mother died that he discovered why he had been nicknamed Bud - when she was pregnant, friends at the Coogee Surf Club asked her 'what's budding in there?' which became 'how's the bud?'. Such is life...

The Joe Byrne photo debate

Seems the Feedback at end of 2008 was all about Joe Byrne and his altered image. Just which photo is or isn't Joe. Caption Jack Hoyle attempts to answer this perplexing question in a well thought out and forthright piece. Check out his words of wisdom in our Writings section.

Link: Writings

Animated Theatre 'renovations'

Seems Bob Hempel's Ned Kelly Animated Theatre in Glenrowan under went some minor renovations (again) thanks in large part to Mr Sparky (some dodgy electrical wiring) starting a few fires. As reported in the local news, 'Proprietor Bob Hempel tells the Gazette that the main problem seems to be to find the source of the fire - probably some kind of electrical fault. He is happy to say that nobody has come to any harm and that there was not much material damage.' There's a joke there somewhere but I just can't put my finger on it...

Link: Glenrowan Gazette

A sad case of history repeating

When I read this quote from 'UN to hear of Victorian woman's brutal bashing' it sounded strangely familiar, '...The disgrace of this situation is the Government gives the power to police to arrest, to carry firearms and to charge people, yet denies they're servants or agents when they do the wrong thing ... They need to take responsibility for the actions of their police, their employees; or they're sending a message to the coppers that they can get away with anything...' Familiar because 128 years ago Ned Kelly wrote, 'If my lips teach the public that men are made mad by bad treatment, and if the police are taught that they may not exasperate to madness men they persecute and ill-treat, my life will not entirely be thrown away.'

Link: Real Villains

Ned Kelly Beechworth weekend

The first weekend in August marks the start of the annual Kellyfest at Beechwort. Featured acts include Ashley Davies and Ian Jones, Peter Finlay, and yours truly banging on about ironoutlaw.com, technology, and all things Ned. A full run down has been released including what, where and when so get your mouse into gear and click up a storm. I expect a big ironoutlaw.com turn out to this three day event. Hopefully I'll get a chance to share a beer or three with every one of you (those under eighteen I'll shout you a flavoured milk).

Link: Events

Guilty Pleasures

Good news everyone. As part of 2008 Law Week, in Melbourne, Ned Kelly was once again found not guilty in the latest retrial. All we have to do now is put all the bones back together, hunt down his missing skull and brain (pssst, it's at Melbourne University), hire Dr Frankenstein and get him and Igor to hook the remains up in their lab then wait for a massive electrical storm. After that we can give reanimated Ned a pat on the back, say sorry for killing him, and share a beer and a good laugh.

Link: Kelly 'not guilty' in trial re-enactment

What a Nut Job!

For a bloke whose never had a real job (except as a Danny Bonaduce look-a-like) Alex McDermott has a lot to say. What I find amazing is that for years he's been riding Ned's coat tails in a vain attempt to get noticed. Well he's succeed, again. Not content with publishing garbage thinly disguised as 'academic research' (see Books) or getting his backside whipped by Ian Jones (see Documents) Danny is at it again with his own twisted take on the dig at Glenrowan. So click on the link below then send him an email to show your support.

Link: Digging up Ned - all over again

Maxing out on Mr Brown

Chester Eagle, life long friend of the late author Max Brown, wrote a mini libretto about Max and his inspiration in writing the masterpiece Australian Son. Chester, owner of Trojan Press, was the editor of the fully revised edition of Australian Son, available for purchase in our Shop section.

Link: Kelly Country.pdf

Digging up the past

Bullets found at the Glenrowan Inn! Amazing as it sounds these MUST be the same bullets used during the siege because surely that block of land hasn't been used either before or after that! Still, once they clear away all that 'mess' they can finally build the Jones Drive- Inn Bottle Shop first mooted by one of the Glenrowan Improvers a few years back.

Link: 'Exciting' finds in Ned Kelly dig

A smoking gun?

I'm having trouble pitying the poor sucker who forked out seventy thousand dollars (yes, $70,000.00) for a revolver that has about as much to do with the Kelly outbreak as that body buried in the Ipswich cemetery (contrary to that nut-bag Councilor Tully's claims). Thank's to an Age investigation it has now come to light that the weapon was built in 1884, long after Fitzpatrick left the force in disgrace and Kelly swung in the Old Melbourne Gaol. Next sucker please...

Link: Auction house to probe Kelly gun

Make no bones about it

Seems Ned Kelly's bones have been discovered among a group of 32 prisoner remains at the old Pentridge Prison. This would be the same prison where his bones were already known to have been buried BUT according to this new find the original location of his resting place was all wrong. Guess they'll have to unbolt that helmet attached to the grave marker in Ronald Ryan's plot and mothball it until this new discovery is officially recognised – with family DNA. Perhaps in this trade-off the Government will let his family finally bury Ned (although he may still be buried under RMIT). Confused?

Link: Ned Kelly's bones found

Ned grows in stature

Those generous folk at ConnectEast have given the masses something to gaze at as they sit in traffic jams along the EastLink. Ned by artist Campbell Robertson-Swann (yep, that's the blokes name) has taken inspiration from Sidney Nolan, a bucket load of cash from the State Government, and five tons of steel to create this homage to an Australian icon. It can be found on the EastLink Trail, north of High Street Road.

Link: Connecteast Ned.pdf

Let's get a Neducation

Paul O’Keefe, a descendant of the Kelly Gang's Steve Hart, runs an educational performance business known as Kelly Gang Educational Services that was originally started for schools in New South Wales but which has now been expanded along the East Coast. His school lectures and shows are enjoying rave reviews from teachers and students alike.

Link: Paul O'Keefe Interview

What a numb-skull

While news reports abound with stories of Ned Kelly's missing bones not a word is mentioned about his stolen skull? Back in December 1978, Kelly's cranium was lifted from the Old Melbourne Gaol in what appeared to be a university student prank. One of the culprits was rumoured to be an ex-prime minister's son, yet to this day no one knows what happened to it. While a dirt farmer by the name of Tom Baxter in Western Australia claims he has the skull buried in a tin can in his backyard, evidence has consistently disproved his claim. For while Tom allegedly carries one of the skull's teeth on a necklace, it is in fact Ernest Knox's skull (hence the EK engraved on the skull). This EK was executed in 1894 for murder, after the shooting death of a jeweller's son during a bungled armed robbery. Either way, they are human remains and the befuddled Western Australian police should have confiscated this skull when they first heard his claim.

See: Stand and deliver Ned's skull