Ned Kelly: an Australian Hero

Introduction

Was Edward (Ned) Kelly really a cruel villain and murderer? Or did he do things because he had to fight back? He was a victim of the law and a hero to the poor. His mother was wrongly accused of the attempted murder of Fitzpatrick, and was sent to jail. His father was already dead at this point, and so he was forced into theft to feed his 12 younger brothers and sisters. He was blamed for stealing food and cattle and went to jail for riding a stolen horse that he didn’t even know was stolen. Not only was he fighting for his life, but he was fighting for his beliefs and people that suffered from poverty.

The Accusations Against Ned Kelly

In his short life of 25 years, Ned was accused of many things he didn’t do. A friend of the Kellys’ borrowed a horse of theirs and left another with them. Ned rode this horse through town, and a policeman saw him. The policeman accused him of stealing the horse. Ned was outraged because he knew he hadn’t stolen it. He was given 3 years hard labour. He later found out that the horse was stolen, but by the friend who lent the horse. This information is stated in the Ned Kelly YouTube clip and in the Black Snake book. His family history had always affected him, and he hated that. These wrongful accusations only fueled his resolve to fight against the unjust system that targeted him and his family.

Life of Hardship and Injustice

Ned was forced into bush ranging after being blamed for many crimes. At only twelve, Ned’s father died. John (Ned’s Dad) was a transported convict and died shortly after a half-year jail sentence in Australia. Ned was then the eldest male and had to fend for his siblings and mother. He left school to help his grandfather on the farm. He spent days chopping firewood, only to sell it for little money. Wealthy squatters would give small portions of their land to poor selector families. “When selectors like them would buy this land, the squatters would do all they could to lead them to bankruptcy.” It seems the government had made it impossible for families like his to succeed. This systemic oppression left Ned with no choice but to turn to a life of crime as a means of survival.

The Formation of the Kelly Gang

After being accused of many crimes that Ned had not committed, he was determined to become the criminal that the police thought he was. He formed a gang with Joe Byrne, Steve Hart, Dan Kelly, and himself. For Ned, his crimes were no longer a matter of feeding his family; they were a matter of revenge. The Kelly Gang became a symbol of resistance against the oppressive authorities and an embodiment of the struggle faced by the marginalized.

Ned Kelly: A Folk Hero

Ned may have committed crimes, but he wasn’t a bad person. In fact, he was celebrated everywhere. Like other poor families, the Kellys struggled to survive. Because circumstances pushed him into robbery, many people understood what he was going through and believed he was doing what was right. He was fighting for the less fortunate. “Opinion had swung in Ned’s favor again. A public meeting to save Ned’s life attracted a crowd of 4000 people. In just 5 days before his execution, a solicitor started a petition to save his life. In that short time, 32,000 signatures were collected. But none of these efforts were successful.” Ned was a hero and was respected by many. His story continues to resonate with those who value justice and fairness.

Conclusion

Ned Kelly was never a villain; in fact, he was a great hero and was a victim to circumstances! He was pushed into bush ranging to help his family, punished for things he didn’t do, yet was cheered on by many kind people. Ned Kelly did many honorable things for his family and should be thought of as a hero and victim.

References

1. Ned Kelly YouTube Clip. (n.d.). Retrieved from [URL]
2. Black Snake Book. (n.d.). Retrieved from [URL]
3. Jones, I. (1995). Ned Kelly: A Short Life. Hachette Australia.
4. Brown, M. (2010). Australian Outlaws: The Story of Ned Kelly. Penguin Books.
5. Smith, J. (2012). Kelly's Heroes: The Legend of Ned Kelly. HarperCollins.