Ned Kelly – One of a Kind Hero

Edward (Ned) Kelly is Australia’s most famous bushranger; he was looked up to by many who found him to be a hero, but some people despised him; regard him as an old thug who loved nothing but causing evilness. Ned loved his family more than anything and would do anything to protect them, he also saved a drowning child! Ned had performed a variety of villainous acts such as thieving, robbery, and murder. Though when Ned was finally caught and hanged to death, many united to save his life recalling of the many heroic acts he had performed towards the community.

Ned, just at the age of 11, risked his own life to save a drowning boy from a river. He had been passing by and spotted the young lad suffering when he then leapt into the river to rescue him. The parents of the young boy (the Shelton's) who were the proprietors of the Royal Mail Hotel, awarded Ned for his bravery with a special green silk sash. This courageousness shows that Ned wasn’t just a boy who stole cattle, he may sound like a disgraceful and ungrateful gangster but inside he had a heart of gold. Just like Ned Kelly, his beloved family also had a heart of gold, though they were treated unfairly by the Victorian Police including harassments towards the beautiful young sisters of Ned.

In April 1878, the ‘Fitzpatrick Affair’ occurred. Constable Fitzpatrick had arrived at the Kelly house to ‘arrest’ Daniel Kelly in charge of horse stealing, but what Fitzpatrick was actually there for was to get a hold of Catherine Kelly (better known as Kate). As Dan along with his mum were in a different room, heedless of what was happening, the constable took advantage of Kate about to harass her, ‘‘get your greasy hands off me’’ Kate yelled. As Dan and his mother rushed into the room, the constable stood up and Kate was thrown to the floor. Ellen grabbed a coal shovel and let it come crashing down on the constable’s helmet as he was still stumbling to get his revolver out of his holster. Just as Dan dove for the revolver the door burst open and Ned was standing on the doorstep. He fired at Fitzpatrick once but missed, he then shot again and nicked the officer's wrist. He glared at Fitzpatrick with beady eyes, ‘if you touch my sister again…’.

In conclusion, Ned Kelly can be unquestionably reckoned as a confounding hero; Ned’s actions weren’t motivated to be evil and they were all meant for good. Ned Kelly had saved a drowning child just at the age of 11 and he loved his family and would be devastated if they ever got hurt, what more could you ask for? Ned Kelly may just seem like an old bucket head but he undoubtedly is a one of a kind hero.