Maisie - Bail up I'm a Kelly!

"Bail up I'm a Kelly!" was a commonly used phrase by the famous bushranger, Ned Kelly.  

Today we went to Beechworth where we learnt all about the bushranger and the rest of his gang, including Joe Byrne, Dan Kelly and Steve Hart. 

He started off stealing cattle and horses and robbing passing coaches, but really became famous by murdering policemen and robbing banks.  

Ned Kelly and his gang wore metal helmets and armour.  Nobody knew what he really looked like so he could go into town and nobody would know who he was. 

Ned Kelly lived with his mother Ellen in a town called Greta. He was the eldest son and had many siblings. His father died when he was very young and he didn't have much schooling as he had to help his mother on her farm and help pay off her land. Regardless, his letters were very passionate and poetic. One of his sisters fell in love with a policeman named Fitzpatrick.  Ned disliked Fitzpatrick when he treated his sister poorly and said to him "If I ever kill anyone you will be the first!"  Not long after that the Kelly gang got into a riot with police at Stringybark Creek and 3 policeman were killed in which Fitzpatrick was the first.

Another incident involving Ned Kelly was when he fought a man with bare fists in a boxing match in a Beechworth pub and won.  

The Kelly gang held up a NSW bank then disappeared for 16 months.  At this stage they were wanted for 8000 pounds. 

Finally after years of robbery, murder and disguise, he was finally hanged in Melbourne jail age 25. His final quote to the judge was "wherever I am going, I will see you there".  Twelve days later the judge suddenly died.  

Whether you think he was a hero or an outlaw, it is impossible to ignore Ned Kelly.