Ned Kelly – Victim and Villain

Edward (Ned) Kelly, Australia’s most famous Bush ranger, was a victim and a villain. His conflict-stricken Irish heritage combined with childhood tragedy and poverty dominated his opinions and unfortunate young death. Amidst this background, opportunities for a principled life were rare, but they did present themselves. However, he did not embrace them entirely.

Boyhood

Ned grew up in the desolate Australian bush land with few upright mentors. He was at the tender age of eleven years when his father, Red Kelly, a former convict, died. Ned, the oldest boy in a household, was now responsible for seven siblings. After his father’s death, the family relocated to a small rustic hut closer to Ned’s grandfather and relatives hoping for support and friendship.

Money was always scant, and the family relied on all their skills to put food on the table. His mother, Ellen, made “sly grog” on the side, but this just attracted unsuitable men. Horse, sheep and cattle theft was rampant in rural Victoria, and the Kelly boys stole horses and took them to the police for “capture reward money.” Ned’s uncles included him in their horse smuggling business. Soon, Ned was introduced to Harry Power, who both frightened and fascinated him. These uncouth mentors would eventually initiate Ned into a life of crime and rebellion.

Adolescence

Harry Power had the charm and moral conviction of Robin Hood. He was extremely talented in highway robbery and theft. He was an escaped convict and  a similar age to Ned’s father. Although he was an outlaw, he prided himself in never killing a man and was polite, courteous and charming to those he robbed. He lived a primitive life in the remote Australian bush. Ned spent several years as Harry’s apprentice and learned the charm and techniques for crime and etiquette that would influence the remainder of his life.

The colonial Victorian police force consisted mostly of ex-convicts, who maintained a regular income and the first opportunity to secure reward money. Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick, a lazy, dishonest trooper, was the apparent trigger for the series of events that would alter Ned’s life and Australian history.

Fitzpatrick sought recognition and demanded the imprisonment of Dan Kelly, Ned’s younger brother, for horse stealing. He came to Ned’s house drunk, without a warrant, and demanded Dan. Fitzpatrick also attacked Ned’s sister, Kate. Ellen, (Ned’s mother) stood up to him, despite having a newborn baby, by hitting him with a shovel. Fitzpatrick claimed Ned shot him in the wrist. Both the Kelly’s and Fitzpatrick had reason to manipulate the facts, but this incident resulted in Ellen jailed for three years, and the Kelly boys were now on the run. Fitzpatrick was fired from the colonial police within eighteen months for lies and laziness.

Adulthood

Ned became more distraught and retaliated by robbing wealthy English migrants. He formed a gang by which his lawlessness continued for several years. The police engaged the assistance of indigenous aboriginal trackers who found him, but before his capture, Ned’s gang made a public plea. He wrote a letter to the paper explaining his real motivation, his devotion to Ireland and his disdain for the hostility of the Victorian Police. His final battle was the shootout with police in his famous heavy homemade armor. Sadly, this event ended in all the gang’s death, his imprisonment and hanging.

Ned Kelly’s story is one of survival and misfortune. His young life was challenged by poor mentoring in the wild and empty Australian bush. His death at 22 years was a tragedy for himself and his family. His final words “Such is Life” epitomize his surrender and acceptance of his fight for equality, but lost.

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