Use the words below to fill in the missing information.
Glenrowan Inn life armour Ellen Quinn banks legend bushranger bravery unprotected outlawed surviving letter friends hanged awarded
Australia’s most famous is Ned Kelly. Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly was born in Beveridge, Victoria in 1855. Ned’s mother was and his father was John ‘Red’ Kelly, an ex-convict. He was their eldest son of eight children. As a child, Ned rescued another boy from drowning. The boy’s family him a green silk sash in recognition of his . Red Kelly died when Ned was young and Ned was left to provide for the family. He worked cutting timber, breaking in horses, mustering cattle and fencing. During his teenage years, Ned got in trouble with the police.
In 1878, Ned felt that his mother was put in prison wrongfully and he was being harassed by the police, so he went into the bush to hide. Together with his brother Dan and two others, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart, they became the Kelly Gang. The Gang was after killing three policemen at Stringybark Creek. This meant that they could be shot on sight by anybody at any time. For two years, the Gang robbed and avoided being captured. At the Jerilderie Bank robbery in 1879, with the help of Joe, Ned wrote a famous telling his side of the story. Many struggling small farmers of north-east Victoria felt they understood the Gang’s actions. It has been said that most of the takings from his famous bank robberies went to help his supporters, so many say Ned was an Australian Robin Hood. Then, in June 1880, some of the Kelly Gang visited a friend and shot him dead for talking to the police.
The Kelly Gang was finally cornered at the . The police surrounded the pub and there was a gun battle from 27th to 28th June, 1880. The Gang wore suits of that they had made to protect themselves. Each suit was made from the thick metal parts of a farmer’s plough and weighed about 44 kilograms. Ned Kelly left the inn during the night, but returned the next morning to help his . Ned wore the green sash under his metal armour that protected him from the police for a while. Eventually, he was shot where his legs were , then the police captured him. The inn was set on fire by the police with Steve Hart, Joe Byrne (shot and killed earlier) and Dan Kelly inside. It burnt down, leaving Ned the only member of the Gang.
Page 1 of 3 Ned was found guilty of murder. When he was sentenced to death, more than 30,000 people signed a petition asking for a reprieve, however, he was on 11th November 1880 at Melbourne Gaol. Newspapers reported that his famous last words were, ‘ah well, I suppose it has come to this’ or ‘such is ’. Ned refused to surrender, hated the police treating people badly, gave reasons for his crimes, wanted justice for poor settlers and was loyal to his friends. These actions have helped create the Kelly .
Do you think Ned Kelly was a hero or a criminal? Explain your answer.
Page 2 of 3 Answers Australia’s most famous bushranger is Ned Kelly. Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly was born in Beveridge, Victoria in 1855. Ned’s mother was Ellen Quinn and his father was John ‘Red’ Kelly, an ex- convict. He was their eldest son of eight children. As a child, Ned rescued another boy from drowning. The boy’s family awarded him a green silk sash in recognition of his bravery. Red Kelly died when Ned was young and Ned was left to provide for the family. He worked cutting timber, breaking in horses, mustering cattle and fencing. During his teenage years, Ned got in trouble with the police.
In 1878, Ned felt that his mother was put in prison wrongfully and he was being harassed by the police, so he went into the bush to hide. Together with his brother Dan and two others, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart, they became the Kelly Gang. The Gang was outlawed after killing three policemen at Stringybark Creek. This meant that they could be shot on sight by anybody at any time. For two years, the Gang robbed banks and avoided being captured. At the Jerilderie Bank robbery in 1879, with the help of Joe, Ned wrote a famous letter telling his side of the story. Many struggling small farmers of north-east Victoria felt they understood the Gang’s actions. It has been said that most of the takings from his famous bank robberies went to help his supporters, so many say Ned was an Australian Robin Hood. Then, in June 1880, some of the Kelly Gang visited a friend and shot him dead for talking to the police.
The Kelly Gang was finally cornered at the Glenrowan Inn. The police surrounded the pub and there was a gun battle from 27th to 28th June, 1880. The Gang wore suits of armour that they had made to protect themselves. Each suit was made from the thick metal parts of a farmer’s plough and weighed about 44 kilograms. Ned Kelly left the inn during the night, but returned the next morning to help his friends. Ned wore the green sash under his metal armour that protected him from the police for a while. Eventually, he was shot where his legs were unprotected, then the police captured him. The inn was set on fire by the police with Steve Hart, Joe Byrne (shot and killed earlier) and Dan Kelly inside. It burnt down, leaving Ned the only surviving member of the Gang.
Ned was found guilty of murder. When he was sentenced to death, more than 30,000 people signed a petition asking for a reprieve, however, he was hanged on 11th November 1880 at Melbourne Gaol. Newspapers reported that his famous last words were, ‘ah well, I suppose it has come to this’ or ‘such is life’. Ned refused to surrender, hated the police treating people badly, gave reasons for his crimes, wanted justice for poor settlers and was loyal to his friends. These actions have helped create the Kelly legend.
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