It is a tragic story of rural poverty and the police. Ned's mother outlived all her family. She died aged 95, well respected and much loved, still in Greta West.
I had not previously known that there were many Ellen Kellys. Apart from Ned's mother there was his sister, half-sister, niece and cousins.
Benalla is centre stage of his escapades and was Police Headquarters in NE Victoria.
Day Trips: Back to Tatong
The book uses reliable sources, let's not argue this point. He was a very naughty boy with a touch of charisma that the young wife of the manager of the Euroa National Bank that he robbed immediately recognised. She dressed up for him.
The Benalla Museum has many artifacts associated with Ned including his green sash awarded after saving a drowning boy in Avenal when he too was just a boy. He wore it at the Glenrowan siege.
There is a board near the Museum telling what Ned memorabilia is inside and places around Benalla that are connected to him.
Day Trips: Myrtleford via Milawa
It does not mention that the Benalla police magistrate Alfred Wyatt, was ‘deliciously eccentric'. He rode around his court circuit wearing a velveteen suit, goggles and a large pyramid shaped hat with long white tails that streamed behind him.
He always led another bare-backed horse to keep his company. He was not unsympathetic to the Kellys. They were strange times.
It also does not mention John Nicholson, the Benalla Doctor and Surgeon to the police force.
He attended Ellen Kelly before she died, was the medical officer after the Fitzpatrick incident that sealed the fate of mother Ellen, Ned and brother Dan and was called to the scene after the Glenrowan shootout.
Day Trips: North of the divide
Dr Nicholson counted that Ned was hit 28 times at Glenrowan. He removed and saved Ned's green sash.
The Botanic Gardens has a plaque on a rock that honours his memory but it mentions none of his Kelly connections, only that it is on the ‘bridle path he used to get to his horse paddock'.
Joe Byrne is mentioned. He died at Glenrowan and was hung up on a door to be ogled at. The door is in the Benalla Museum and Joe is buried in Benalla Cemetery's far corner.
I have walked around Lake Benalla a million times, well maybe only half-a-million, and never read what is written on the other side of the board relating to Ned.
*** Day Trips:Cycling Benalla
There is a faded story of NSW explorer/surveyor Major Thomas Mitchell who camped beside the Broken River in 1836. On the other side of the Lake there is, yet again, another rock with a plaque telling that Major Mitchell's bugler drowned while crossing the ‘swampy river'.
The map shows his explorations in what is now Victoria. It suggests following the Major's trail by foot, bike, horse or car and staying in homesteads or other accommodation listed in a booklet available at the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands Office.
The Department has changed its name several times since the board was erected and none can find the brochure but Benalla Tourism has a good alternative.
Day Trips: A visit to the silos
When the stay-at-home restrictions end we will not need the Ned Kelly touring brochure but if you do, use it to find Stringybark Creek beyond Tatong then head towards Whitfield on the Tolmie Road stopping at Power's Lookout. Harry was a very bad influence on young Ned but the views are fantastic.
Go on to Whitfield for lunch where there are many choices between pubs, wineries or new Oven Bakery at Cheshunt. Finally, retrace your route onto the Tolmie Road but turn off towards Myrrhee which is a very pretty and quite different journey home. This was all Ned Kelly Country.
When we can, we will retrace Major Mitchell's route to Portland then up to Swan Hill. His travels were less colourful but led to greater things.
- Suzie Pearce
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