History Lesson

One of Australia's more controversial figures from the past is Ned Kelly.  He is considered to be either a folk hero or a cold-blooded killer, depending on your interpretation.  Regardless of one's feelings about Ned Kelly's activities he is an enduring image in Australia today, with numerous portraits and portrayals of him in his home-made armour.

Sidney Nolan Painting of Ned Kelly, Melbourne NGV

Ned Kelly was arrested on several occasions for a variety of crimes and was associated with gangs and bush rangers who committed robberies in Victoria.  His real problems with the law began in 1878, at the age of 23, when he assaulted a police officer who had come out to the Kelly farm to question Ned.  This same police officer was also there to woo Ned's sister Kate, who was only 13 or 14 years old at the time.  It is unclear about what happened between Ned, the police officer, Kate and Ned's mother Ellen, but the police officer was wounded by either an ax or a gun, or both, and Ned Kelly was on the run from the law for the rest of his short life.  He formed a gang with his brother and two friends, all of whom were killed in 1880.

In his final shoot out with police the members of the Kelly gang wore armour to protect their bodies.   We had thought the armour was no more than a couple of glorified metal buckets, but it was actually real armour.  It was strong enough to repel bullets but it only covered the men's heads and torsos, leaving their legs completely exposed.  The shots that brought down Ned Kelly were to his legs.  His armour was dented but hadn't been shot through.

Ned Kelly's armour, Melbourne State Library

After his capture Ned Kelly was quickly tried, found guilty and hung for his crimes.  His dramatic final shoot out with police and the ingenuity of the armour has over shadowed the crimes that he committed and he is remembered as someone who fought for the poor.  During one of his bank robberies, Ned burned the bank books so that any records of loans and mortgages were erased, and those people with the mortgages were then debt free.

Our excitement this week (not quite as dramatic as a shoot out in homemade armour) came about because Santos, where we both work, is going to be in Calgary on a recruitment drive in June and have started to advertise in the Calgary Herald.  Santos was contacted by CBC radio in Calgary and JB recorded an interview with them about her experience as a Canadian moving to Australia.  It was a short interview and focused on how transferable skill sets are between the Calgary industry and the industry in Brisbane.  We'll post a link once it airs.