just after his father died. A neighbour claimed Ned had stolen his horse and reported the theft to the police. Though it was noted in the
Police Gazette
, fortunately for Ned, the charge was dropped and nothing came of it.
Local Hero
Other local people suspected that Ned had stolen horses from them, including a family called the Sheltons. But Ned did something that made this family forget about their missing horse and remember Ned with gratitude. Their young son, Dick, was walking to school one day when he fell into the river. Eleven-year-old Ned happened to be passing by and jumped into the river to rescue the drowning lad. The grateful Sheltons praised Ned’s bravery and gave him a strange reward. It was a specially made green silk sash, seven feet long and trimmed with a fringe made of real gold threads. It was meant to be worn over one shoulder. Ned was very proud of his sash and wore it on special occasions.
Horseplay
As Ned grew up, he developed a love of horses. Dressed in moleskin pants and high leather boots, Ned found time between his farm chores to become an excellent horseman. He liked to show off his riding skills by riding down the main street of Greta on unbroken horses. The residents of Greta stood back in fear as the wild horses tried unsuccessfully to buck him off.
There was not much in the way of entertainment in small country towns in the 1870s. Community picnics and sports meetings were occasions that everyone looked forward to. People came from miles around to attend. At these events, Ned performed demonstrations of trick riding. On a galloping horse he would lean down out of his saddle to snatch up a handkerchief from the ground. He would also kneel on the horse’s back as it leapt over fences at lightning speed.
Further Education
Ned had unusual eyes. A policeman once said that he had “dingo eyes”. A doctor who tended to Ned said he had what was known as “Alexandrite” eyes. When people with Alexandrite eyes become angry or excited they glow red.
Ned went to school for less than two years. He must have been a bright boy because in that time he managed to learn how to read, write and do basic arithmetic. When Ned was ten, his father spent six months in jail for stealing a cow. Ned left school to take his father’s place on the farm. That was the end of his schooling, but not the end of his education.
Four years later, Ned became an apprentice. Not as you might expect to a builder or a stockman, but to a bushranger. Harry Power wasn’t a very impressive looking bushranger. He was short, middle-aged, bad-tempered and he had problems with his bowels. He wasn’t very successful either. He had quite a talent for getting caught by the police. Harry spent 32 years in jail—almost half his life.
Juvenile Bushranger
The bushranger and his young assistant specialised in highway robbery. They would hide in the Strathbogie Ranges and suddenly appear on the road-side, pointing guns at unsuspecting travellers and demanding their money and valuables. They didn’t earn a fortune, but £10 here, a gold watch there and the occasional good quality saddle made it worth their while.
Ned’s mother didn’t object to her son becoming a bushranger. She probably looked forward to getting Ned’s cut of the spoils. Mrs Kelly made money illegally herself, by selling alcohol to passing travellers. Ned didn’t like the life of a bushranger though. Sleeping outside in all kinds of weather, eating poorly and putting up with Harry’s bad moods wasn’t much fun. After just a few months as an apprentice bushranger, Ned left Harry and went back home. He had become known as Power’s apprentice though and troopers arrived to arrest him early the next morning.
Young Ned spent several weeks in jail but was released without going to trial. Harry was caught after Ned’s release, and believed that Ned had told the police where his hideout was. It wasn’t Ned who got the £500 reward for Harry’s capture though,
Police Gazette
, fortunately for Ned, the charge was dropped and nothing came of it.
Local Hero
Other local people suspected that Ned had stolen horses from them, including a family called the Sheltons. But Ned did something that made this family forget about their missing horse and remember Ned with gratitude. Their young son, Dick, was walking to school one day when he fell into the river. Eleven-year-old Ned happened to be passing by and jumped into the river to rescue the drowning lad. The grateful Sheltons praised Ned’s bravery and gave him a strange reward. It was a specially made green silk sash, seven feet long and trimmed with a fringe made of real gold threads. It was meant to be worn over one shoulder. Ned was very proud of his sash and wore it on special occasions.
Horseplay
As Ned grew up, he developed a love of horses. Dressed in moleskin pants and high leather boots, Ned found time between his farm chores to become an excellent horseman. He liked to show off his riding skills by riding down the main street of Greta on unbroken horses. The residents of Greta stood back in fear as the wild horses tried unsuccessfully to buck him off.
There was not much in the way of entertainment in small country towns in the 1870s. Community picnics and sports meetings were occasions that everyone looked forward to. People came from miles around to attend. At these events, Ned performed demonstrations of trick riding. On a galloping horse he would lean down out of his saddle to snatch up a handkerchief from the ground. He would also kneel on the horse’s back as it leapt over fences at lightning speed.
Further Education
Ned had unusual eyes. A policeman once said that he had “dingo eyes”. A doctor who tended to Ned said he had what was known as “Alexandrite” eyes. When people with Alexandrite eyes become angry or excited they glow red.
Ned went to school for less than two years. He must have been a bright boy because in that time he managed to learn how to read, write and do basic arithmetic. When Ned was ten, his father spent six months in jail for stealing a cow. Ned left school to take his father’s place on the farm. That was the end of his schooling, but not the end of his education.
Four years later, Ned became an apprentice. Not as you might expect to a builder or a stockman, but to a bushranger. Harry Power wasn’t a very impressive looking bushranger. He was short, middle-aged, bad-tempered and he had problems with his bowels. He wasn’t very successful either. He had quite a talent for getting caught by the police. Harry spent 32 years in jail—almost half his life.
Juvenile Bushranger
The bushranger and his young assistant specialised in highway robbery. They would hide in the Strathbogie Ranges and suddenly appear on the road-side, pointing guns at unsuspecting travellers and demanding their money and valuables. They didn’t earn a fortune, but £10 here, a gold watch there and the occasional good quality saddle made it worth their while.
Ned’s mother didn’t object to her son becoming a bushranger. She probably looked forward to getting Ned’s cut of the spoils. Mrs Kelly made money illegally herself, by selling alcohol to passing travellers. Ned didn’t like the life of a bushranger though. Sleeping outside in all kinds of weather, eating poorly and putting up with Harry’s bad moods wasn’t much fun. After just a few months as an apprentice bushranger, Ned left Harry and went back home. He had become known as Power’s apprentice though and troopers arrived to arrest him early the next morning.
Young Ned spent several weeks in jail but was released without going to trial. Harry was caught after Ned’s release, and believed that Ned had told the police where his hideout was. It wasn’t Ned who got the £500 reward for Harry’s capture though,
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