Caught him at last!

[Gob]

Forensic experts have confirmed that human remains found at the old Pentridge Prison site in Melbourne are those of notorious Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.

After an exhaustive 20-month investigation, scientists and doctors today revealed that an almost complete skeleton found buried in a wooden axe box were those of the famous outlaw, who was executed in 1880.

A DNA sample taken from Melbourne school teacher Leigh Olver, who is the great-grandson of Kelly's sister Ellen, confirmed the remains were those of the bushranger.
The remains at the prison had been long rumoured to be those of Kelly but never confirmed, until now.

Kelly's remains were mixed among those of 33 others that were exhumed from Pentridge in 2009. His skull was stolen from a glass display case at the Old Melbourne Gaol in 1978 - the mystery surrounding its whereabouts sparking the investigation that led to the discovery.

Attorney-General Robert Clark said it was a remarkable achievement by forensic teams in Australia and around the world.
Ned Kelly.



"To think a group of scientists could identify the body of a man who was executed more than 130 years ago, moved and buried in a haphazard fashion among 33 other prisoners, most of whom are not identified, is amazing," he said.

The exhaustive forensic analysis was carried out by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM), in collaboration with the forensic DNA laboratory EAAF in Argentina.

It included input from historians, pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists, radiologists, and ballistics and DNA experts.

Mr Clark said the analysis revealed Kelly's remains were among those transferred from the Old Melbourne Gaol, where Kelly was hanged, to Pentridge Prison in 1929 and then exhumed again in 2009.

The investigation was launched in November 2009 when West Australian farmer Tom Baxter handed a skull to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine that he claimed was Kelly's.

Mr Baxter said he had been in possession of the skull for years. Kelly's skull was stolen from a glass display case at the Old Melbourne Gaol in 1978.

Last month, the Victorian coroner rejected claims the skull handed to the state was that of Kelly, but Mr Baxter's claims sparked an investigation that led to today's announcement.

As well as trying to identify the skull, Professor Stephen Cordner and his team of forensic experts at the VIFM began trying to identify Kelly's remains from among the remains exhumed from Pentridge.

Through a series of CT scans, X-rays, pathology, odontology and anthropology tests plus extensive historical research and DNA analysis, the team was able to identify the remains.

The identification was completed when a DNA sample taken from Mr Olver was compared to a DNA sample taken from the remains.

In 2008, archaeologists located three mass burial plots at the old Pentridge Prison containing the remains of prisoners executed at the Melbourne Gaol and reburied at Pentridge in 1929.

Kelly was a celebrity even in 1929 when the bodies were dug up from the Melbourne Gaol and moved, and, when the mass burial plots were discovered, archaeologists said some of Kelly's remains may have been taken as souvenirs.

Among his body parts thought at the time to have been taken was his head, which was removed immediately after his execution.

Some key body features, including a distinguishing wrist injury suffered at the Glenrowan siege, would have helped with identification of Kelly.

Consultations will begin shortly with Kelly's family to determine an appropriate resting place for the remains.

Investigations are continuing to identify the skull Mr Baxter handed to the institute.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ned-k ... z1WgGx6Ghm

[The Hen]

Poor Ned, you're better off dead
At least you'll get some peace of mind
You're out on the track
They're right on your back
Boy, they're gonna hang you high

Eighteen-hundred and seventy eight was the year I remember so well
They put my father in an early grave slung my mother in gaol
Now I don't know what's right or wrong but they hung Christ on nails
Six kids at home and two still on the breast they wouldn't even give us bail

We sing
Poor Ned, you're better off dead
At least you'll get some peace of mind
You're out on the track
They're right on your back
Boy, they're gonna hang you high

You know I wrote a letter bout Stringy-Bark Creek
So they would understand that I might be a bushranger
But I'm not a murdering man
I didn't want to shoot Kennedy or that copper Lonnigan
He alone could have saved his life by throwing down his gun

We sing
Poor Ned, you're better off dead
At least you'll get some peace of mind
You're out on the track
They're right on your back
Boy, they're gonna hang you high

You know they took Ned Kelly and they hung him in the Melbourne gaol
He fought so very bravely dressed in iron mail
And no man single handed can hope to break the bars
It's a thousand like Ned Kelly who'll hoist the flag of stars

And we sing
Poor Ned, you're better off dead
At least you'll get some peace of mind
You're out on the track
They're right on your back
Boy, they're gonna hang you high

Poor Ned, you're better off dead
At least you'll get some peace of mind
You're out on the track
They're right on your back
Boy, they're gonna hang you high

[Aard Vark]

Did you know Ned's brother is said to be in the Ipswich Cemertary?
You can read it all here
http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/09/02/d ... y-ipswich/

But that was turned in its head when a man walked into the offices of The Truth newspaper in 1933 claiming to be Dan Kelly.

He maintained the story until his death – that he had escaped the fire and made his way to Ipswich – and convinced many locals of his story in the Fernvale area, where he lived.

I hope they can use the DNA match for Ned to find his brother
But with so many bodies in the Free Ground of Ipswich cemetary it doesn't look good

[Sue U]

Who the heck are these people and what do they mean to you (Aus?)?

[Aard Vark]

Ned was the leader of the Kelly Gang. They started Up as Bush Rangers in Victoria after a rather long run in with the police. There are a few stories why they took to Bush ranging but I like, The police had arrested Kate Kelly Ned's sister and they boys took that as the last straw and freeded her but now with the police on their heels they took to robbing the rich to survive and to get support of the locals.
They are Folk Heros here as The Kellys have a Robbin Hood reputation Taking from the rich and giving to the pore.

They made armour out of plough blades But at the Glenrowan on 28 June 1880 Ned came out and was shot in the legs and captured
After he recovered in Hospital they hung Ned in Pentrige Jail

His last words were "Such is Life" A statement every true Australian holds dear.

So these blokes are really important to us

[rubato]

There was a movie starring Mick Jagger as Ned back in the 70s. I don't recall much else other than that it was entertaining and Ned [Mick] when he is sentenced says to the Judge "I'll see you, there" pointing downwards.

yrs,
rubato

[Aard Vark]

I never will understand why aynone thorght Mick Jagger could play Ned
He was a big bushy bloke with an attitude and a big heat. Not a scawny git with lips. I cringe every time I heard that bloody awlful fake accent.

[Sue U]

What is "bush ranging"/"bush ranger"?

[The Hen]

He is a Highway man, without the highway.

[Sue U]

He is a Highway man, without the highway.

In for a bit of difficulty, then, it would seem.

[Crackpot]

He's the US's wild west legends all rolled up into one.

[Gob]

We visited this once, I had the worse cup of tea I have ever had in my life there.

These days you’d be ill advised to hold up the Glenrowan Post Office. Standing guard outside is a six-metre high Big Ned Kelly, depicted just as he appeared when he was captured near the town, in June 1880, in his trademark charcoal armour and heavy mask, rifle in hand.

Remarkably, no-one quite remembers when the first Big Ned Kelly was built in Glenrowan, but it was stolen and dumped in the river. Bob Hempel built Ned Kelly II for his “Kellyland” video theatre and museum in 1980, the 100th anniversary of Ned’s death, but moved it inside the exhibit eight years later, where it could only be seen for a price. Rod and Chris Gerret, owners of Kate’s Cottage, which houses a Ned Kelly memorial museum, then decided to put Glenrowan on the map in a big way. Says Chris: “We wanted somewhere people could be photographed for free and big things seemed to be all the rage at the time, so we decided to build a Big Ned Kelly to keep up with the rest.”

They commissioned Kevin Thomas, a Sydney special effects technician, to build the six-metre high, 1.5 tonne fibreglass outlaw at a cost of $12,000. It took eleven hours to truck down from Sydney (there were numerous hold-ups along the way) and Big Ned Kelly III was unveiled on 14 April, 1992. The occasion attracted newspaper coverage from around the country, including the front page of Melbourne’s Herald-Sun, alongside a story about another Australian outlaw, Alan Bond, who’d been jailed for fraud that very day.

The Big Things of Australia are a loosely related set of large structures or sculptures. There are estimated to be over 150 such objects around the country, the first being the Big Scotsman in Medindie, Adelaide, which was built in 1963.

Most Big Things began as tourist traps found along major roads between destinations.

The big things have become something of a cult phenomenon, and are sometimes used as an excuse for a road trip, where many or all Big Things are visited and used as a backdrop to a group photograph. Many of the big things are considered works of folk art and are being heritage-listed

[The Hen]

We only went there so you could tick off a 'BIG THING'.

You can't deny Big Ned wasn't big.

You LOVE big things.

Which reminds me, we haven't gone back to Goulburn to find out where they moved the BIG Merino.

[Gob]

Good point!

(And yes, I want to see all the "Big things" when we do our "grey nomad" tour!)

[loCAtek]

Caught him at last!

Hadn't he already been caught, tried and executed?

[Sean]

Which reminds me, we haven't gone back to Goulburn to find out where they moved the BIG Merino.

We stopped off there for something to eat on the way back to Sydney from yours. Trust me, you'll notice it as you drive in.

[Aard Vark]

Just a note of interest
After the hanging of Ned the Govener of the Jail is said to have had Ned's scotom removed and made into a Tabacco pouch.

I can't find anything to say this didn't happen


Big things Did you hear the Big Pineapple was bought and is being renovated so it is going to stay.
It is a great Queensland Icon but everything over priced and the tea was always a seconed to a cup of warm mud
I for one loved the place

[Gob]

Just a note of interest
After the hanging of Ned the Govener of the Jail is said to have had Ned's scotom removed and made into a Tabacco pouch.

I can't find anything to say this didn't happen

Must be worth a fair bit if it's true!

Big things Did you hear the Big Pineapple was bought and is being renovated so it is going to stay.
It is a great Queensland Icon but everything over priced and the tea was always a seconed to a cup of warm mud

I wonder if it's compulsory for "Big Things" cafes to serve shit tea?

[Sean]

I didn't realise until now that the big guitar outside the Hard Rock Cafe in Surfers is an official 'Big Thing'.
I'd expect them to be able to make a half decent brew...

[rubato]

...

I wonder if it's compulsory for "Big Things" cafes to serve shit tea?

Tea is shit to begin with. You soak some chinese leaves in boiling water for a few minutes and get ... what?



yrs,
rubato