Ned Kelly

Ned Kelly perhaps the best known Australian though in old Melbourne jail he died dangling from a rope A victim of years of police harassment he was one born on life's precarious slope For years the Kelly family were victims of racism by the racist authorities they never really did get a fair go But what happened to the Kellys is still happening racism has not died as we well know. It was racism made outlaws of the Kellys but the legend of the Kellys lives today Their story is known far beyond Australia all around the World in Countries far away Their sister Kate by the police violated and their mother jailed for a minor offence, Ned and Dan Kelly with Steve Hart and Joe Byrne became outlaws though police harassment was never used in their defence. To the underclass the Kelly gang were heroes for with them they readily could identify To some villians but to the many heroes their legend it would seem will never die In their last stand at Glenrowan they went down fighting Ned the only gang member taken alive Shot down through the legs as he wore body protective armour But at his trial the judgement of the judge he did not survive. Perhaps the best known of all Australians is Ned Kelly and to die by hanging was his awful fate When Judge Redmond Barry passed the death sentence on him a hero for the poor he did create But from the maltreatment of the Kellys lessons were not learned as society creates new outlaws every day And due to intolerance that lead to injustice by the so called law upholders disrespect for man made laws the price we pay