RESEARCH PROJECT SUBJECT TITLE: Ned Kelly
RESEARCH TOPIC: Who was Ned Kelly?
ASSESSMENT TYPE 1: FOLIO
Annotated assessment comments (yellow) are included throughout this work
sample and an assessment decision, based on the performance standards, can be
found at the end of this document.
As stated in the Stage 2 Research Project Guidelines 2011, a maximum of ten A4
single sided pages of material can be included in the student portfolio submitted for
moderation of this part of Assessment Type 1: Folio. The teacher and student
select evidence that may include materials from the proposal. Evidence of the
discussion part of the folio is in addition to the 10 pages and may be 2 pages or 10
minutes of evidence.
To illustrate the selection of materials for moderation, selected pages have been
identified. Those not being sent to moderation have been recoloured grey.
Please note this is an illustrative selection and should not be viewed as the only, or
best, possible selection from the evidence available.
The role of moderation at Stage 2 is to confirm the school’s assessment decisions,
and it does not involve remarking student work. For Assessment Type 1: Folio,
final moderation involves the review of the selected evidence to confirm that the
application of A+ to E assessment grade levels is consistent with the performance
standards.
Considerations in selecting evidence for Assessment Type 1: Folio
x Creating little to no re-formatting or editing of original evidence to minimise
teacher/student workload and to value the inclusion of authentic evidence
x Including evidence, where practicable, from each of the specific features of
the Planning and Application assessment design criteria (i.e. specific
feature P1, P2, A1, A2 & A3).
Assessment Type 1: Folio
Part a) Proposal
Am interested in doing something on Ned Kelly.
• Have a little bit of knowledge already as we did a cool unit on bushrangers in Year 9
History and watched a few films on Ned Kelly, such as the one with Heath Ledger and a
really bad old one with Mick Jagger. Listened to some interesting music too.
•
We had a class debate about whether he was a hero or not and it was interesting that
people felt really strongly about him. Everyone has an opinion on him and no-one agrees
with anyone else.
• Why are there such a lot of different views and which is the right one?
• All this made me interested in question of who is the real Ned Kelly? Was he guilty of the
crimes he was accused of and a dirty murderer or an innocent victim of injustice?
TOPIC: Who was Ned Kelly? Does Ned Kelly deserve his reputation?
Guiding Questions I will use to develop the research and hopefully find an answer to this question:
• When was Ned Kelly born?
How and when did he get involved in crime?
• Why did he get involved in crime?
What crimes was he accused of?
• What crimes did he commit?
• Was he a cold blooded killer or a victim?
Does he deserve his reputation?
Research Processes
• Will mostly use the internet as there are really good History sites usually from trustworthy
sources. May start with general sites such as Wikipedia or online Encyclopedias, then go
to more detailed sites specifically on Ned and some YouTube documentaries. If I can’t find
enough information will go to Miss H ( my Year 9 teacher) to ask
• Might do a survey of people I know of all ages, to see what people think and know of him
and whether he deserves his reputation.
Planning
Has a broad
research topic,
which lacks a
specific focus.
Shows some
thinking about
some aspects of
the topic through
these guiding
questions.
Ethics
• need to make sure I don’t copy from the websites and other sources – avoid plagiarism.
Also do a proper bibliography.
Proposed Research Outcome
• An essay or a Google site explaining my key findings about who he really was and whether
he was a cold-blooded killer and criminal or a victim.
Capability
• Although I could choose communication or personal development, I think that citizenship
will be most relevant.
• This is mainly because I think Ned was pretty concerned in a way with citizenship.
• From what I know about him already, he faced a lot of discrimination while he was alive,
and had a good sense of fairness and justice. So strong that some people even think that
he was going to start a revolution to help the poor.
• He himself put up with discrimination so he knew what it was like to have no rights or
respect.
• All this makes me think he knew deep inside that he wasn’t being treated like a real citizen
of his country, like he should be. He knew that the authorities were not behaving properly
and respecting the rights of the people in their community and that this was wrong.
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Planning
Considers reason
for choosing
capability and also
ethical issues –
albeit superficially.
Part b) Research Development
LIST OF possible sites
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkSzSdZCv6Y&feature=related
• says Kelly was a person who was picked on, forced to defend himself and his family.
• He did commit crimes, but the police committed worse ones.
Micallef Programme – Ned Kelly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoekwVye5qU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwacmASYFvk&feature=related
Takes you inside Melbourne gaol to help relive Ned’s last days
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk1ZunbY7Xc&feature=related
Black and white movie from 1906 SDS, The Story of the Kelly Gang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Kelly
PLAN:
Week 1, 2 – Decide on topic
Week 3 – Background research - internet + encyclopaedias
Week 4 – Background research – internet + encyclopaedias
Week 5 – Write proposal
Week 6, 7 – Indepth research of the detailed websites on Ned Kelly
Week 7 – Watch and take notes of YouTube documentaries
Week 8 Prepare for Discussion 1 and have it
Week 9 – Write survey
Week 10 – Hand out survey
Week 11 – Collect surveys and Do results of surveys
Week 13 – Plan Outcome
Week 14 – Produce Outcome
Week 15 – Discussion 2
Week 16 – Draft – Evaluation
Week 17 Draft – Evaluation
Week 18 Prepare everything for marking
Planning
This is “satisfactory”
– does cover all
activities to be
undertaken and
presents a logical
step-by-step
sequence. Although
activities are limited
to the internet this is
“appropriate” given
the nature of the
topic, e.g. historical
research. Extensive
resources are
available - of both
primary and
secondary nature.
Survey could be
“appropriate” given
topic – if
contemporary views
of Ned Kelly are
canvassed as part
of the exploration of
the topic.
Notes and Quotes from Internet Sites (from general sites. Quotes in bold)
1) Convict creations website http://www.convictcreations.com/history/nedkelly.htm
Irish background – made Ned target -‘”Ned Kelly was the son of an Irish Convict, a breeding
that had him offside with the authorities from the moment he was born. At aged 12, his
father died and he became the family's breadwinner. A defiant youth, at aged 15 he sent the
wife of a local dignitary a pair of calf's testicles accompanied by an indecent note. For the
insult, he was sentenced to six months hard labour. A few weeks after his release he was
convicted of receiving a stolen mare and spent another three years in prison. After his
release, he was again arrested; this time for the petty crime of riding across a footpath.”
Despite the authorities trying to break them, the entire Kelly family remained defiant. In turn, this
provoked Superintendent Nicholson to state in an official report: "The Kelly gang must be rooted
out of the neighbourhood and sent to Pentridge gaol, even on a paltry sentence. This would
be a good way of taking the flashiness out of them".
“it seems that Ned was right to lack faith in the justice system”
The more likely explanation is that Ned was trying to draw the community into his struggle.
Considering the past actions of the police, Ned knew that if his sympathisers killed police
officers after a train derailment, the police would respond even more heavy handily than
before. A whole community would be pulled into the fight which in the long run would lead
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Application
Development of
the research is
“adequate” – does
show selection of
evidence from the
sources here in
the next few
pages. Information
collected is
relevant to the
research topic.
to the north-east of Victoria being declared a republic and Ned becoming a revolutionary
hero. The trial - condemnation becomes exhaltation Rather than throw the book at Ned, the
prosecution only put him on trial for murder of Constable Lonigan. There was no doubt that
Ned had robbed banks, that he had instructed Joe Byrne to murder Aaron Sherrit and that
he had taken hostages. However in the case of killing Lonigan, there was a strong argument
that he had acted in self defence. Perhaps the authorities did not want it to prosecute Ned
on the actions of his last stand for it may have emerged that Ned's last stand was a
revolutionary struggle. This may have inspired copy cat movements, or encouraged the
public to see Kelly as a soldier instead of a criminal. “Although the trial was intended to
legitimise the authority's demonisation of Ned, it also gave him the opportunity to take off
his mask and reveal his humanity to the public. Standing before the crowd, Kelly didn't ask
for forgiveness or sympathy, he merely asked for his story to be heard”
Some things that Ned said
•
•
•
"I have outlived that care that curries public favour or dreads the public frown...let
the hand of law strike me down if it will, but I ask that my story be heard and
considered."
"I do not pretend that I have led a blameless life, or that one fault justifies another,
but the public in judging a case like mine should remember that the darkest life may
now have a bright side."
"If my lips teach the public that men are made mad by bad treatment, and if the
police are taught that they may exasperate to madness men they persecute and ill
treat, my life will not be entirely thrown away."
Not sure what these mean, but it sounds like in the last one that he became bad because of bad
treatment from the cops
2) http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/10/27/252001_opinion-news.html
Different view – “Surely it is time Ned Kelly was given a critical makeover. Let's be frank;
brutally honest if you like. Kelly is not a hero, but a cop killer. You won't find this on your
Kelly-country tea towels. “
3) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/nov/30/australia.davidfickling
“Some still challenge the legend. Journalist Frank Devine caused storm in 2000 when he
described Kelly as 'an embarrassment' and compared him to Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot. “
I reckon that’s going too far
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Part c) DISCUSSION
Preparation for Discussion. I had my discussion in Week 8. Here are the notes I prepared to
the teacher’s questions.. Listen to the recording of the real discussion on the CD.
What is your topic?
Who is Ned Kelly? Does he deserve his reputation?
At this stage of your research, are you happy with your topic or do you think it could be
refined further?
Yes ,guiding questions are helping me answer this topic.
How well are you following your plan for the research processes that you set out in your
proposal?
pretty closely.
Which research processes have you used so far?
web-based searches,
watched that film with Heath Ledger in it,
haven’t done the survey with people that I know yet.
How successful are the research processes you have used so far in producing the
information you need about Ned?
Google search engine has brought up lots of websites about Ned, finding information about Ned
has been easy. online biography wasn’t as good as I thought ,had some facts and dates but
bailup.com and ironoutlaw.com have had a lot of information.
Sometimes- don’t straight out answer my questions - have to guess what they are saying
What challenges have you faced so far and what have you done to overcome them?
- reading things written by Ned Kelly - I don’t understand
-they used different words and no punctuation back then, so it’s really hard to understand- . I tried
reading the Jerilderie letter which people think Ned wrote. It says why he did things. I couldn’t
understand it. Couldn’t find modern version of it.
hard to find authors for some websites - cant put those details in my bibliography.
Seems to be a lot of books on the topic- don’t have any of these in the school Library.
might be some of the better books at our local library but it’s too hard to get there.
Application
Research
development is
“adequate”.
Follows through
with planned
processes and
does explore
areas identified,
but shows little
resourcefulness in
rising to
challenges that
emerge.
How are you ensuring that your research processes are safe and ethical?
I have kept a record of where I got my quotes and sources
I haven’t use anything that was too gory
What other research processes could you use?
I could look at history books. Could make more effort to go to Local Library and see if I can find
them. But I think I have plenty of information
I also could watch more films I found on You Tube
What important ideas and key ideas have emerged so far and how are they developing from
the research?
There doesn’t seem to be agreement about Ned Kelly.
many different views about him.
Overall, I think from the research I have done, that most people don’t think he was a murderer.
There are too many reasons why he did what he did. I was surprised that there was so much
racism towards the Irish and so much snobbery towards people who were poor.
What new knowledge have you developed about Ned Kelly so far?
Getting a fair bit. I knew some from Year 9, but have forgotten most of it anyway, and most of that
was from the movies we watched. Also am getting a lot more in-depth knowledge.
What topic related skills have you developed and how have these been applied to help the
research?
Having some key questions in mind when I looked for information. Helped me know what was
important – rather than just collecting everything I could find.
How relevant is your chosen capability?
Very – Ned had no rights, wrong to discriminate against people for money. Stood up for beliefs,
showed courage.
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Application
Hint of analysis
here. Some
attempt to
“process”
information is
made in these
comments,
drawing
conclusions from
the research about
findings that are
emerging.
Response to Discussion:
TOPIC + Will just stick with Who is Ned Kelly and not worry about whether he deserves his
reputation. Hard to say what his reputation was to start with.
Decided I would ask Miss H ( Year 9 teacher) where I could find that documentary we watched.
She said it was in the Library but when I went there it was out and the person had not returned it.
The Librarian told me it was called Besieged and suggested I look for it on YouTube as lots of
documentaries can be found there.
Was in luck, found it on YouTube. ! Here are the notes I took from the documentary
Also have to get on with organizing that survey next.
My Notes from “Besieged” Documentary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ned released from jail in 1874
Took paid job cutting trees. Promoted to foreman and stayed in job for 3 years.
Age 21- had reputation for wild + reckless life
With stepfather + some others he set up an elaborate horse stealing racket, using forged sale documents
and taking the horses interstate.
Warrants for arrest of Ned and Dan issued for horse stealing
Constable Fitzpatrick went to Kelly’s house to arrest Dan (surviving relatives say he wouldn’t have gone
there if he thought Ned was there). Tried in on with Ned’s sister who he fancied. Trouble started and some
shots were fired. Ned’s mother (had had a baby three days before this) was arrested for attempted
murder>
Huge reward announced for Kelly boys. Ned and Dan went into hiding and planned to clear their names, and
organize their mother’s release. Ned wrote a letter to a MP saying the wrong done by the police “made
my blood boil.”
Police search increased. Ned believed that if the police found them they would “shoot us down like
dogs”.
Explains why at ambush at Stringybark Creek Ned and his gang shot and killed 3 policemen. In minds of
poor farmers and growing numbers of colony’s population, Kelly had answered back – seen as heroes.
Police powers were increased but didn’t help police. Their search was badly run.. They got lots of
information but a lot of it was not helpful.
Ned then planned two famous robberies – Euroa and Jerilderie.
Euroa- took people hostage, robbed bank, but entertained the hostages with horse-riding tricks.
Ned became frustrated with press – really hostile to him – wanted his side told, so wrote the Jerilderie
letter – demanded justice (letter was not published at the time).
Police – increased efforts to catch him. Arrested over 20 men in Greta, said to be sympathizers. Held
them for 20 months. Kelly – really angry – sent another letter to the Chief Secretary – said there were no
grounds to hold these men.
Police came up with even more stupid way of catching the Kellys: To deny land in Kelly country to anyone
known to be a sympathiser to the Kellys. This was a “fatal move”. It turned the “Kelly Outbreak into a
full-scale rebellion.”
Announced 8000 pound reward ( $2m nowadays!!!!!!!). Still couldn’t capture gang.
Kelly’s funds started to run low – they were giving money to their supporters. SO began to plan biggest
bank robbery yet. First executed Aron Sherrit who was informing on them. The murder increased police
attention. Kelly planned to pull up the railway tracks on the track carrying the train bringing all the police,
derail the train, capture and kill some of the leading police, ride to Benalla, seize the police barracks,
empty bank vaults, with money would then be able to control the north- east – could negotiate with Vic
govt to obtain a pardon and release for his mother (still in jail)
Plan started to unravel. Police stopped before they got to Glenrowan and there was a siege at the hotel
where Kelly was. Lasted more than a day. Kelly eventually came out at 7 am on the second day. He was in
a bad way. Hadn’t slept for more than two nights, in a shock as bleeding from wounds, wearing 45kgs
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Planning
Topic is refined a
little here – with
the decision to
drop the second
part of the
question. Still
remains overly
broad.
•
•
•
•
•
armour, mates were dead in the hotel. He attacked 34 police on his own, was wearing 45kgs of armour
but was able to carry out a half hour gunfight against big numbers of police. Only fell at the end because
of loss of blood- had over 20 gunshot wounds by this stage.
Trial held in Melbourne – Judge Redmund Barry. Trial was poorly conducted. Ned didn’t have any money
left at this stage for paying for a good lawyer. Trial only last two days. Was convicted. Melbourne press
was hostile. Supporters (5000) met at a public meeting – tried to get reprieve. In the end over 40,000
signed a petition.
Ned made a last request that his mother be released before his execution because keeping her position in
prison could not make any difference to the government.
Kelly said “men are made bad by bad treatment.”
A Royal Commission into the Kelly Outbreak said that Fitzpatrick - “larrikin and a liar”.
Judge Barry died 12 days after Ned was executed – seems like he got justice.
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Found a Site which had Comments and Quotes from “Besieged” documentary (from the
Bailup.com website. Quotes in bold). Could be useful!
This film shows how poor social conditions, combined with harsh treatment
meted out by the authorities, and a growing sense of nationhood in Australia, led
NED KELLY to develop the persona of a rebel or as he put it "Forced Outlaw". It
gave him the determination to strike back at the authorities he saw as corrupt
and unfair. The film shows how Kelly consciously created his own image and how
he found a ready and eager public who supported him. It is little wonder then
that he has become the folk hero and cultural icon that he is today.
"If you tried to create an Australian folk hero, and a frontier folk hero, you
would end up synthesizing a Ned Kelly. But you would never dare go as far as
Ned Kelly did in creating Ned Kelly."
Ian Jones Author and historian
Australians are as divided today as they were 120 years ago when it comes to
Ned Kelly. His charisma and exploits have inspired both awe, and fury.
"He loomed larger than Robin Hood for me. He was someone who was an
Australian and an Irishman who stood against the forces of oppression."
Pat Dodson Aboriginal Leader
"My family don't see it that way they see him as someone who had murdered 3
policemen. Someone who had been a horse stealer before that and he'd had a
criminal record before that. There's been so much effort put in by a lot of people
to try and turn Ned Kelly into a hero, now really I don't think that he was."
Howard Humphrey Constable McIntyre's grandson
The rise of terrorism in our world, and on the other hand the persistence of
social liberation movements and the ambiguous area between, highlights the
most persistent question, "what is the right way to respond to a corrupt
government, oppression and injustice?"
"People have this lofty idea that he should have gone along with British justice.
Well British justice means different things to different people. To the Irish it isn't
as high minded a concept as it might be to the English."
Siobhan McHugh Author and broadcaster
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This new documentary traces Kellys life; his Irish parents, his harsh and poverty
stricken childhood, his crimes and struggles and the rise of the peoples hero,
willing to answer back to often corrupt authorities.
"Not everyone in the north-eastern district was sympathetic to the Kelly's. Many
people were strongly opposed to them and would've dobbed them in as they
say."
Keith McMenomy Author and historian
The film also explores the legacy of the Kellys, the effects on generations of
Kelly descendants who have, until now been unwilling to talk about what it has
meant to be a Kelly, because of the way their lives have been affected by the
tragedy of the Kelly outbreak of 1879-80.
"I know my uncle always said that Fitzpatrick would never have gone to the
house if he knew Ned was there. He had certainly been pursuing Kate. Whether
Kate had given him any encouragement, I don't know."
Ellen Hollow Direct Kelly descendant
BESIEGED: THE NED KELLY STORY
Synopsis
Ned Kelly has become one of Australia's great Icons. But he has divided the
country, usually along class lines, as to whether he was a rebel who stood up to
the corrupt and vicious British government, or a murderer and thief.
When Europeans came to Australia at the beginning of the colony's history
(whether by choice or as convicts) they creating a colony, one founded on
cruelty and convict labour, where the power structure of England was
transported along with the poor convicts, and settlers.
Ned Kelly inherited the status of the poor and downtrodden but also the culture
of Irish rebellion towards the English rulers. He kicked back at the authorities
and in so doing became a hero to the poor and anyone who hated the English.
This documentary is really good, except it just gives so many opinions and doesn’t say
which is right. It is the one we saw in Year 9. I understand it better now. I didn’t
remember that it talked about him being a real rebel and even wanting to start a
revolution and get his area to break away from the rest of Victoria. I’m impressed by
his Last Stand – that is awesome. .
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Part c) The Discussion
The Discussion was recorded as an audio file
For the purposes of providing annotations for the SACE Board website, a transcript of the
Discussion is provided below
I know you’ve chosen Ned Kelly, but what exactly is your topic?
Who is Ned Kelly? Does he deserve his reputation?
Are you happy with this topic or do you think it could be refined further?
Yes I think it’s OK. My guiding questions are helping me answer it.
But you do have two parts going with your topic, so it’s a bit like you have two topics going
at once.
Yeah but that’s Ok. I am finding plenty of information for both of them, so will be able to answer
them both
Are you following your plan for the research processes that you set out in your proposal?
So far I am following it pretty closely.
What sort of research processes have you used so far?
I started the web-based searches and am going on with that. Have also watched that film with
Heath Ledger in it. I haven’t done the survey with people that I know yet.
Speaking of that survey, I am not sure how that relates to your topic. How do you plan to
use the survey to produce the information you need about Ned?
I think it will be useful to add to all the ideas of who Ned was and should help me work out whether
people think he deserves his reputation.
How successful are the research processes you have used so far in producing the
information you need about Ned?
Google has brought up lots of websites about him, so finding information has been easy. The
online biography wasn’t as good as I thought it would be, it had some facts and dates but
bailup.com and ironoutlaw.com have had a lot of information. I chose a good topic – something that
everyone in Australia knows about and is interested in, so there are a lot of things written about
Ned Kelly. Sometime they don’t answer my questions straight out and I have to kinda guess what
they are saying
Can you give me an example of this?
Well sometimes they don’t say straight out their opinion if he was a hero, or a murderer, they just
give facts
Application
Hint of analysis
here. Some
attempt to
“process”
information is
made in these
comments,
drawing
conclusions from
the research about
findings that are
emerging.
Is there some way you can read between the lines to work out what their opinion is of Ned?
How do you mean?
Well try to analyse the things they say and see if they seem to be giving more positive or
more negative information. If there are more positive things, then you can probably assume
that they have a favourable view of him or think he was a hero. Or if there is lots of negative
bad stuff it is more likely that they think he was a criminal or something negative.
Oh ok, I’ll give it a go.
What challenges have you faced so far and what have you done to overcome them?
It’s been challenging to read things written by Ned Kelly himself which I really wanted to do. I don’t
understand It well enough to know for sure what he is saying. I think it would be really good to read
what Ned said. I might have been able to get some answers to my questions from his point of view,
but they used different words and no punctuation back then, so it’s really hard to understand what
people were trying to say. I tried reading the Jerilderie letter which people think Ned wrote. It says
why he did things. I just couldn’t understand it. Then I thought that it would be easy to find a copy
of it written in modern language because I thought a teacher somewhere would have done that, but
after spending hours looking on the internet, I couldn’t find it translated anywhere
It’s also been hard to find authors for some websites. I don’t really know why this is and why
people who make websites would not put their names on their websites. It means I can’t put those
details in my bibliography.
Anything else that’s been challenging?
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Application
Research
development is
“adequate”.
Follows through
with planned
processes and
does explore
areas identified,
but shows little
resourcefulness in
rising to
challenges that
emerge.
There seem to be a lot of books on the topic, but we don’t have any of these in the school Library.
There’s only a few books there for kids and a novel, but nothing I can use.
Is there anywhere else you could look?
I suppose there might be some of the better books at our local library.
Could be a worthwhile trip?
Yeah, It’s pretty difficult for me to get there though.
How are you ensuring that your research processes are safe and ethical?
I have kept a record of where I got my quotes and sources
I haven’t used anything that was too gory
Anything else?
No I don’t think so
What other research processes could you use?
I also could watch more films I found on You Tube. But I think I have plenty of information
What important ideas and key ideas have emerged so far and how are they developing from
the research?
The film with Heath Ledger is pretty good and tells us a lot. The film starts with Ned Kelly
rescuing a young kid who’s drowning . He looks really young. Then the film jumps to Ned
out in the bush talking about his father. He falls asleep and sees a white horse which he
rides into town. When he gets to town he is arrested, and imprisoned for supposedly
stealing the horse (even though it’s obvious that he didn’t do it and it was actually nicked
by Ned's friend, Wild Wright).
Ned gets out of jail three years later, and his family are really pleased. Things go well until
one night at the pub, a policeman, I think he’s called Fitzpatrick, hassles Ned's sister, Kate,
who he fancies. Ned gets involved and a fight starts. The cops take the Kellys' horses but
Ned, his brother Dan and their friends get them back. Next night, Fitzpatrick comes to the
Kelly house, while Ned is away, to visit Kate. Fitzpatrick tells them they have warrants for
Dan and Ned’s arrest, for horse stealing. A fight starts, and Fizpatrick returns to the police
station, telling the others that Ned Kelly shot him.( he wasn’t even there!)
Ned's mother is then arrested cos Ned isnt there and Ned, Dan, Steve and Joe become
outlaws. They later kill three cops who are out hunting them. For the next few months the
Kelly gang are on the run out in the bush. The cops arrests a lot of people including a guy
called Aaron Sherrit. Sherrit, who is tricked into telling the cops where the Kellys are
hiding. One of the Kelly gang hears about this and kills Aaron.
The next day the Kelly gang take over Glenrowan. The cops attack the Glenrowan pub
where the Kellys are. Eventually Ned is the only one left and he comes out of the pub in
his armour but is shot in the arms and legs and falls. The film ends with Ned being loaded
onto a train. Over 30,000 people signed a petition to stop him being executed but he was
hanged on 11 November, 1880.
Well, you have given me a lot of detail about what happens in the film, but can you also tell
me what key ideas you get from watching this film.
Well it really shows that the cops had it in for Ned and really picked on him.
How does that relate to your topic. Isn’t it Who was Ned Kelly and does he deserve his
reputation?
Well I guess it kind of says that Ned didn’t have much of a chance and therefore he wasn’t really a
cold blooded murderer. They seem to show him as being a pretty cool sort of dude.
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What about other key ideas seem to be coming out of the research you are doing?
There doesn’t seem to be agreement about Ned Kelly. There are many different views about him.
The websites often didn’t say what the overall view of Ned.
Overall, I think from the research I have done, that most people don’t think he was a murderer.
There are too many reasons why he did what he did. I was surprised that there was so much
racism towards the Irish and so much snobbery towards people who were poor.
What new knowledge have you developed about Ned Kelly so far?
I’m getting a fair bit. I knew some from Year 9, but have forgotten most of it anyway, and most of
that was from the movies we watched. I’m also am getting a lot more in-depth knowledge.
Can you expand on that and give me some examples of things that you have learned that
you didn’t know before?
I didn’t know how hard it was for Ned and his family to make a go of it and even just to survive.
There was so much racism for being Irish and the cops just seemed keen to nail the Kellys whether
they were guilty or innocent. I didn’t know how badly Ned was set up for some of the crimes, like
that first horse stealing one when he was only a teenager. His mother too – that was really suss
the way they set her up and charged her with attempted murder when Fitzpatrick came to their
house.
Also had no idea he was so close to his mother. One webpage even said that all his crimes had
something to do with getting his mother out of jail. And then even his last thoughts before he was
hung were still about trying to get her free.
What topic related skills have you developed and how have these been applied to help the
research?
Having some key questions in mind when I looked for information. Helped me know what was
important – rather than just collecting everything I could find.
That’s a fairly general kind of research skill, but not specifically related to your topic. What
skills are specifically related to your particular topic?
Not sure.
Ok, well wouldn’t you say that your topic is a History related topic?
Yeah.
So what skills related to the study of History have you used and applied? Not just general
research skills.
Oh I get it. Umm, not really sure. I don’t do History any more and haven’t done it since Year 9.
I’m not an expert in History, but you need to think about who you can speak to find out what
the specific skills are involved in the study of History , because in the Research Project you
do really need to be able to identify the skills which are specific to your topic and then
actually discuss how you are applying them to do the research.
Ok. I will ask Darren. He’s doing History. He probably knows what skills there are. OR will ask Miss
________,
Sounds good. Now let’s move on to the capability. Which one was it that you thought was
going to be most relevant to your project?
Ummmm (pauses), Citizenship.
Now that you have done some of your research project does it still seem like it will be the
most relevant?
I still think it is really relevant. Ned knew what it was like to have no rights. He also knew it wasn’t
right to discriminate against people for their race or how much money they had. He stood up for
what he believed in too, showing courage, even though there wasn’t much chance of him winning.
So, where to from here?
I’m going to try to get hold of that documentary we watched in year 9 and get going on the survey.
Is there anything else you want to add to what you’ve said so far?
No I don’t think so.
Are there any questions you have for me?
Oh no, it’s all good.
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Application
Although unable to
name the topic
specific skills
applied, has
actually used skills
like locating
information,
sorting selecting,
getting different
perspectives,
getting information
from primary
sources.
4) Who was Ned Kelly? Summary from the best websites overall. Quotes in bold
Question
Source 4
Bailup.com website
Source 1
Australian
Dictionary of
Biography
http://adbonline.a
nu.edu.au/biogs/
A050009b.htm
Source 2
Ironoutlaw.com
When was
Ned Kelly
born?
How and
when did
he get
involved in
crime?
June 1855
Either December 1854 or June
1855
1854, but no official records of his birth
1855 – don’t know exact date,
between end 1854 and mid 1855
1869 – alleged
assault on a
Chinaman
Turned to crime – had to kill the
cops at Stringybark Creek or they
would be killed themselves as
cops were sent to kill them
Had to rob banks to raise money
to pay for legal costs to get
mother out of jail, and after this, to
raise money to help their
supporters who were being
picked on and put in jail for no
real reason
Convicted of small crimes as a
youth, mostly to do with stock theft.
Had been involved in a well
organised horse and cattle trade
before the Kilpatrick incident.
Gang “born by accident” - at the
gunbattle of Stringybark Creek.
Had no choice
Why did
Grew up
“in this social war can be found
1865, Ned - 11 years old –a horse was
declared “missing” by the police. Ned
probably rode it from Avenel to his
grandparents 150 miles away – really long
way for an 11 year old. No charges made.
Father died when Ned was 11, he was the
oldest and had to be the man of the family.
They struggled to make a life
Police picked on him after father’s death–
because - father’s criminal record
Conditions he grew up in were “appalling”.
In those days the Irish were the bottom of
the heap
1868 – Ned’s mother took a selection of land
(what is a selection?)
Selection Act - too demanding at this time.
People had to clear the land and cultivate it
– really hard for Ned’s mother who was a
widow with a lot of young children.
Ned desperate to get out, and to cut corners
-“so if an unbranded stock came onto
Kelly land he would take advantage “
Became bushranger Harry Power’s
apprentice – learned about highway robbery
and how to survive in the bush.
Ned saw this as a chance .
“rise out of the ordinary and escape the
drudgery and poverty of his
background.”
Family was picked on by the police. By time
Source 3
Documentary: Besieged Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkSzSdZ
Cv6Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkSzS
dZCv6Y&NR=1
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Unfairly targeted and bullied by
Page 12 of 18
Application
Analysis is
“adequate” in this
table. Has been
aware of how the
various segments of
information relate to
the various parts of
the topic by sifting
and sorting
information and
choosing things that
relates to the
various guiding
questions.
Information has
been put in own
words with quotes
integrated. This is
more than a
collection of cut and
paste from the
internet. Because
there are few
explicit comments
connecting
examples to topic, it
lacks insight.
Cognitive processes
involved show
analysis.
he get
involved in
and why
did he
commit
crime?
surrounded by
crime
Says Jerilderie
letter explains
why he was
involved in crime
What
crimes
was he
accused
of?
Assaulting a
Chinaman
Being an
accomplice of
Harry Power
(bushranger)
Summary
offences
Stealing horses
Shooting
Fitzpatrick
Shooting
Sergeants
Lonigan,
the key to Ned Kelly’s rebellion
against authority” –
something to do with the
“small selectors and the “big
Landowners (the squatters)”
who could call on police to
“protect their interests”
Kellys and others like them
regarded the “police patrols as
their natural enemies”
Police prejudice – Ned arrested
for some crimes as a teenager.
All charges dropped due to lack
of evidence. This made him bitter.
Not involved in crime until after
his mother was unfairly
imprisoned for her part in the
“attempted murder” of
Fitzpatrick. Everything he did after
that was to get her released, or
because he had no choice (self –
defence).
Says in Jerilderie Letter”: I was
compelled to shoot them, or lie
down and let them shoot
me..those men came into the
bush with the intention of
scattering pieces of me and my
brother all over the bush…”
- assaulting a chinaman
- accomplice to Harry
Power (bushranger)
- assaulting a hawker,
receiving a borrowed
mare
- attempted murder of
Trooper Fitzpatrick
- murder of Trooper
Kennedy &Trooper
Lonigan at Stringybark
Creek
- robbed Euroa bank
- robbed Jerilderie bank
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he was 16 he was in prison, so was his
brother (got 5 years for a small crime), even
his mother was arrested for riding her horse
out of control in the main street of Greta –
she was putting pedestrians in danger.
Heavy sentences for the young Kelly boys
for their small crimes
“feeding the belief that the family was
being victimised by the police. “
Irish “mistrusted by the authorities”
because they were Catholic and spoke
Irish.
“They had basically had this police
harassment in the area because of their
flashness, because of their swagger”
police. Wrongly accused of things
– couldn’t possibly have done.
Police brutality – was
“blackballed”
Was angry about the lack of hope
for poor settlers that there would
be any justice.
Victim of discrimination
“When Europeans came to
Australia at the beginning of the
colony’s history (whether by
choice or as convicts) they
created a colony, one founded
on cruelty and convict labour,
where the power structure of
England was transported along
with the poor convicts, and
settlers. Ned Kelly inherited the
status of the poor and
downtrodden but also the
culture of Irish rebellion towards
the English rulers. He kicked
back at the authorities and in so
doing became a hero to the poor
and anyone who hated the
English.
Given no choice by the police
but to live the life of a criminal
14 years old – after getting into a fight spent
10 days in jail before the judge dismissed
the charge. He was already building up a
pattern of behaviour at an early age.
Being an accomplice to Harry Power – sent
to Melb for questioning for 3 months
Beaten up by constable in Main Street of
Greta
He was holding a horse in the main street,
Asked if it was his. Said no It’s Wild Wrights.
Charged with horse stealing (age 16 – hard
labour for 3 yrs – very harsh sentence for his
age)
Shooting Fitzpatrick when he tried it on with
Arrested - Robbery and assault of
a Chinese traveller
Arrested – suspicion of being
Power’s accomplice
1870 – conviction for “assault”
and “indecent behaviour”
1871- charged with horse theft
(then proved he had been in gaol
time horse had disappeared.
Convicted of this
1876 – warrant for arrest – horse
theft. Case dismissed
1877 – Sept – arrested for
drunkenness
Page 13 of 18
What
crimes did
he
commit?
Was he a
cold
blooded
killer or a
victim? Or
a hero?
Scanlan,
Kennedy (at
Stringybark
Creek)
Robbing Euroa
bank
Robbing
Jerilderie bank +
holding up police
station
Glenrowan –
shooting into
hotel
Doesn’t say
which ones he
really did commit
Family thought
they were
victims.
Grew up probably
being involved in
crime, e.g.
organized thefts
of horses and
cattle
“undoubtedly a
murderer” and
“robber”
Ned’s sister, Kate. Ned’s Mother unfairly
arrested – Ned mad and wanted revenge
Stringybark Creek Massacre – shot 3 police
who were hunting.
“ Ned and his brother with orders to kill
them. This murder seen by many poor
people at the time, and by the youth of
the colony, as the Kelly’s striking back
against corrupt police. Rural and urban
poor of the day saw them as “heroes”
1878 – attempted murder of
Constable Fitzpatrick
October – shooting 3 police officers
at Stringybark Creek
Dec – Robbed Euroa bank, took
hostages
1879 – Feb – robbed Jerilderie
bank
1880- June – hold up Glenrowan
Inn
Shot Lonigan and Kennedy at
Stringybark Creek
Robbed the bank at Euroa
Robbed Bank at Jerilderie
Captured Railway Station at
Glenrowan
Euroa - robbed bank, took hostages and
entertained them with horse-riding tricks
Took town of Jerilderie hostage and robbed
bank
No evidence that he committed
various murders
Ned claimed that he was
personally responsible for all 3 of
the Stringybark Creek deaths- may
have been trying to protect his
accomplices. McIntyre ( the only
survivor) said he only witnessed
him killing 1 of the 3
Also said the only killing he did was
– in self-defence,
Found guilty of the murder of
Constable Lonigan at Stringybark
Creek
Many opinions
“merciless killer”,
“national hero who was the
embodiment of the Australian
spirit”
“an imposing individual”
“victim of a vicious system”
“young man hounded into
crime”
Doesn’t help much as doesn’t
directly say which opinion is right.
Evidence may be biased, mostly
about things to say he was
justified. Very little information
says he was vicious or a killer.
Says many good things about him
“Who was Ned?
“Australian hero? Or Murderer?
Terrorist? Or Revolutionary?”
Saved a boy from drowning when he was 9.
Parents gave him a green scarf in reward.
Ned was Wearing the scarf from the parents
when he did his last stand at Glenrowan –
seems like a hero.
Unofficial boxing champion of the North East
in early 20s
Passage from Jerilderie Letter –says all Ned
was after was justice
Seen as a hero by poor
Didn’t behave as “bushrangers”
Became involved in rebellion against
authorities.
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He and his gang were “outlaws, but
did not behave like previous
highway bandits”. Did take
hostages during bank robberies.
“all were treated relatively well
by their captors and released
unharmed”
No evidence that he or his gang
committed murders
Seen as Victim of discrimination:
Even Royal Commissioners said
Ned and Dan had "no murderous
intent"
Page 14 of 18
“resourceful bush worker,”
“surprisingly articulate”.
“loyal to his friends”
Brave- saved boy from drowning
Killings at Stringybark justified –
“there is persuasive evidence
that the Victoria police
searching for the boys were
equally likely to shoot first.”
Police are the bad guys.
Eyewitness account of bank
robbery at Euroa said “they
never offered the slightest
insult to anyone…I. was told
everywhere that the outlaws
were undoubtedly police-made
criminals.”
Ned only turned to crime as a way
to avenge the wrongful
imprisonment of his mother –
charged with helping in the
attempted murder of Fitzpatrick –
this was all completely false.
Derail train bringing troopers, hold Vic govt
to ransom and get justice for his mother.
Glenrowan
Advanced stage of shock – bleeding, in
45kgs of armour in pain from wounds.
Attacks 34 police and carries out ½ hour
stand. Only falls due to loss of blood –
legends
As he was Irish,” justice wasn’t as high
minded a concept as it might be to the
English”
5000 met to protest his trial 40000 signed
petition to save him from being hung
So people back then thought he was a hero
Application
Comments with
green shading are
an attempt at
analysis.
Application
The different areas
of the topic are
explored here in
some detail, so the
development is
“adequate”.
Four best websites give a lot of different opinions. Majority seem to say yes he did do some crimes but he had good reasons for it. Not many are really
down on him.
Survey Questions
Asked 15 people I knew, like my parents and grandparents, a few teachers, but the rest were in my Research Project class
Have you heard of Ned Kelly?
Was he a hero? Or a criminal?
Why is he famous?
Do you know what he did?
What else have you heard about him?
Survey Results
Have you heard of Ned Kelly? Yes 15. No 0
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Do you know what he did? Answers = Rob banks, killed people, robbed rich to give to poor, like Robin Hood, wore homemade armour, died by hanging,
stole cattle, bushranger
Was he a hero? Or a criminal? Most people thought he did crimes, but 2 people said some people thought he was a hero because he was like Robin Hood
What else have you heard about him? Most people said there have been films made about him with Heath Ledger. Year 9 teacher said too many things to
put down.
Why is he famous? Most people thought it was for the armour, and being hung.
•
•
•
•
Everyone has heard of him
Most didn’t know a lot about specific facts about him, or about the different opinions
Most thought he was a criminal, only a couple knew he was a hero
Survey not that helpful only to show that everyone has different opinions.
Have finished my research now. Time to write up my essay.
BIBLIOGRPAHY
http://www.bailup.com/history.htm
http://www.convictcreations.com/history/nedkelly.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/nov/30/australia.davidfickling
http://www.ironoutlaw.com/html/history_01.htmlhttp://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/10/27/252001_opinion-news.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkSzSdZCv6Y&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Kelly
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Stage 2 Research Project Performance Standards extract for Assessment
Assessment Type 1: Folio
Ned Kelly student work sample
Planning
Application
Assessment Type 1: Folio
A
Thorough consideration
and refinement of a
research topic.
Thorough planning of
research processes that
are highly appropriate to
the research topic.
B
Consideration of the
main area of research
and some refinement of
a research topic.
Considered planning of
research processes that
are appropriate to the
research topic.
C
Adequate consideration
of a broad research
topic, but little evidence
of refining the topic.
Satisfactory planning of
research processes that
are appropriate to the
research topic.
D
Basic consideration and
identification of some
aspects of a research
topic.
Partial planning of
research processes that
may be appropriate to
the research topic.
E
Attempted consideration
and identification of an
area of interest.
Attempted planning of an
aspect of the research
process.
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Thorough and highly resourceful development of the research.
In-depth analysis of information and exploration of ideas to
develop the research.
Highly effective application of knowledge and skills specific to the
research topic.
Considered and mostly resourceful development of the research.
Some complexity in analysis of information and exploration of
ideas to develop the research.
Effective application of knowledge and skills specific to the
research topic.
Adequate development of the research.
Adequate analysis of information and exploration of ideas to
develop the research.
Adequate application of knowledge and skills specific to the
research topic.
Development of some aspects of the research.
Collection rather than analysis of information, with some
superficial description of an idea to develop the research.
Superficial application of some knowledge and skills specific to
the research topic.
Attempted development of an aspect of the research project.
Attempted collection of basic information, with some partial
description of an idea.
Attempted application of one or more skills that may be related to
the research topic.
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Assessment Type 1: Folio Grade CComments (including description of features that support assessment decision)
P1
“Adequate consideration” of a research topic: shows some thinking about at least one area of the
research topic, by devising guiding questions through which to explore the area of research
regarding Ned Kelly. Does refine the topic a little by deciding to delete the second part about
whether Kelly deserved his reputation. The topic still remains too broad, however, as “Who was
Ned Kelly?” is very vague, lacking focus on exactly what about Kelly’s identity is to be
researched.
P2
Planning of research processes is “satisfactory” as it does cover all the activities to be
undertaken (therefore is not “partial”) and provides a logical sequence. While the research
processes are limited to the internet, this can be a valid and rich resource for a history-related
research, so could be considered “appropriate” to the topic. At the planning stage, doing a survey
also could be appropriate for this broad topic – e.g. including contemporary views as part of the
research. Does consider ethical issues for this topic, e.g. need to reference the sources. Might
seem limited but what else is there for this topic?
A1
“Adequate” development of the research: does explore different aspects of the topic, using the
guiding questions (7) as the framework to direct the collection of materials. Has located some
very in-depth and complex information but there is little overt awareness of how it is furthering the
research.
A2
“Adequate analysis of information and exploration of ideas to develop the research”: does
process the information obtained, does not just place the information collected into the folio selects information on the basis of relevance to each of the guiding questions; groups materials
collected according to the headings of the guiding questions. There is analysis involved in this
selection process. The materials selected are relevant to the topic; could make explicit comments
explaining relevance and exploring the ideas in more depth to take it beyond the low C level.
Makes some analytical statements, albeit superficial, about the ideas emerging, e.g. in the
bottom column table, at the end of survey, and during and after the discussion and after some
quotes.
A3
Mainly “superficial” application of specific knowledge and skills. This is a historical based
research topic but there is little awareness of the specific knowledge and skills being used, there
is a cursory reference to the bias of the information of one website, but the language of the
discipline of History is not used, such as primary and secondary sources.
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