Thread by @Outofthewoodsi1

@Dr_Why8 It is somewhat complex. Kelly was born at the time of Eureka, a likely influenceThe police force that pursued & captured him was populated with ex miner inspectors known to be corrupt. The first Royal Commission in this country after his execution found them guilty of misconduct.

@Dr_Why8 Kelly was also raised in poverty. His mother's/family's experience against squattocracy landowners who dominated the land angered him. His father had died & his mother & her sisters set up a tavern accomodation business in Kilmore that improved their circumstances for a time.

@Dr_Why8 There was criminality in his family. The uncle/brother to his mother on release from prison returned & in a drinking bout he caused the tavern to burn down. His father - an ex convict - had died of dropsy & was also alcoholic. Ned is not reputed to have been an alcoholic.

@Dr_Why8 His mother resumed small plot farming with himself as head of household. He had a slice of education at primary school & was competent. She regrettable outsourced him to bushranger Harry Power as a means to bring in extra funds. He was not successful with Power.

@Dr_Why8 His mother was an adventurous woman & tough. The community disapproved at how she rode her horse with flair & competence: unbefitting to a 'ladylike' manner. Her daughters too were excellent horsewomen & equally viewed as belligerent. Grantlee Kieza's Mrs Kelly explores well.

@Dr_Why8 Kelly objected to the poverty of his community. At one point he wrote about establishing a republic in Nth Eastern Victoria. His Jerilderie letter & another to MP Cameron give some perception of corruption in police & landowners that he believed disadvantaged folk into poverty.

@Dr_Why8 Kelly was not known to be a racist. He along with Joe Byrne had contact - including disputes- with Chinese gold diggers. He has also been included in the indigenous dreaming.

@Dr_Why8 The Kelly outbreak used to provide interest & debate in secondary history. Sadly since the culture wars he is an example of the 'dissident' content that is no longer studied. Eureka/mining/land resource appropriation/community are crucial to the narrative of where we are now.