I got your newsletter recommended to me by Substack, and all I have to say is I cannot believe there was a bucket-clad, funny hat wearing, half cowboy half pirate Australian man running around in any point in history. On second thought, that sounds about right for contemporary Australia.
But seriously, this was hilarious! Looking forward to future entries and reading the ones I've missed.
I first heard about Ned Kelly in Peter Carey’s “True History of the Kelly Gang”. I vividly remember thinking he had taken artistic license. He had, he toned some shit down. It’s brilliant, but your summary feels much more true to the level of shenanigans. Bravo, I howled at the insults.
That's the funniest thing I've ever read. Thank you Allison for starting my day laughing out loud.
FYI my friend who grew up in Greta says the descendants of the Kelly family and the police constables shot are still jumpin mad at each other. Don't go trash talking either side!
I am a somewhat later immigrant to Victoria than yer man John Kelly but his son still regularly pops up in contemporary Oz culture: who stole his skull? where was the actual site where the three policemen were killed? Can representatives of the two opposing teams talk civilly for the cameras? Etc. Greta country is now traversed by a large ('the Hume') Highway which has signs advertising a Kelly country museum which i have never persuaded whoever was driving to pull over and take a look at. The Ned Kelly story does stand as a lesson that Irishmen are not all cute, fey, fiddle playing leprechauns although no doubt some are. Thanks Alison, you gave me a laugh when i needed it!
No. Way.
I got your newsletter recommended to me by Substack, and all I have to say is I cannot believe there was a bucket-clad, funny hat wearing, half cowboy half pirate Australian man running around in any point in history. On second thought, that sounds about right for contemporary Australia.
But seriously, this was hilarious! Looking forward to future entries and reading the ones I've missed.
I first heard about Ned Kelly in Peter Carey’s “True History of the Kelly Gang”. I vividly remember thinking he had taken artistic license. He had, he toned some shit down. It’s brilliant, but your summary feels much more true to the level of shenanigans. Bravo, I howled at the insults.
That's the funniest thing I've ever read. Thank you Allison for starting my day laughing out loud.
FYI my friend who grew up in Greta says the descendants of the Kelly family and the police constables shot are still jumpin mad at each other. Don't go trash talking either side!
That’s definitely an insult I would consider using! Great read, as always. Thank you 😊
I am a somewhat later immigrant to Victoria than yer man John Kelly but his son still regularly pops up in contemporary Oz culture: who stole his skull? where was the actual site where the three policemen were killed? Can representatives of the two opposing teams talk civilly for the cameras? Etc. Greta country is now traversed by a large ('the Hume') Highway which has signs advertising a Kelly country museum which i have never persuaded whoever was driving to pull over and take a look at. The Ned Kelly story does stand as a lesson that Irishmen are not all cute, fey, fiddle playing leprechauns although no doubt some are. Thanks Alison, you gave me a laugh when i needed it!