Ned Kelly - Such Is life

Ned Kelly (1854-1880) was an Australian bushranger, who was considered a folk hero among many for his defiance of the colonial authorities at the time. Ned Kelly was born in Victoria to an Irish convict father (convicts were a major proportion of Australia at this time). After an incident at his home in 1878, Ned Kelly's mother and friends were convicted and taken away. Ned Kelly fled and ended up murdering three policemen (in self defence), from that day Ned Kelly and his gang became wanted outlaws.
Soon the entire Victorian and New South Wales police force began hunting down Ned Kelly. He not only evaded capture, but he started to fight back; robbing banks and distributing the money to his supporters for legal fees.
Ned Kelly made his final stand in a violent confrontation with police at Glenrowan, using home made steel plate armor. He suffered 28 bullet wounds before being caputred and sent to jail. He was hanged for murder of the three policeman at the Old Melbourne Gaol in 1880. Ned Kelly's final words were " Such is life"

1. What is Ned Kelly famous for?

2. How did he become a criminal?

3. What were his last words?

Burke and Wills - The Great Explorers

In 1860 Robert Burke and John Wills led an expedition of 18 men, the goal was to cross Australia from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. A distance of about 2800km. At the time of their expedition most of inland Australia had yet to be explored and was unknown to settlers. The south-north leg was completed successfully, but on the return journy both Burke, Wills and nearly all the men died. Leaving John King to be the only person to travel the entire expeidition and return alive to Melbourne.

1. What was the goal of Burke and Wills expedition?

2. How did the expedition finish?