Proof That I Saved a Life As Well
By…

T he identity of the classic Bushranger is strongly represented in our all-time favourite hero, Ned Kelly. This Aussie battler was a selectors' son who moved to Australia with his family as his farther stole farm animals and became an Irish convict. Saving a boy from drowning Ned is told, “well done, Ned", applauded by townsfolk and receives a green and gold sash, this resembles the Australian green and gold colours. Later on in the movie the Colonial policeman Fitzpatrick falsely accused Ned Kelly for shooting him as the result of a dispute at the Kelly's farm, this was beginning of the Kelly Gang's conflict with the British crown property.

Portrayed by the modern society of Australia the characteristics of an Australian identity shown in the movie Ned Kelly, no longer lie with us Aussies. Policemen and Authority figures are no longer disputed and mocked by society. No longer do Australians show their rough and rugged bushranger personality. No longer do we stand by one another in conflict or in need. Except is there truly just one identity for Australians?

The lower class selector's sons in the town of Beveridge, owned small amounts of land, and earned less money for the work they did. On the other hand the major land owners known as squatters earned far more money thus they had the ability to bribe the police. This allowed the police and squatters to stay in control and victimise the selectors. To live as a convict, to pay off a mortgage, and try to stand up against the squatters was all hard work, that of which the colonial Victorian police knew nothing about.
This scene represents the corruption of the Victorian police. The phrase 'I get along with everybody and everybody gets along with me', by Fitzpatrick expresses that people 'get along' with him as a result of fear towards the colonial policemen, as they can use their rank in society to obtain the 'respect' that they desire.

Ned's horses were illegally imposed by the police. His thoughts are that the police are worse than the convicts themselves who stole to survive or were unjustly accused. “The biggest thieves and liars the sun ever shone on, the Victorian police". With this Ned doesn't want to stand and take it anymore. "I’m telling you something now boys, I’m not gonna let these b****y maggots put one over me." Ned, his brother Dan, Dan's friend Steve, and Joe all go to steal back their horses from the police, they did this with ease, showing that police have the spite to impose convict properties to keep them in place, yet have no use for the items and leave them unprotected. As the police would come looking for the horse Ned sold them off under a different brand.

As the policemen opened fire on the Hostages and the Kelly gang, there was a lion trapped inside a cage to the side of the building. The lion is constantly impaled with bullets; this is symbolic of the Kelly gang and their masculine aspects. The lion is fierce and strong, no matter what happens it keeps standing, despite he is trapped in a cage and outnumbered. Just as the Kelly gang kept fighting, even though they knew they could not win what had started. The Kellys were suppressed by the Victorian police, they were 'trapped in a cage' of their own life, just as the lion was trapped in his cage. After the dispute was over, three Kelly members dead and Ned's last stand at the police camp, Ned slowly fell to the ground under his hefty metal suit. At this point, the last member of the Kelly gang falls, the fight is no more, inside the cage the lion finally dies from multiple shootings. This lion is symbolic of the Kelly gang.

All the selectors showed anti-authoritarian actions towards police, with this in common between the sons, they helped each other out. In the situation of Superintendent Hare, bribing Aaron and his new wife. Aaron goes past this egalitarianism between the selector's sons and reveals the Kelly's whereabouts to Hare. Joe asks, “Why do you think he did it? Just for the money?” Ned replies, “Maybe he started thinking he was some kind of big shot instead of a s**t- kicker’s son, like us.” Convicts all had similar attitudes and beliefs towards the police, for one to go against those beliefs was going against his friends and 'brothers'. This is known as the tall poppy syndrome, Australians disliked those who thought or even were better than the rest, so they were pulled down from their selfishness, mainly resulting in their death. Australia no longer shows this, we encourage those who have done well and reach for success.

Those who stick with the Kelly gang, and believe that the Kellys are making a difference, are looked after by the kelly gang no matter what happens. At the main shooting in the tavern, the police open fire on the hostages as they walk out to save themselves Ned tries to look out for the townsman and help them. Ned comforts the townsfolk “All right. Everyone listen to me. We’re getting you out of here!” Ned yells to the police “Hold your fire! We’ve got women and children coming out!” The police fire at them anyway, showing they have no compassion or regard for the people. Dan asks Ned “Ned, where the hell are you going?” Ned replies “Get this lot around the back!” Even under fire from the main force of police, Ned's main priority is to help out the townsmen and get them out of harms ways.

Australia does not have an overall definitive typical Australian, therefore it is obvious that we should not be categorised by one definitive Australian identity. It is unrealistic even to think that Australia can be defined by one set of characteristics, just as how our ancestors of bushrangers didn't have just one definitive identity. As Ned Kelly may have showed his rough and rugged personality he also had a side of kindness and compassion to others.