Jerilderie

Hi, we stopped a night at Jerilderie, where Ned Kelly once went on a bit of a crime spree. Above & below the Post & Telegraph office which the gang raided in 1879.

This was once a pub, Ned shouted the locals drinks here after the robbery, then got them to cut down all the telegraph poles so news of the robbery would be delayed, making his escape easier. 

Old police barracks & residence. Ned & his gang took this over 2 days before the robbery. They stole the polices uniforms, & then paraded around town as the new police recruits. They then locked up the policemen in the cells, but left one of the copppers wife free to cook them their meals. Below is a photo of the courthouse opposite.  As there was no church at that time, Mass was celebrated here. The wife explained to Ned that she was responsible for setting up the altar each Sunday, & if she did not do so questions would be asked.  Ned sent his brother Dan Kelly to assist her. Normally the parish priest would  visit after Mass, but he was away & the visiting priest did not visit, so Ned had a lucky escape. As his robbery was planned for the next day, if the priest had visited, he would have been locked in the cells, exciting comment. The policeman's wife wrote later that Ned was the most gentlemanly man she had ever met.

A bit of plant life!

We are in Deniliquin for a few days,  One of the few parks where we can sit by an open fire.  Grae cooking sausages for lunch.

A couple of views of our van.

Lugging kindling back to the fire pit. We love this park, but one downside is the magpies. I have been swooped a few times, one of the bastards drew blood. Shoot all magpies!!!