The untold story of the Age journalist who cut off Ned Kelly's boot
John McWhirter accompanied police on the train to the siege at Glenrowan, got involved in the fighting, then cut off Ned Kelly's bloodied boot while he was interviewing the outlaw – perhaps odd behaviour for a journalist at The Age.
Research for a new exhibition on Australia's most famous outlaw has revealed new details from McWhirter, whose coverage from Glenrowan was breathlessly awaited by his readers.
State Library curator Dr Kate Rhodes and library staff uncovered new information about McWhirter's involvement and reporting after finding an original edition of The Age covering the siege that was thought to have been partially destroyed.
Until now, historians and writers have mainly been relying on a copy of The Age uploaded to the online archive Trove that was badly damaged and missing in parts, but the full copy gives a more comprehensive account.
McWhirter accompanied police on the train to Glenrowan, filing stories under the headline 'Extermination of the Kelly Gang'.
Loading
'There's a note that it's 'from our own reporters',' Rhodes said. 'John McWhirter is not mentioned by name, but as far as we know, he is one of only four journalists and an illustrator who travel on the special train by invitation from the police. It's really sort of gonzo journalism, they become very involved in the fighting, as opposed to reporting neutrally on it.'
The interest in the story was so great that the reporting in The Age is time stamped with new updates given on June 29, 1880 at 9.30am, 10.30am, 12.20pm, 1.20pm then 4pm.
'The narrative supplied by our special reporters contains a full account of the proceedings and will be read with extraordinary interest,' the report states. 'Edition after edition was issued by The Age and the sheets were seized with avidity as the runners left our office.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
‘My little boy': The 15-year-old with a cheeky grin, whose death devastated a town
As a 15-year-old boy with a cheeky grin, Taj Patten-Mclaren was happiest lounging at home on the couch with his dog, watching TV, or hanging out with his mates. He was 'a lover, not a fighter', a sweet kid, and his mother Bianca Mclaren's whole 'world'. 'He was my little boy. Now I feel lost,' she told The Age on Tuesday night. Taj was a passenger in a car carrying three teenagers, which hit a tree near the corner of Murphys Lane and Bonang-Orbost Road, north of the east Gippsland town of Orbost, about 12.20am on Tuesday. He and his mate, 18-year-old Zane Oldis – who was driving – died at the scene. A third boy, aged 16, was taken to Bairnsdale Hospital with minor injuries. The town is reeling after the boys' deaths, while Bianca mourns the loss of her funny, kind and gentle son. She'll miss his big heart, and taking walks with their Jack Russell Terriers, named Storm and Rocket. Taj leaves behind an older brother, Bo, along with classmates at Orbost Community College, where all the teenagers attended. Zane had left the school before the crash. 'We've had lots of messages from the whole town,' Mclaren said.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘My little boy': The 15-year-old with a cheeky grin, whose death devastated a town
As a 15-year-old boy with a cheeky grin, Taj Patten-Mclaren was happiest lounging at home on the couch with his dog, watching TV, or hanging out with his mates. He was 'a lover, not a fighter', a sweet kid, and his mother Bianca Mclaren's whole 'world'. 'He was my little boy. Now I feel lost,' she told The Age on Tuesday night. Taj was a passenger in a car carrying three teenagers, which hit a tree near the corner of Murphys Lane and Bonang-Orbost Road, north of the east Gippsland town of Orbost, about 12.20am on Tuesday. He and his mate, 18-year-old Zane Oldis – who was driving – died at the scene. A third boy, aged 16, was taken to Bairnsdale Hospital with minor injuries. The town is reeling after the boys' deaths, while Bianca mourns the loss of her funny, kind and gentle son. She'll miss his big heart, and taking walks with their Jack Russell Terriers, named Storm and Rocket. Taj leaves behind an older brother, Bo, along with classmates at Orbost Community College, where all the teenagers attended. Zane had left the school before the crash. 'We've had lots of messages from the whole town,' Mclaren said.
7NEWS
4 days ago
- 7NEWS
Caroline Springs Square in Melbourne thrown into lockdown after machete-wielding teens spotted, days after ban takes effect
A Victorian shopping centre was thrown into lockdown after a group of teenagers were seen with machetes — less than two weeks after the state's ban on the weapons came into effect. About five or six teenage boys, reportedly armed with machetes, were spotted arguing inside Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre in Melbourne about 6.40pm on Friday, police said. Shop owners scrambled to flee upon seeing the weapons. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 'I was so scared, I quickly shut down the café,' one told 7NEWS. 'When we saw the knives, we were scared and ran far away,' another witness said. CS Square Centre management told The Age it had initiated a lockdown in response to the incident. By the time police arrived, the teens had already fled the scene. Shop owner Bhanush Sharma told The Age the lockdown lasted around 25 to 30 minutes. No injuries were reported, police confirmed. Less than two weeks ago, Northland Shopping Centre was also placed into lockdown on May 25, after rival gangs armed with machetes chased each other through the complex. The Victorian government fast-tracked its planned machete ban, . However, the ban on possession will not take effect until September 1. Those caught with a prohibited weapon in Victoria can face up to two years in prison or a fine of more than $47,000.
