 
G'day my name is Mike, and
I thought I would put together a little summary on myself for people who would
like to know about me and my life. So here goes. Above: Me, Brendan Pearse & Matt Shore the organisers of Ned: the exhibition at the Old Melbourne Gaol. Don't for get to check out Ned the exhibition online.
I remember vaguely flash-points in my mind, but not a good mate of mine today, named Mr Gary Dean, I have a few reaming photos of this warm trip, but nothing drastic. It was around the month of February, my mother and father split-up, I went with my mum and visiting my father every second weekend ,eventually, they were divorced in 1996,and me & mum moved down to the "Lower Class" area around Broadmeadows, and here is where my Kelly Hobbies came along. I was now hitting the age of ten, My step-Father by the name of Gary Boness, took us on a holiday to Wangaratta in eastern Victoria, on the way we went past, the huge, dark brown tourist signs on the Hume telling you there is 3km until you meet the turn-off to Glenrowan, as I read these signs I asked My mum whether we could stop she said "alright" but on the way back from Wangaratta.
We did go to Glenrowan, and as soon as I stepped out of our cream coloured Sigma and Breathed that fresh, bush air and all the Kellyana that was around, from this day on I knew exactly what I wanted to be, a historian, and here I am today and I have lived and breathed Ned, it has now become more a religion to me, than a interest. When I nick up to the library borrow all the bushranger and Ned books, I have read them all but instinct tells me to borrow them for some reason. I often find myself day-dreaming in class, of what Ned would think of all this, and, what is happening at Glenrowan at this moment, and before the end of the period, I am drawing Ned or Glenrowan or something in that text. It really hurts to be away from Kelly Country for a long period of time, like a sicking feeling in the stomach, and the meeting of Chris & Rod Gerrett at Glenrowan, Brad Webb, Brendan Pearce, Matt Shore, Dave White and Gary Dean have all helped me along this long but exiting track, my very most Thanks go to these wonderful people, for all they have done for me, now my friends wonder "Why, is it you love Kelly?", I just reply "You would not understand".
I have also bought nearly all the books
from The extremely rare book The Kelly Hunters, to a story book I got out of a
block of chocolate, and I have spent on average of going up to the north-east
around 100 dollars at a time, I get all this money from where I work, I am a
pizza maker. All my life since I was young, I loved everything Australian. My favourite cartoon when I was a toddler was Dot and the kangaroo, and Blinky Bill. I also loved animals through my much younger years, and wanted to be a veterinarian, but that all changed and now I am sure I want to be a Kelly historian.
Now in December 2002, I
will be permanently moving to the fine rural township of Glenrowan, There is one person I must thank very much, his name is Dave he often goes his web name as Llama_au, Dave has helped me tremendously, and owe him a very cheerful thank-you. Dave and myself are great mates. Dave also has his own Kelly website click here to visit Dave's site. Above: My house in Glenrowan. As I said earlier, I live and breath " Kelly ". My life rotates on the Kelly gang and the Kelly saga. Feel free to contact Mike anytime relating Ned Kelly, or my website.
Ned: The Exhibition I think Ned: the exhibition will change my life forever, I met many people including Ian Jones author of Ned Kelly: A short life, also Brad Webb, runner of the Iron Outlaw website. My favourite piece was the Kelly armour, it always fascinates me that Edward Kelly the bushranger wore this armour, he breathed and fell to his capture in it. The day ended very quickly, especially the tucker , I only managed to guzzle down one glass of coca-cola and a sausage on a stick. For more information on Ned: the exhibition, check out our section on the exhibition by clicking here.
Above: Rod Gerrett, Mike Lawson & Brad Webb at Ned : the exhibition launch. MY KELLY GANG CONNECTION. ASK ANY AUSSIE, they will all tell you they have some connection with the
Kellys, But fear
not! so do I, mine may not be as big as Leigh Olver's but still it is there.
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I try to educate my friends and family
on the Kelly Story-I seem to drag on, and my Father, who thinks Kelly is a
no-good cop-killer and robber, I think I have a little made him understand, but
his mind is set, my mum who says she would like to give Ned a big Kiss, doesn't
know much on the Kelly subject but has learnt a fair bit along the way.
I was so
pleased to hear it, as of December 2002 the Kelly Outbreak site will be right
from the heart of Kelly Country!!! 
