Here at Whoop Whoop Walk About, we’re all about tracking down the good stories, and today’s got a belter of a tale! Picture this: it’s 1879, and a band of fearless black trackers from Queensland are plucked from the tropics to help track down the infamous Ned Kelly gang in the thick Victorian bush. These blokes – Hero, Johnny, Jimmy, Jack, and Barney – were the best of the best, top bush trackers in the game, and they were about to embark on a mission that’d become the stuff of Aussie legend.
Now, my ancestor, Jack Noble, wasn’t just any tracker. He was a descendant of the original bush detectives, a bloke with tracking skills as sharp as a wedge-tailed eagle's vision and a sense of humour to match. When he arrived in Benalla with the Queensland Native Mounted Police, led by the renowned Sub-Inspector Stanhope O’Connor, he had one thing on his mind – finding Ned and his merry band of “good ol’ bush bandits.”
The lads were kitted out in blue uniforms with striking red facings, equipped with Snider rifles and a healthy dose of courage. They didn’t waste any time, marching straight into some of the toughest parts of the bush. Rumour has it, even Ned himself called these trackers “bloody black devils,” and you can bet that put a smile on Jack’s face. With their expertise, they knew just how to read the land, spotting horse tracks, broken branches, and other subtle signs like a bushman reading the daily paper.
When they finally cornered Ned at the Glenrowan Inn, Jack and his mates stood their ground with incredible bravery. Bullets flew in every direction, but Jack wasn’t one to back down. He stood there, calm as ever, took aim, and let fly. Legend has it, one of his shots grazed ol’ Ned’s helmet, and he shouted out, “Think I got him boss!” It was a gutsy move that reportedly left even Sub-Inspector O'Connor chuckling.
Today, you can follow in their boot tracks with our Whoop Whoop Walk About Black Tracker tour, right through the same haunts that hid the Kelly Gang. Join us as we unravel stories, visit Sambo’s (Ngari Buru) headstone at Benalla Cemetery, and pay homage to these unsung Aboriginal heroes. As we say, it’s not just a tour – it’s an adventure through time with a bit of Aussie humour thrown in for good measure.
Ready to track down some history? Give us a ring at 0402606481 or check out www.whoopwhoopwalkabout.com to book a spot. It’ll be a cracker of a day out!
#KellyGangChronicles #BushTrackerTales #JackNobleLegacy #WhoopWhoopWalkAbout #NedKellyTrail #AussieBushHistory
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