Bill Denheld has finally released his long-awaited book -
NED KELLY AUSTRALIAN IRON-ICON, A CERTAIN TRUTH - HIS-STORY, MY STORY.
To order a copy for $50 plus postage go to FB Marketplace and message Bill
Denheld directly.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/975494567549985/
In the intro to A Certain Truth, Bill Denheld says this -
"This book is an accumulation of more than three decades of historical
interest published for the purpose of enlightenment, and to set the record
straight." He has done what he set out to do, with this, his magnum opus, as the book is
enlightening, entertaining, and the record sure has been set straight, or at least set it on its ear! This book is massive in size and scope at over 300 pages with over 200 photographs, maps,
and illustrations all throughout it. Some of this information had been on his
website ironicon.com.au but some of it is only now being brought to light and
the information about his childhood and early life after his family emigrated to
Australia (From Holland) is very interesting (his family even lived in a tent
for a while!). Bill has been a hands-on on-the-ground researcher for decades
with interest in gold mining, metal detecting and many historial events along
with other varied interests all the while building a successful business and
raising a family with his lovely wife, Carla. He is interested in many
components of the Kelly Gang saga but especially in the happenings at
Stringybark Creek in 1878. I have never delved too deeply into SBC myself, at
least not as deeply as I have looked into the Siege of Glenrowan, as Bill had it
covered in his impeccable way and is, in my opinion, the leading authority on
that aspect of the Kelly saga. There are those who may disagree with some (or
all!) of his findings or conclusions, but this man has done the hard yards and
has stood his ground with an IRON will in the face of intense scrutiny and
fierce opposition, if not outright treachery, and for that I applaud him. Agree
or disagree with him he has made many people think and made them take a whole
different, fresh look at certain so-called historical facts. As he has stated,
history is written by the victors. To give an idea of what to expect, here are
the chapter titles from the table of contents -
INTRODUCTION - HOW I LEARNED ABOUT NED KELLY/PREFACE/THE POLITICS OF NED/
CHAPTER 1 NED KELLY - VILLAIN OR VICTIM?/
CHAPTER 2 WHEN AND WHERE WAS NED KELLY BORN/ CHAPTER 3 WHO WAS NED KELLY/
CHAPTER 4 LAND ACQUISITION IN AUSTRALIA/ CHAPTER 5 THE STORY OF NED AND A MAN
NAMED BORRIN/ CHAPTER 6 SOCIAL DIVIDES LEAD TO WANTED MEN/ CHAPTER 7 NED AND DAN
SHOOT THROUGH TO BULLOCKS CREEK/ CHAPTER 8 STRINGY BARK CREEK, THE BATTLEGROUND/
CHAPTER 8b NO RESPECT FOR HISTORY/ CHAPTER 9 METAL DETECTING THE KELLY HAUNTS/
CHAPTER 10 THE HUT BEHIND THE SCHOOL/ CHAPTER 11 JAMES WALLACE, THE BRAINS BEHIND
THE KELLY GANG/ CHAPTER 12 DR. STUART DAWSON'S REPUBLIC MYTH/ CHAPTER 13 GLENROWAN
- AS THE STORY UNFOLDS!/ CHAPTER 14 NED KELLY WAS DUDDED BY CONST THOMAS
MCINTYRE?/ THE END NED KELLY'S DEATH MASK
