16/01/2017
G'Day everyone.
The times they are a-changing. At least that's what Bob said.
More than 15 years ago the first re-enactment of Ned Kelly's trial was performed in the Historic Beechworth Courthouse. It evolved as the years went by growing from a single trial to a three day event. Originally co-ordinated by the Indigo Shire, the Beechworth Historic Re-Enactment Group (BHRG) stepped up to organise. Trial re-enactments were added, various guest speakers, all four suits of armour were put on display, we even burnt down the Inn, the list goes on.
The BHRG took a break last year, to many peoples disappointment, as we needed to look at where the group was going and how we were doing it. The group was formed to re-enact the history surrounding Beechworth and of course this includes the Kelly story.
This is where we find ourselves needing to bring the Kelly story into context of the times that created the Kelly's and their contemporaries and also return to our roots.
This does not mean we are turning our back on the Kelly story or the dedicated people who have attended over the many years.
It does mean we are changing the name of the weekend and many events.
Just for now we are keeping the name under wraps until we have the new page up and running.
We still plan for a Kelly trial but which one? Well, we're not telling! Not just yet.
It will be held on the the 11th, 12th & 13th of August 2017.
At this stage there will be over a dozen re-enactment groups numbering several hundred people in period costume, living as they did in the mid to late1800's. The Police Paddocks will be crammed with, well, what else would be there?
The program is still to be finalised, so at this stage we can't give away too many clues, but there will be troopers, miners, sly grog shop raids, public arrests, fi****ms displays, bushrangers, lushingtons, a sprinkling of the unfortunate class, a nugget hunt for the minor miners, we will highlight the Chinese involvment and so much more.
So stay tuned and be informed.
Remember if you didn't hear it from us, it's a rumour!
Michael Beattie.
Secretary B.H.R.G.