Entertainment
19 November, 2022
Kelly gang's story continues in new book
FORMER North Queenslander Peter Long has published his first novel which tells of the colourful life of Steve Hart and the legend of Ned Kelly’s brother Dan, who survived the fiery siege at Glenrowan in Victoria and fled to the region.
According to legend, Hart and Kelly first worked on the Palmer River goldfields in the mid-1880s before heading south to Mareeba, where they joined Captain Starlight (Harry Readford) on his epic droving trips to Dubbo and later through western Queensland and beyond.
Fascinated by the stories of the north, Mr Long has spent decades planning his novel “Steve Hart: The Last Kelly Standing” and is beyond excited to share it with the communities it was inspired by.
“I loved this area and its people and felt privileged to have witnessed some of its beauty, history and stories,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted to bring it to the attention of people who never had the chance to experience it for themselves. More recently, when my wife completed a teaching internship at Cooktown, I gained more specific insights, and my intention (to write the novel) grew.
“The legend of Steve Hart’s survival captured my attention because many of the reported sightings appeared so convincing and the prospect of a police cover-up over the siege at Glenrowan seemed so plausible.
“If this was America, they would have turned it into a Hollywood movie years ago.”
Mr Long also uncovered some of the material for his first novel when he was researching the life of his great grandfather Larry Cummins, a notorious bushranger from New South Wales who had remained a family secret until recent times.
“Steve Hart: The Last Kelly Standing” is available to purchase from https://hawkeye-books.com.au/steve-hart-the-last-kelly-standing/
