The historic Greta cemetery, alongside his mother, would be the ideal resting place for Ned Kelly.
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That’s the opinion of Michael Beattie, who has played Ned Kelly at Beechworth’s Kelly Festival for the past six years.
While the final decision would be a matter for Ned’s family, Mr Beattie said Kelly’s mother Ellen was among relatives buried at Greta.
“That would be the appropriate place and the grave could be marked with the headstone,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Police Association doesn’t believe there should be any monument to Ned Kelly, though in a sense there are many, but a gravestone wouldn’t be a monument as such.”
Wangaratta mayor and Kelly descendant Anthony Griffiths said the bushranger deserved a proper grave and his remains should be treated with respect and dignity.
“I am descended from Grace Kelly, Ned Kelly’s young sister, who was my great-grandmother,’’ Cr Griffiths said yesterday.
He had been aware of the forensic investigation but didn’t know an announcement was going to be made this week.
“If nothing else, I’m surprised,’’ he said.
Cr Griffiths agrees the family should decide what should be done with the remains.
“It’s far too early to talk about that,’’ he said.
“But whatever is decided, it should be done properly, respectfully and with dignity.
“Ned Kelly deserves a decent burial place.”
The Kelly family tree shows that Grace Kelly was only 15 when her brother was hanged.
