Just So Stories

Walker Books

March 2025

ISBN13:9781760658403

Australia RRP:$17.99

New Zealand RRP:$19.99

From the time I was a kid, I was fascinated with many of the stories of our bushrangers – lots of them recounted to me by my Father Bear. I think from memory it was in my tweens or maybe very early teens, when he gave me Frank Clune’s classic, The Wild Colonial Boys, to read. I’m not entirely sure I ever gave that copy back to him. I do know I bought him a copy for his birthday, and when he died I took that one, which I still have.

It was then that Ben Hall’s story first caught hold of me. Strongly influenced by my dad, who would get so emotional raging against the persecution and victimisation of Ben, that drove him to bushranging, I became staunchly Team Hall.

When I first went to Forbes, my only ‘must’ was Ben’s grave to pay my respects – and I got teary as well. So this new historical fiction from Sophie Masson was also a ‘must’ for me. And I loved the way she has presented the two different PoVs – from the angle of pro-Ben and from the angle of pro-Pottinger. [You can easily guess who I barrack for]. Lily and her parents are part of a theatrical troupe and get caught up in the three-day impromptu party at Robinson’s Hotel, Canowindra.

All travellers and the townspeople were required to remain at the hotel, but they were not mistreated and were provided with food and entertainment. The local policeman was subjected to some humiliation by being locked in his own cell. When the hostages were set free, the gang insisted on paying the hotelier and giving the townspeople “expenses”. Their aim was to emphasise that the gang could act with impunity and to belittle the police. In this they were spectacularly successful. [Wikipedia]

During the sojourn, Lily forms a favourable impression of Ben Hall, his underlying sadness and grief, and his respectful attitude, in particular to women and children. She makes the acquaintance of Polly, the kitchen help at the hotel who is also pro-Ben and also Polly’s cousin, Sam, a young man who dreams of becoming a Cobb & Co driver and is firmly in Pottinger’s camp. Which is understandable, given that Sir Frederick has been kind to Sam – despite his general ineptitude and often bad temper.

The narrative continues as Lily and the theatre folk travel onto Bathurst and Sam follows, ostensibly to help his aunt in her shop, but really to see if he can find out more to help Sir Frederick catch the outlaws. Because, it’s pretty well-known that as a police officer, he’s useless and needs all the help he can get [yes ok, I’m biassed – I know].

Here’s the thing though, while it’s true that Ben had association with Frank Gardiner, who was another kettle of fish altogether, and that some of the Hall gang were trigger-happy, Ben never was. When he was betrayed by a fellow who had promised help and support, it was to prove his demise. The troopers, those protectors of the innocent, upholders of justice [heavy sarcasm] ambushed Ben – eight of them, who shot him 30 times. 30 times!!! No one, not even an animal deserves to die like that 😡.

I’m glad that Sophie points out the absolute injustice of that, as well as the persecution that turned the man to outlaw. Ben Hall was buried just a few days before what would have been his 28th birthday. The very fact that so many people still visit his grave to pay respects, and there are always flowers left, show that memories are long, especially of heroes. Ben Hall railed against injustice, having been the victim of it more than once, and Sophie Masson has done a grand job of underlining that.

This is the first in a new series called Our History, and I’m certainly looking forward to future titles. This makes for a terrific start and of course, would slot in well as a serial read during those ubiquitous gold rush units. There are extensive teaching notes, of which, I think you would need to selectively cherry pick to be useful in your curriculum. And the entire concept lends itself beautifully to some discussion on ethics, right & wrong, heroes and villains, which is where I would be putting my focus.

There is absolutely no doubt that some of our bushrangers were just mad or bad or both, and their legacy is not one to be celebrated. But Ben Hall who was driven to a life outside the law in desperation, a man who didn’t knowingly hurt anyone and never stole from anyone who couldn’t spare it, and, more importantly, was generous and kind to those who needed it most, is not of that ilk.

On the 5th May it will be 160 years since Ben was gunned down in cold blood. Long may his memory live, I say. We are for the downtrodden and the underdogs. I’m giving it a 5 🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎 rating in tribute to Ben’s reputation as a fine horseman.