G'day,

The name's Michael Fakes, author and illustrator of Ol' Mate Ned Kelly, I am passionate about Australian colonial history and bush poetry. For the past four years, I have been developing my skills in writing poetry and prose in the style that has become commonplace, thanks to the likes of Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson. 

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As a South Australian student, I am captivated by the Australian Landscape, the Australian Wildlife and the colonial way of life. This fascination is one of the driving factors behind me developing this illustrated ballad on the life of Ned Kelly, and why I captured the characters as Australian native animals, such as the dingo (Ned Kelly).

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For me, poetry is a side hobby, something that can capture and hold my interest as I express my thoughts in words and rhythm. Every word has a purpose, and every phrase can mean something different to everyone. Because of this, poetry has a special place in my life and is the driver of my creativity.