FORMER Beechworth resident the late Ian Jones will be commemorated at an inaugural memorial event 'The Australian Identity' being held on March 19, paying tribute to his contributions in portraying the character of Australians and his support of the Robert O'Hara Burke Museum.

Among five guest speakers will be his son Darren Jones.

At the event being held by the Friends of the Burke Museum, Darren will be speaking on Ian's contribution to Australian film and television.

Ian (1931–2018) made a significant contribution to the Australian identity through his work in journalism, film, television and recording of Australian history, and was particularly recognised as a leading authority on the Ned Kelly story.

"Dad lived and breathed history, and he walked in the shoes of people that he studied and researched," Darren said.

"The most important legacy that he left for Beechworth with the Ned Kelly story had been his start with interviewing people in the late 50s and 60s who had been told stories by generations of local people.

"He managed to preserve those stories in written word and that would be Dad's most important legacy to the town."

With an interest in the Ned Kelly story from an early age and many visits to Beechworth from his 30s onwards, according to Darren, Ian did a lot of his best work after he moved to the town from Melbourne.

"He loved everything about the town and I think he spent some of the best years of his life in Beechworth where he consolidated his life's work," he said.

Among stories recounted included a find of Aaron Sherritt's hideout in the Woolshed Valley, Ned's Kelly's favourite rifle called 'Betty' that his father had acquired by sheer luck, as well as the 56–page Jerilderie letter – an incredibly ...