Bring Australian history to life in your classroom or collection
A curriculum-aligned book and learning resource for Years 5–7 — written by a teacher with over forty years experience in education.
About the book
Along the tracks of Cobb and Co. — Jimmy the Whip -- a story rooted in real Australian history
Jimmy the Whip is a fast-paced, family-friendly adventurous story set during the Australian gold rush and the legendary era of Cobb & Co. coaching. It follows gold seekers, travellers, and the Royal Mail through the dust and flooding rivers of colonial Australia — weaving fictional characters alongside real historical figures including Mary Jinks and Cabbage Tree Ned (Edward Devine).
The book is rich enough to foster deeper learning across a range of year levels and abilities, is engaging enough for reluctant readers, and grounded firmly in the history that shaped modern Australia.
An underlying theme of the book is that "Grit + Graft = Resilience and Success"
Years 5-7
Discover and Learn Edition
A ready-to-use classroom and library resource
The Discover and Learn Edition is a companion resource designed to do the planning work for you. It combines the full narrative with a suite of teacher and parent tools — all aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
Included
Curriculum areas
What it covers
The Discover and Learn Edition supports teaching and learning across these key curriculum areas:
In classrooms and libraries
Already at work in Australian schools
The book is currently held in public libraries and has been adopted by a Years 5–7 class as part of a school-wide commitment to increasing Australian history content.
About the author
Written by a teacher, for teachers
Hazel Johnson
Hazel spent over forty years teaching in Australian secondary schools before turning to historical research and writing full time. That classroom experience shapes every aspect of the Discover and Learn Edition — the resource is built around how teachers actually plan and how students actually engage.
She is one of Australia's foremost researchers on the Cobb & Co. era, with a series of eight books documenting the coaching routes, drivers, and stories that defined colonial Australia.
Request a copy
We'd be glad to send your school a complimentary copy
If you're a teacher or school librarian, Hazel is happy to send a complimentary copy of the 'Discover and Learn Edition' of Along the tracks of Cobb and Co. - Jimmy the Whip — at no cost and with no obligation.
Get in touch
Reach Hazel directly by email or phone. She'll arrange to send a copy to your school.
dvhtjohnson@gmail.com | +61 417984455
About the book
Along the tracks of Cobb and Co. — Jimmy the Whip -- a story rooted in real Australian history
Jimmy the Whip is a fast-paced, family-friendly adventurous story set during the Australian gold rush and the legendary era of Cobb & Co. coaching. It follows gold seekers, travellers, and the Royal Mail through the dust and flooding rivers of colonial Australia — weaving fictional characters alongside real historical figures including Mary Jinks and Cabbage Tree Ned (Edward Devine).
The book is rich enough to foster deeper learning across a range of year levels and abilities, is engaging enough for reluctant readers, and grounded firmly in the history that shaped modern Australia.
An underlying theme of the book is that "Grit + Graft = Resilience and Success"
Years 5-7
Discover and Learn Edition
A ready-to-use classroom and library resource
The Discover and Learn Edition is a companion resource designed to do the planning work for you. It combines the full narrative with a suite of teacher and parent tools — all aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
Included
- Explicit identification of text structure and dramatic effects
- Word study, including punctuation, sentence construction, and parts of speech
- Exploration of literary devices used within the text
- Structured learning activities to support comprehension and analysis
- Discussion prompts that encourage:
- Reading engagement
- Historical thinking
- Values‑based and reflective conversations.
Curriculum areas
What it covers
The Discover and Learn Edition supports teaching and learning across these key curriculum areas:
- The gold rush
- Australia's changing landscape
- Identity & belonging
- Language & literacy
- Values & character
- Historical inquiry.
In classrooms and libraries
Already at work in Australian schools
The book is currently held in public libraries and has been adopted by a Years 5–7 class as part of a school-wide commitment to increasing Australian history content.
About the author
Written by a teacher, for teachers
Hazel Johnson
Hazel spent over forty years teaching in Australian secondary schools before turning to historical research and writing full time. That classroom experience shapes every aspect of the Discover and Learn Edition — the resource is built around how teachers actually plan and how students actually engage.
She is one of Australia's foremost researchers on the Cobb & Co. era, with a series of eight books documenting the coaching routes, drivers, and stories that defined colonial Australia.
Request a copy
We'd be glad to send your school a complimentary copy
If you're a teacher or school librarian, Hazel is happy to send a complimentary copy of the 'Discover and Learn Edition' of Along the tracks of Cobb and Co. - Jimmy the Whip — at no cost and with no obligation.
Get in touch
Reach Hazel directly by email or phone. She'll arrange to send a copy to your school.
dvhtjohnson@gmail.com | +61 417984455