Fords and Flying Machines

My Australian Story Series

Author: Patricia Bernard

Book 11 in the My Australian Story series

Pages: 263

Published: 2003

Age: 9+

Fords and Flying Machines: The Diary of Jack McLaren, Longreach, 1919-1921

Jack McLaren's dream is to be an automobile mechanic. When his uncle offers him an apprenticeship in Longreach, Jack jumps at the chance. Little does Jack know that his long trip to central Queensland will be the start of a whole new dream. Jack is soon on the first automobile ever to travel the Gulf Track from Longreach to Katherine. With him are two World War I pilots with dreams of their own. After weeks of breakdowns, broken axles, crocodiles and snakes, all agree that there are easier ways to cross the Australian outback. The Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service is about to be born.

About the My Australian Story Series

Reading age: 9+ years

My Australian Story is a series of historical novels written by various authors. Each book is written in the form of a fictional diary of a young person living during an important event or significant time period in Australian history.