jimmy budgen
Slim The Horse
Wombat and Willy Wagtail
Due to drought, Slim the Horse decides to head east across Queensland’s mountains in search of green grass, fresh water, and a better life. Along the way, he finds something even more valuable: friendship—a heartwarming Australian adventure about resilience, courage, and helping each other through the tough times.
About The Author
Jimmy Budgen
A father, a storyteller, and a man who wrote his best work at bedtime for the two little boys who inspired every word.
Jimmy Budgen wrote *Slim The Horse, Wombat and Willy Wagtail* in September 2003, while living and working as a project manager in Weipa, a small mining town in far north Queensland’s Cape York region, known for its Bauxite deposits. Far from home, bedtime stories became his most treasured ritual with his sons Jacob and Benjamin, then aged six and nine.
What started as a bedtime story grew into something more, a tale of friendship, hardship, and endurance, set across the vast and varied landscapes of Queensland, from the dry outback west to the lush green mountains of the southeast. The story was lovingly illustrated by Reg Seabourn, a power station attendant in Weipa who also drew cartoons for the local paper, and who generously brought Jimmy’s characters to life with unforgettable charm.
About The Book
Slim The Horse
Far out west, beyond the mountains, a drought-stricken horse named Slim is too hungry and too weak to carry on. The creeks have dried up, the grass has turned to dust, and Slim doesn’t know what to do until a cheerful little Willy Wagtail lands on his back one Sunday morning with a plan: head east, toward the mountains, where the green grass grows.
Their journey across dry creek beds, rocky slopes, and the sun-bleached outback is one of endurance and unlikely friendship. And when Slim finally reaches the mountains and a grumpy Wombat with a rather unfortunate thorn problem, the three animals discover that even the most unexpected companions can save the day. A joyful, distinctly Australian story about courage, resilience, and the power of helping each other along.
Contact The Author
Get In Touch
Whether you’re a parent who read this book at bedtime, a teacher who brought Slim into the classroom, or a reader curious about the wide Queensland landscape that inspired this story, Jimmy would love to hear from you.
Jimmy Budgen
Slim The Horse
Wombat and Willy Wagtail
A story of drought and abundance, loneliness and friendship, written by a father for his two sons in a small Queensland mining town in 2003. Now shared with children everywhere who love a good Australian adventure.