Those Foreigners

In this richly textured memoir, Lou Lane departs from her usual focus on Aboriginal history to offer a vivid, affectionate portrait of early 20th-century life in East Geelong. “Those Foreigners” is both a personal recollection and a social snapshot; told through the eyes of a child, but shaped by the voice of a seasoned observer.

At the heart of the story is Ruby Shepherd, Lou’s spirited mother, who arrived from Tasmania in 1910 and, despite her best efforts, remained “a foreigner” in the eyes of her East Geelong neighbours. Through Ruby’s gardening, swimming, and quiet defiance of social convention, Lane captures the rhythms of domestic life, the rituals of Eastern Beach, and the subtle tensions of a close-knit community.

With humour, detail, and a keen sense of place, Lane evokes a world of butcher’s carts, boxthorn hedges, jellyfish stings, and twopenny bathing boxes. Her recollections are not just nostalgic; they are grounded in the textures of daily life, from the scent of coconut oil to the lure of a diving board.

“Those Foreigners” is a celebration of resilience, resourcefulness, and the quiet ways in which women like Ruby shaped the social fabric of Geelong. It is also a reminder that history lives not only in official records, but in the memories of those who lived it.

Audio updated on 10 November 2025 to correct archival narration.