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My name is Lucinda, I’m a creative non-fiction writer from Melbourne, Australia and mother to three daughters. I write about motherhood, the suburban environment, walking, reading, nature and the complexities of modern life.
Suburban Dreaming…
Suburban Dreaming was a class I took at university when I was (momentarily) studying to be a geography teacher. It was about all about the domestica of Australian suburbs: their flair, their impact, their ecology. My memory of it may be skewed, but I use the title fondly now to shape my thoughts on this small domestic life of mine.
In 2022 I won the Bass Coast Prize for Non-Fiction with The Prom, a personal interrogation of the writer’s place in nature in the midst of a climate emergency. In 2024 my essay The Butterfly Reserve was awarded the local memoir section in the Nillumbik Prize for Contemporary Writing. These essays give you a taste of some of the topics I like to discuss.
If you think about nature, climate change, motherhood, life balance, reading, writing and creativity, I think you’ll connect with Suburban Dreaming. Check out the archive to get a feel for things.
Suburban Dreaming is published fortnightly on a Sunday evening.
Why subscribe?
I used to love blogging back in the day and feel like this newsletter is reviving something in me: longer pieces, grittier topics. Diving a little deeper than the surface stuff. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox, or you can check in on the Substack website or app.
I hope to connect with you sometime soon.
Like yourself- I could not wait to take my kids there and show them how magnificent it truly is, but in turn wondering if we should in fact be there.
I think reintroducing the entry fee would be a good start, and rather than it going back in the pool to assist other parks, it should be used for the upkeep of the Prom. And as hard as it would be, somehow capping camp numbers and daily visitors. Having said that, to go down there and then be told “sorry we’re full” I too would be devastated. Much like you though, I don’t have all the answer.
Thanks again!
Loving your Substack Lucinda, thank you!
Had the pleasure of your reading your article- The Prom, last night. Mesmerising.
My partner grew up in Yanakie and I had the opportunity of living there for 3 years. We would often frequent the Prom and I in turn got job down there as an information officer. Such a beautiful place, it really is hard to put into words.
We finally got back over to Victoria this year for Christmas with our kids. We went to the Prom a couple of times and it truly is an amazing place! But it was packed. It was haemorrhaging people. The car parks can’t accommodate the number of people. Vegetation getting trampled on by those that aren’t sticking to designated paths. The campground at Tidal, don’t even get me started on that. I understand everyone wants a piece of the paradise, however, after reading your essay I can’t help but feel similarly to you in relation to the hog deer - are we just bad as them?!