Baking in Boronia
A finalist from our second Writing Challenge!
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Creative
I can't cook, well not very good and when I got sentenced and found myself in Roebourne I watched the ladies make “Johnny Cake” and we would go to the kitchen every Sunday to help with the prison meals. I then went to Wandoo and worked in the kitchen and I thought to myself “I’m happy just washing the dishes” as everyone else knew their way around a kitchen, but the Mr Spooner asked me to take over from Natalia when she leaves in preparing all the meals for the Vegetarians – It stressed me out so much but Mr Spooner made learning cooking fun and colourful and not stressful, so I learnt a thing or to, but then I transferred to Boronia and lived in a shared house with 6 other women. Learning from so many different womens recipes and tips in baking made me get through weekends and take my mind of things.
The amount of times ive made carrot cake and each one always turned out different – Dense and flat but full of flavor, Fat and fluffy, many times I would try, then I moved onto Cheesecake, trying to master perfect muffin cheesecakes, Pumpkin Scones and then Pumpkin Soup – I would be in the kitchen all day baking and time would fly by and when the girls walk in the house and comment how lovely it smells the cooking, feeling so homely, especially when its raining outside, it made me think I just want to keep cooking and baking on the outside and making people happy. I cant wait to get out and cook things Ive learnt from being in prison for my son and family.
I hated the kitchen on the outside but have learnt from being inside that it makes me feel wholesome and happy.
I can't cook, well not very good and when I got sentenced and found myself in Roebourne I watched the ladies make “Johnny Cake” and we would go to the kitchen every Sunday to help with the prison meals. I then went to Wandoo and worked in the kitchen and I thought to myself “I’m happy just washing the dishes” as everyone else knew their way around a kitchen, but the Mr Spooner asked me to take over from Natalia when she leaves in preparing all the meals for the Vegetarians – It stressed me out so much but Mr Spooner made learning cooking fun and colourful and not stressful, so I learnt a thing or to, but then I transferred to Boronia and lived in a shared house with 6 other women. Learning from so many different womens recipes and tips in baking made me get through weekends and take my mind of things.
The amount of times ive made carrot cake and each one always turned out different – Dense and flat but full of flavor, Fat and fluffy, many times I would try, then I moved onto Cheesecake, trying to master perfect muffin cheesecakes, Pumpkin Scones and then Pumpkin Soup – I would be in the kitchen all day baking and time would fly by and when the girls walk in the house and comment how lovely it smells the cooking, feeling so homely, especially when its raining outside, it made me think I just want to keep cooking and baking on the outside and making people happy. I cant wait to get out and cook things Ive learnt from being in prison for my son and family.
I hated the kitchen on the outside but have learnt from being inside that it makes me feel wholesome and happy.
Date Published
June 2, 2026
By Dan
A drawing of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, sent to us by Dan.
ISSUE NO. 25
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1 MIN READ
By Sofia
Often I try to self-reflect which turns into waves of rings around me. This picture reflects my days in general; life is static, surrounded by waves around.
ISSUE NO. 25
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1 MIN READ
By Anonymous
The cage stands bold, with its steel-clad mesh. For within its grip, it’s us it holds. Ten foot walls, of cold creme concrete. For outside we muster, like horses in stalls.
ISSUE NO. 25
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2 MIN READ