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About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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ISSUE NO. 4

October 2024

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Poetry

Not Just Words

By

Ashleigh

Ashleigh writes from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Victoria.

Lina Trochez

The voice is beautiful; my lungs fill with a relieved gasp.

I expected a prison sentence.

A feeling of chest tightening, breath weak, metal and voices.

A life of strip searches and beatings.

But I have a table of warmth and empathy, compassion and communication.

An unwavering sense of belief and understanding, with the outcome forever changed for me, and everyone is utterly breathtaking.

A chance, I tell you, at real recovery, support and the understanding of who we are, our background, our life, our everything.

With a simple question. A simple ‘why?’

Which leads to further questions, then genuine support.

‘Why are you here?’

‘Why did you do it?’

The real truth, the further questions.

‘How can we help?’

And help.

I mean, real help.

Homes, counseling, communication, support, warmth, food, clothing, necessities and so much more.

Where the media report on the person behind the story, not a glamorous lie.

Where everyone understands that people need support and help, not hard and forced solitude.

Where governments say ‘no’ to prisons and ‘yes’ to actual help and improvement.

And do it.

Actions, not just words.

The voice is beautiful; my lungs fill with a relieved gasp.

I expected a prison sentence.

A feeling of chest tightening, breath weak, metal and voices.

A life of strip searches and beatings.

But I have a table of warmth and empathy, compassion and communication.

An unwavering sense of belief and understanding, with the outcome forever changed for me, and everyone is utterly breathtaking.

A chance, I tell you, at real recovery, support and the understanding of who we are, our background, our life, our everything.

With a simple question. A simple ‘why?’

Which leads to further questions, then genuine support.

‘Why are you here?’

‘Why did you do it?’

The real truth, the further questions.

‘How can we help?’

And help.

I mean, real help.

Homes, counseling, communication, support, warmth, food, clothing, necessities and so much more.

Where the media report on the person behind the story, not a glamorous lie.

Where everyone understands that people need support and help, not hard and forced solitude.

Where governments say ‘no’ to prisons and ‘yes’ to actual help and improvement.

And do it.

Actions, not just words.

Little Rhyme

By Justin

Here’s a little rhyme. As I’m chilling doing time, paying the price for my crime.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ

Mother

By Biannca

What did you see when you looked at me? Just a little girl, I had no voice, you kept me down without a choice. You gave heartache and pain, said I was your endless shame.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 24

2 MIN READ

One Day We Will Be Free

By Matt

They talked to us about our struggles, their words we could not hear, while being condemned and held accountable; our vision was not clear.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ

All for One, One for All at Bandyup

By Ruth

Bandyup is a place, where we are a mixed race. It doesn’t matter where we are from, we should support each other as one.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ