Feedback From Our Readers

Its my first time reading this paper and I love every thing that it offers, thank you for sharing information that all prisoners need to know.

It makes you feel like your feelings and thoughts are valid and others can relate to how you feel and together we can over come this negative time in our lives and turn this experience into a positive and heal and live your best life.

Because it comes from us that live it, us the real people that experience jail life every day every minute, people on the outside should really learn what actually goes on and the mistreatment we as prisoners go through we are all not bad people.

This is just the first of many times I will submit my words, my feelings and my thoughts I will continue to offer my help and guidance even when I am released.

Its good to share and connect without judgement give you self confidence.

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Thank you for your work providing the About Time platform which allows creativity and expression a space to flourish.

Last night I woke up with something I had to write down which is just how it happens, and I wrote this poem that I would like to share with everybody. I hope you like it too.

It would be nice if you could publish it as it is my hope that it will help people form more positive relationships in their lives and help contribute to a more pro-social society.

Thank you, I enjoy reading your newspaper.

About Time has been a lifeline - when I was inside, it gave me a sense of purpose and feelings of camaraderie. The stories were really powerful. I have a chronic illness and suffer from intense pain, and writing for About Time has given me something to focus on and prevents me from going to dark places. Without About Time I don't know where I would be.

About Time is a lifeline. Being of service is my highest calling and About Time gives me a sense of purpose.

It helps me to understand what it's like for others in the community. About Time gives me the feeling of being in a community.

I don't read it in one hit. I will scan it and savour readers letters for times when I feel isolated or down.

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Your work is so necessary for the nourishment of the incarcerated.

I have encouraged men like Tony, Adrian and others to contribute. Tony was so excited his two letters were published and receiving a personal letter from Denham Sadler. It increased his self confidence.

About Time has positively impacted my belief in myself. It has real life stories from real life prisoners.

This paper deserves all the support it can get. A way for prisoners to express their honest stories and gifts. A real way to heal and rehabilitate encouraging others to do the same.

Dear Rosie,

I just want to say how happy I am to receive a reply from you. I never expected an acknowledgement of receipt, let along a letter. This means a world to me. It shows that someone was kind enough to take their time to read through and understand what it meant and appreciate the event and the effects it bears upon the writer. I can not thank you enough for that.

About Time gives a sense of community and belonging. It’s valuable to have my opinion heard and respected, to stay feeling valued and worthy.

To have a voice, to be heard with no fear of judgment. It gives a clearer perspective and to know that others experience the same things as we do in these places. Hear and see other peoples stories and know there is no judgement.

Because the truths are being printed rather than hidden.

I have been in prison for over 13 years and I want to say that your newspaper is an amazing opportunity for all who have put the time in and it has been very well received throughout the Victorian Prison System.

Dear About Time,

Thank you once again for your amazing publication. I know I speak for myself and many of the other men here when I say that you publication is valued and appreciatedand we look forward to its arrival each month. It certainly becomes a central discussion point in the yard in the days following its distribution here. Both myself and the other men within my accommodation lodge read over every edition repeatedly.

I've written to you once previously with a poem that didn't make the cut. I hope my submission this time around is more in line with the material you're looking to publish. Once again, thank you for your incredible work in continuing to support, connect, and inform incarcerated men and women across the country.

Thanks again for all of you working so professionally and with passion. The paper is a great success among the men I speak with. I encourage them to write. There is so much talent among the men to be shared.

Thank you for what you do.

I have no contact with my brother who is in prison and the newspaper gives me great comfort knowing I have some small insight into his life, a way I can connect with his world.

He was pretty happy when he called, and had already cut the exercises out to stick on the wall in his cell!

Thanks again Edith. I hope all in the AT team really understand how much difference the paper makes.

I did get a copy of the paper with my article in it and I was pleased that some of my villain mates approved and wanted me to sign their copy. As a published author I charged them one Tim Tam per signature.

I was lucky enough to stumble across your writing submission page. I have enclosed a "lived experience" poem for pure humour purpose and hope you enjoy and share it with the prison population :)

Thank you for all you do in putting together About Time and sending it into prisons. I certainly found it helpful and informative while I was inside. I look forward to reading the next edition of About Time when it comes out. I really like the way you have formatted your website. A bit easier to follow and read compared to what was on the NSW tablet version. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for the gift of your newspaper. A simple idea to spread a good word or thought via written media to the Australian prison population – and beyond – makes more of a difference to us, than anyone who hasn't done prison time could ever know.

About Time volunteers, give yourself a pat on the back for this paper, well done! You have no idea the effect it has on the readers. Such a positive initiative towards all people incarcerated.

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Thank you.

I am so proud that I get to welcome our NT people in prison to your very first issue of About Time! This is your newspaper, so please write in and send pictures, stories, poems and whatever else fits. 

I look forward to hearing from people in the NT writing into About Time and making the newspaper your own.

I just wanted to let you know how much I admire your work. I think it is remarkable the way you give a voice to people who often do not have the opportunity to express themselves or share their stories.

I have a son who's on remand and as your paper isn't issued in the NT a hard copy would be great, as I can quote items to him in letters.

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Many thanks! Keep up the great work!

Thanks again for the opportunity to hone our skills.

Thank you for what you do for Australian prisoners and their families.

Love that yous are doing what you can to provide something for us all to read and pass the time.

Kind regards, and thanks for your work.

Thanks for your work folks!

I, and my mates, enjoy your paper and I've enclosed a copy of the last page of an actual letter I wrote my wife last week.

Dear About Time,

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Thank you for your amazing publication. I know myself and some of the other men here really look forward to each issue. The content is excellent and it creates that much needed connection between prisoners across the country. I find myself reading over and over each issue and always finding some new detail to appreciate. I'm not sure exactly how but, I would love to support the About Time Publication in any way I can.

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I'm currently engaged in distance education via Curtin University and I'm studying a Bachelor of Health Sciences. I'm employed as the G.E.O Peer Educator here. Where possible, I try to be an active and positive member of the community wherever I'm placed throughout the Victorian Corrections system. I believe it's absolutely critical to both create and support pro-social initiatives in this environment to keep prisoners engaged in meaningful, rewarding and positive ways.

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My earliest release date is mid 2028 so I have plenty of time remaining to continue working on myself and supporting other prisoners where possible to change the direction of their lives for the better. Thank you for taking the time to read my note.

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I have included a poem for submission.

I'd like to thank you's so much for all your time and effort – you's all do a great job with preparing the About Time articles.

First of all thank you so much for all the knowledge you collect and put in these newspapers. Really appreciate it.

Hello Mini, Rosie,

Thank you so much. I feel humbly encouraged.I do believe that in my monologue about water, I went into a zone.

A zone that reflected a dark period, yet one in which I was able to tap into the sort of hope I felt when immersed in that life-giving, soul-nourishing water. I went to places, in that talk, I haven't been to for nearly 40 years. And that I've never spoken about, out loud. I worried at the start of the exercise whether I'd be able to recall anything with five-senses resolution. I was wrong.

Perhaps if I had people speechless, that's a good thing? Perhaps it brings us all back to the bone-deep reality of life inside; aneasthetises our senses for a moment, occasions a reset, and renders possible further externalising of experiences. Perhaps we, in trying to capture our prison experiences, teeter on the precipice of fear – and in that state, we pause before measuring if we have the strength to fully give of our experiences.

I do believe that I chose to leap into that chasm of fear, and give voice to one aspect of my experience of imprisonment. I think I succeeded.

Thank you so much for giving us all a forum, a platform to externalise our experiences. The hope is that it helps people inside to feel seen and validated, and humanised.

With great thanks,
Steve

What a beautiful space you've created!

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

I'm so grateful to receive positive feedback, I even almost wrote a third short story. Other than my overwhelming gratitude to everyone at About Time (also please thank Peter Rose on my behalf), I am happy to report that my younger brother might be sending me a script for a comic we've been planning (though it'll take some time).

Included is a poem written by Michael and my honest response of encouragement. May it offer hope to anyone who challenges themselves to choose to heal toward being a quality human. There are so many men wanting to transform. There are many who hear their pain. There are too few who truly listen. About Time gives all a voice to proclaim their sorrow and continue their amends. This challenges all to honestly listen with compassion and care. Thanks to you and your professionalism for making transformation possible.

Keep up the professional and caring support given to the incarcerated. It is quality "therapy", so needed.

A quick thank you to About Time for the national paper. I really enjoy reading about the ins and outs of Australian jail life.

I get great enjoyment out of each issue. It helps pass the time.

P.S. I love the poems and the pictures people draw. There are so many talented people out there.

Thank you and congratulations on the publication of the national prisoner's newspaper, "About Time".

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Your initiative is offering many the "therapy" necessary to earn back self-respect and enabling them to choose to find a purpose for good, while they make their amends during their incarceration.

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They say: "The pen is mightier than the sword". To see their contributions in print will be the first time for some that they have been "heard" and may enable them with respect to transform their lives - to honestly rehabilitate.

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The paper is well-read and discussed. The smiles on faces knowing some of the contributors is encouraging.

I think the guys in prison appreciate this paper. It reminds me I’m not the only one in this situation, I get like to see what others are writing & feeling while in jail.

Thank you all you guys do :)

First I’d like to express my appreciation and I just wish to say thanks with all my heart, being, soul, spirit and being.

Again, congratulations to you and your staff for "About Time". I am so impressed.

Just wanted to say keep up the good work.