ISSUE NO. 4
October 2024
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Letters

A Birthday on the Inside

By
Chris

Chris writes from Port Phillip Prison in Victoria.

'Yard' by Koko, $400, #5342, 95cm x 70cm, acrylic on canvas, available to purchase at www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/boom-gate-gallery/

Hi there, my name is Chris and I sit here, again, in P.P.P. with another sentence, with old feelings of loss or sadness. I just had my 39 year old birthday, again thinking about how many I’ve done being locked up. I’ve done jail everywhere from WA, SA, VIC, just about every place that you can in those states too, from a very young age, for everything from murder to fighting, speed chasing, bad assaults, theft, fraud… everything. I’ve been in fights with me getting stabbed a lot, to me stabbing other inmates, and the normal hustle with drugs, inside and out. I still have the fear of getting out with nothing, no family help or anything to show from life. Scared at times or even happy as well. Reading this paper, I felt an urge to write to say, ‘hi’. Not sure what to say; my spelling is a setback. with the feeling of not to send this but I’ve sat in my cell as a young child, thinking to myself that I won't be a 40-year-old man in jail, but here I am again. I struggle everyday and hope that I'll get rich or have some sort of good life with money or just a feeling of accomplishment in life where people will say they're proud of me, or a crew that would follow me,thinking I am a good man that you can rely on. So, I guess, I hope someone will read this and understand or know that they can ask or have faith in a brother that is here, always.

But yeah, just thought I'd say what I was feeling to break the barrier of the ‘macho’ feelings and know that life is good, but you don't have to spend it locked up. Do something with yourself, please, because there are men that have enough time for all of us.

Respect, love, earn feelings of safety, and just have a good life, inside or not. Respect always yourself, family, and others.

Chris.

Hi there, my name is Chris and I sit here, again, in P.P.P. with another sentence, with old feelings of loss or sadness. I just had my 39 year old birthday, again thinking about how many I’ve done being locked up. I’ve done jail everywhere from WA, SA, VIC, just about every place that you can in those states too, from a very young age, for everything from murder to fighting, speed chasing, bad assaults, theft, fraud… everything. I’ve been in fights with me getting stabbed a lot, to me stabbing other inmates, and the normal hustle with drugs, inside and out. I still have the fear of getting out with nothing, no family help or anything to show from life. Scared at times or even happy as well. Reading this paper, I felt an urge to write to say, ‘hi’. Not sure what to say; my spelling is a setback. with the feeling of not to send this but I’ve sat in my cell as a young child, thinking to myself that I won't be a 40-year-old man in jail, but here I am again. I struggle everyday and hope that I'll get rich or have some sort of good life with money or just a feeling of accomplishment in life where people will say they're proud of me, or a crew that would follow me,thinking I am a good man that you can rely on. So, I guess, I hope someone will read this and understand or know that they can ask or have faith in a brother that is here, always.

But yeah, just thought I'd say what I was feeling to break the barrier of the ‘macho’ feelings and know that life is good, but you don't have to spend it locked up. Do something with yourself, please, because there are men that have enough time for all of us.

Respect, love, earn feelings of safety, and just have a good life, inside or not. Respect always yourself, family, and others.

Chris.

Staying Strong

By Mel

My name is Mel. In July, my partner overdosed while I was locked up in Tasmania. The staff there were amazing.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 21

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A Charity Fund From Inside: Even $1 Each Would Make a Difference

By Jonathon

I want to propose a system where once a week or once a month it is an option to donate to a charity from money from our inmate accounts.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 21

1 MIN READ

‘I Continue to Laugh in the Face of Adversity’: Newtown’s ‘Dreamer’ Muralist on PTSD and Prison

By Andrew

'Nuff Respect, Kudos, and Vast Appreciation on your Magnificent, Pertinent and Poignant Periodical that just keeps getting better. WORD UP!!!

Letters

ISSUE NO. 21

1 MIN READ

Autism and Mental Illness: Prison Isn’t the Right Place

By Garry

I would just like to mention a few things I’ve noticed around prison regarding inmates with both autistic and mental illness traits. Who says these inmates are right to go to prison and not a hospital?

Letters

ISSUE NO. 21

1 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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