ISSUE NO. 2
August 2024
Donate Here

Letters

A Journey of Healing

David is a writer currently incarcerated in New South Wales.

It is About Time incarcerated people are given the encouragement to share the truth of their experiences. Your paper will make this possible despite the obstacles you do, and will, face.

Action, not only words, shows the power of one, then two, four, eight…paying it forward. Hope for the broke, that healing is possible both for victim and perpetrator.

We ought not be defined by our less good behaviour. Who of us may ‘cast the first stone’.

My journey includes discovering I was adopted at 37 years old while preparing my mother’s funeral in 1983. My father died in 1982.

My healing of active alcoholism in 1991, Mother’s Day. Thanks to Archie Carmichael, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and many others over the past 33 years.

My incarceration stems from inappropriate same-gender attraction behaviour between 1978 and 1981. The context being my failure, which I own, from extremely poor judgement fuelled by alcohol and my fear of being known as a homosexual.

Fortunately, with professional therapy, spiritual direction of quality, consistently living the 12 step truth of healing and the non judgemental care and support of friends, I am free from all internal fear.

My incarceration is an objective form of amends. My personal amends to all was made over the past 33 years.

My sorrow is because I am sorry not expecting anything, not even forgiveness. Of course, that has been accepted when offered, an important gift for any healing.

My recovering from alcoholism led to me becoming a professional addictions counsellor from the Australian Institute for Counselling in Addictions (ACIA) with Distinction.

From 1996 to 2004, I served the addicts at William Booth, Surry Hills and Corrections NSW Long Bay, Ngara Mura Rehabilitation Centre.

Please, incarcerated men need to find their ‘goodness’ by a ‘voice’ for their own healing. ‘About Time’ will do this.

Shalom, David.

It is About Time incarcerated people are given the encouragement to share the truth of their experiences. Your paper will make this possible despite the obstacles you do, and will, face.

Action, not only words, shows the power of one, then two, four, eight…paying it forward. Hope for the broke, that healing is possible both for victim and perpetrator.

We ought not be defined by our less good behaviour. Who of us may ‘cast the first stone’.

My journey includes discovering I was adopted at 37 years old while preparing my mother’s funeral in 1983. My father died in 1982.

My healing of active alcoholism in 1991, Mother’s Day. Thanks to Archie Carmichael, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and many others over the past 33 years.

My incarceration stems from inappropriate same-gender attraction behaviour between 1978 and 1981. The context being my failure, which I own, from extremely poor judgement fuelled by alcohol and my fear of being known as a homosexual.

Fortunately, with professional therapy, spiritual direction of quality, consistently living the 12 step truth of healing and the non judgemental care and support of friends, I am free from all internal fear.

My incarceration is an objective form of amends. My personal amends to all was made over the past 33 years.

My sorrow is because I am sorry not expecting anything, not even forgiveness. Of course, that has been accepted when offered, an important gift for any healing.

My recovering from alcoholism led to me becoming a professional addictions counsellor from the Australian Institute for Counselling in Addictions (ACIA) with Distinction.

From 1996 to 2004, I served the addicts at William Booth, Surry Hills and Corrections NSW Long Bay, Ngara Mura Rehabilitation Centre.

Please, incarcerated men need to find their ‘goodness’ by a ‘voice’ for their own healing. ‘About Time’ will do this.

Shalom, David.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
August 2024
edition of About Time.

On Choice

By Ronin Cruise

The greatest power we have is our choice, our ability to make decisions.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ

‘I Don’t Want Prison to Be Home Anymore’

By Appollonia

I have been in and out of prison since 2016. My life has been a roller coaster.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ

One More Day Closer to Being Free

By Luke

Yesterday I went for bail and I got denied, which really, really sucked.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ

Finding ‘About Time’ and Finding My Voice Again

By Vanessa

When I found out about About Time I was excited to be able to write in to the national prison newspaper.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn