ISSUE NO. 2
August 2024
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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.

Sistas, Support Each Other!

By Anonymous

This letter is to remind you all that, as Sistas, we need to be there for one another to raise women up.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

2 MIN READ

Strip Searches

By Nikita

It’s daunting enough when you get arrested by police, then placed into custody and thrown into a cell. Then you have to go through a degrading strip search.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

1 MIN READ

If It’s Broken, Then Fix It

By Andrew

I’ve spent most of my adult life behind bars, and I’m not proud to say it. It’s been such a bloody waste.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

3 MIN READ

Routine is Good, Not Bad

By Dane

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in prison can relate to the concept of prison rituals and routines.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

3 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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Help Us Keep Publishing About Time

Without About Time, I don’t know where I would be – Mark, from a prison in Victoria

We need your help so that we can print and distribute the paper to every person in every prison for at least the next year. We value whatever you can spare, no matter how big or small.

Australia’s prison population is growing, and our many prisons are spread far and wide.

We need your help so that we can print and distribute the paper to every person in every prison for at least the next year. We need your help to cover postage for anyone who sends us a letter from the inside.

We value whatever you can spare, no matter how big or small.