My name is Paul, I have been in and out of the Victorian prison system since 1991. I am a 51 year old proud Aboriginal man.
After my last release in 2021 I decided I had had enough of prison life so I packed up and moved to Far North Queensland. The first year was great, I held a management position with a national tyre company and was living in a nice apartment on the Iconic Watermark on The Strand in Townsville with my long term partner who made the move with me; we were in paradise.
Before long my anger resurfaced and I started back on the slippery slope of addiction and unexplained hatred; although I have never physically hurt my partner I have scared the crap out of her on many occasions. She couldn’t handle my crap anymore and an AVO was served on me, so I was back on the street.
It wasn’t long until I found myself back in prison searching for reasons why I threw away paradise.
The realisation that there was no one to blame but me hit home. For years I have blamed my childhood and other events or people in my life for my behaviour and I guess these events will always play a part in my decision making.
I’ve struggled for a very long time with my anger and lack of respect for the law and not knowing why I have made the bad decisions that have led to a life in prison.
Since reading the December issue of About Time, I have started to read the Bible. I want to say I am not a religious person, but there are so many things I can relate to and I think I am getting to know myself better through reading it. I don’t think I would have picked it up if not for Denis’s letter published in the December 2024 issue; a very big thank you to you my friend you have been a big influence on many people over the years. I look forward to more poetry. Keep up the good work mate.
I now live in hope that I can find peace within myself, and there is a faint light at the end of a very long tunnel.
I guess the moral of my story is changing location is not the answer. Change needs to start with you.
Paul
My name is Paul, I have been in and out of the Victorian prison system since 1991. I am a 51 year old proud Aboriginal man.
After my last release in 2021 I decided I had had enough of prison life so I packed up and moved to Far North Queensland. The first year was great, I held a management position with a national tyre company and was living in a nice apartment on the Iconic Watermark on The Strand in Townsville with my long term partner who made the move with me; we were in paradise.
Before long my anger resurfaced and I started back on the slippery slope of addiction and unexplained hatred; although I have never physically hurt my partner I have scared the crap out of her on many occasions. She couldn’t handle my crap anymore and an AVO was served on me, so I was back on the street.
It wasn’t long until I found myself back in prison searching for reasons why I threw away paradise.
The realisation that there was no one to blame but me hit home. For years I have blamed my childhood and other events or people in my life for my behaviour and I guess these events will always play a part in my decision making.
I’ve struggled for a very long time with my anger and lack of respect for the law and not knowing why I have made the bad decisions that have led to a life in prison.
Since reading the December issue of About Time, I have started to read the Bible. I want to say I am not a religious person, but there are so many things I can relate to and I think I am getting to know myself better through reading it. I don’t think I would have picked it up if not for Denis’s letter published in the December 2024 issue; a very big thank you to you my friend you have been a big influence on many people over the years. I look forward to more poetry. Keep up the good work mate.
I now live in hope that I can find peace within myself, and there is a faint light at the end of a very long tunnel.
I guess the moral of my story is changing location is not the answer. Change needs to start with you.
Paul
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When I paint, I'm not in prison anymore. I'm lost for hours in my artwork.
I’d think there are a lot of inmates looking for someone to talk to, for some people it might help with the healing process.
Since having my first ever grandson nearly 3 years ago now, it’s made me realise that I not only want to change, but I need to do it not only for myself but for my family.
My name is Jean. I am a wiry spitfire, 65 years young, and incarcerated for the past 24 years with a L.W.O.P. (Life Without Parole) sentence.
Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
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