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Letters

For Granted

Anonymous

This person writes from Ravenhall Prison, in Victoria.

Willy Pleasance

Sometimes we take things for granted, like our freedom. I've only been in prison a short time compared to some, but I still feel the pinch. Every night when they lock the cell doors it's still hard. After lock-in is when I really feel like going for a walk most. Despite walking in a circle half the day, I just want to walk further, like down the street to the shops, or even just to cross the road with cars, people and so on.

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For granted is such a strong term. Like taking freedom or just taking life for granted.

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I'm here because I broke the law. Regrets? Yeah, I have plenty given the situation I’m in. I would a hundred per cent do it all differently and not break the law and be in here. Knowing the people I've hurt, family and friends, makes my heart break. It's like I'm in this endless nightmare.

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Watching people come and go and yet I'm still stuck here within these walls.

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I was told it won't be forever – forever is such a long time. I know I won’t be here forever and, when I'm out, I will do everything within my power to stay out. I sure as hell won't take anything for granted again.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
May 2025
edition of About Time.
By Kate

Each day I wake up in here I’m re-shocked, so to speak…how on Earth has life gotten to this point for me? For a while there I was waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and tell me I’d been “Punk’d”.

ISSUE NO. 27
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2 MIN READ
By Adrian

There is a particular part of our prison populations that seems to have been forgotten, that gets no mention and yet these people who are the ones that need help and support when incarcerated with a unique set of issues that just aren’t recognised.

ISSUE NO. 27
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3 MIN READ
By Marley

So the parole referred me to seek out a security classification to be possibly considered for low security.

ISSUE NO. 27
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2 MIN READ
By Stephen

What’s been happening at your prison at the moment? Our frequency of ‘lock-ins’ is increasing to about 2 per week while staff do training for the handover.

ISSUE NO. 27
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2 MIN READ

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