ISSUE NO. 21
April 2026
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Letters

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

By
Andrew

Andrew writes from a prison in QLD.

Willy Pleasance

Dear ‘Bout Time Crew!!!

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

My name is Andrew. Home and away on steroids story, but I continue to laugh in the face of adversity and am only getting stronger and more determined to continue in my life of service to others... Your paper certainly helps a lot!!! I especially wish to thank Carollyne Youssef for the 'Finding Yourself Again' article. So powerful!

Interestingly, I had one call-up for psych services who agreed with my self diagnosis as a counsellor of many years as a PTSD case. I shop fronted to see them again over 6 weeks ago but they must be too busy. I have not seen a counsellor apart from in reception, over 14 weeks ago. I am not the only mental health casualty here, but at least we have each other in the camaraderie you described recently.

I don’t have to preach to the choir to you about lacks in the system in these regards. I did 8 years in the U.K. and I’d rather be here if I had to do time I think... Love your work! KEEP IT UP!

P.S. I have been studying Aboriginal traditional law – some concepts admirably summed up in Tyson Yunkaporta’s magnificent 'Sand Talk: 'How Indigenous Thinking Can Change the World'. Highly recommended.

PEACE – Andrew

Dear ‘Bout Time Crew!!!

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

My name is Andrew. Home and away on steroids story, but I continue to laugh in the face of adversity and am only getting stronger and more determined to continue in my life of service to others... Your paper certainly helps a lot!!! I especially wish to thank Carollyne Youssef for the 'Finding Yourself Again' article. So powerful!

Interestingly, I had one call-up for psych services who agreed with my self diagnosis as a counsellor of many years as a PTSD case. I shop fronted to see them again over 6 weeks ago but they must be too busy. I have not seen a counsellor apart from in reception, over 14 weeks ago. I am not the only mental health casualty here, but at least we have each other in the camaraderie you described recently.

I don’t have to preach to the choir to you about lacks in the system in these regards. I did 8 years in the U.K. and I’d rather be here if I had to do time I think... Love your work! KEEP IT UP!

P.S. I have been studying Aboriginal traditional law – some concepts admirably summed up in Tyson Yunkaporta’s magnificent 'Sand Talk: 'How Indigenous Thinking Can Change the World'. Highly recommended.

PEACE – Andrew

Lessons from Bees

By Muhamed

Prison teaches people to hold back. To keep to themselves. To give as little as possible. To protect what little energy or hope they have left. When everything feels limited – time, freedom, trust – it makes sense to think that giving more will leave you with less. But the bee lives by a different rule.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Albany Prisoners on Lockdowns

By Prisoners at Albany Prison, WA

We are not sure who to write to or who we can talk to about theses matters. We are hoping someone reads our letter and can point us in the right direction to have our voices heard.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

1 MIN READ

Rights for Foreign Prisoners

By Luiing

If foreign prisoners have been sentenced under same law as Australians, then it’s extremely important that they have right to be treat equally in their imprisonment – on humanitarian grounds.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Not Cool: Heat and Overcrowding in TMCC

By Dane

The following is in response to the article by Denham Sadler titled “Sweltering Behind Bars: Stifling Heat in Australian prisons”.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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