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Letters

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

By
Appollonia

Appollonia writes from a prison in WA.

Willy Pleasance

Dear About Time,

My name is Appollonia.

I have been in and out of prison since 2016. My life has been a roller coaster. I didn’t grow up knowing about prison life, but I got on meth after high school, mixed in with the wrong crowd.

I was 18 when I first came to prison.

I am now 29. I’ve spent 10 years in and out.

As a mother, I didn’t raise my son and I regret the last 10 years. Now my son is 9.

The first time I saw him after 5 years broke my heart. Seeing my son makes me want to change and be a mother to him. I have now made the choice to go to rehab.

I want to change because I don’t want prison to be home anymore.

I am willing to give my best to stay out and settle down.

I would like to get out of prison and own my own business to help others who needed support, because when I got out I didn’t have the support I need.

I want to thank the staff at West Kimberley Regional Prison for the support on my journey to recovery.

Love, hope, faith, dream and peace.

Dear About Time,

My name is Appollonia.

I have been in and out of prison since 2016. My life has been a roller coaster. I didn’t grow up knowing about prison life, but I got on meth after high school, mixed in with the wrong crowd.

I was 18 when I first came to prison.

I am now 29. I’ve spent 10 years in and out.

As a mother, I didn’t raise my son and I regret the last 10 years. Now my son is 9.

The first time I saw him after 5 years broke my heart. Seeing my son makes me want to change and be a mother to him. I have now made the choice to go to rehab.

I want to change because I don’t want prison to be home anymore.

I am willing to give my best to stay out and settle down.

I would like to get out of prison and own my own business to help others who needed support, because when I got out I didn’t have the support I need.

I want to thank the staff at West Kimberley Regional Prison for the support on my journey to recovery.

Love, hope, faith, dream and peace.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
July 2026
edition of About Time.

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Welcome to About Time

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

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