Yaama About Time editors and fellow readers,
Hey guys, my name is Kaiya, and I’m a proud First Nations Gomeroi/Gamilaaray jinung from Country. I’m writing to say many THANX for your monthly editions. Really! So much appreciation. Your papers have helped me through many tough times. Both strength and struggle.
This is just a letter to introduce myself as this is my first initial posting. I have been in and reading since Issue 1, many moons now. I look forward to becoming a part of this journey. So I have been incarcerated in maximum security 43 months now and, sadly, I feel I am becoming emotionally detached from the world outside. I know me saying “can you believe it” to you guys ain’t gonna sound crazy and be battered eyelashes at.
I have been knocked back parole three times now, and it’s getting exhausting trying to hold up my end when there are no appropriate support systems in place. When I first sat for parole last year, I lowkey wished I never got it, ay – just anxiety mostly. And I got what I hoped for – x3. Now, 10 months later, the best thing to do is stay off the grid, read me sum books, pepper my case management for education or employment and progress – I guess. Stay ready and sit pretty 365!
One thing I dislike is when somebody thinks you can’t do it. There they go underestimating our ability to run it up. Like, righto! The system is failing us! Every month I’m reading, let alone seeing, all of us – we are struggling and tryna make sense of this. Then, when I question their policy and procedure, I’m case noted as a difficult inmate and told my behaviour is aggressive – excuse me? Honestly *slaps forehead* … I’m on a path of enlightenment – my spiritual growth – since 2020. And it’s *whistles* a whole other calibre. I know I ain’t the only one.
We are sumn different – working thru the hardships, pushin through the pain. I’m proud of ya’ll. The struggle is real. Stay strong my ppls, and be kind to yourselves.
Much love, strength and street knowledge.
Yours truly – Kaiya.
Always was and will be.
Yaama About Time editors and fellow readers,
Hey guys, my name is Kaiya, and I’m a proud First Nations Gomeroi/Gamilaaray jinung from Country. I’m writing to say many THANX for your monthly editions. Really! So much appreciation. Your papers have helped me through many tough times. Both strength and struggle.
This is just a letter to introduce myself as this is my first initial posting. I have been in and reading since Issue 1, many moons now. I look forward to becoming a part of this journey. So I have been incarcerated in maximum security 43 months now and, sadly, I feel I am becoming emotionally detached from the world outside. I know me saying “can you believe it” to you guys ain’t gonna sound crazy and be battered eyelashes at.
I have been knocked back parole three times now, and it’s getting exhausting trying to hold up my end when there are no appropriate support systems in place. When I first sat for parole last year, I lowkey wished I never got it, ay – just anxiety mostly. And I got what I hoped for – x3. Now, 10 months later, the best thing to do is stay off the grid, read me sum books, pepper my case management for education or employment and progress – I guess. Stay ready and sit pretty 365!
One thing I dislike is when somebody thinks you can’t do it. There they go underestimating our ability to run it up. Like, righto! The system is failing us! Every month I’m reading, let alone seeing, all of us – we are struggling and tryna make sense of this. Then, when I question their policy and procedure, I’m case noted as a difficult inmate and told my behaviour is aggressive – excuse me? Honestly *slaps forehead* … I’m on a path of enlightenment – my spiritual growth – since 2020. And it’s *whistles* a whole other calibre. I know I ain’t the only one.
We are sumn different – working thru the hardships, pushin through the pain. I’m proud of ya’ll. The struggle is real. Stay strong my ppls, and be kind to yourselves.
Much love, strength and street knowledge.
Yours truly – Kaiya.
Always was and will be.
Your contributions are the centerpiece of the paper. If you would like to contribute to our Letters section, please send your letters to the below postal address:
Or via email:
It is not a pleasurable experience. It is very difficult to face all those emotions and reflect over the course of your whole life.
I was always drawing as a kid, and when the opportunity came up to do an art course at age 17 I went for it.
I remember our living room used to be filled with hundreds of CDs. My mum is where my love of music came from.
You can have as many support workers and parole officers as you can get, but it will never make you stop doing crimes. It has to come from within yourself.
Help keep the momentum going. All donations will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. If you would like to pay directly into our bank account to avoid the processing fee, please contact donate@abouttime.org.au. ABN 67 667 331 106.
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.
Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.
Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.
Leave a Comment
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. uis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.