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Letters

Each Day, I Wake Up Re-Shocked

By

Kate

Kate writes from a prison in WA.

An image of a beautiful blue/purple sky, with trees against the colour.
Harrison Doust

Hey there,

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My name is Kate. I am 32 years of age and I’m a mum to five beautiful children (I love you so much bubbas). I am currently on remand in WA.

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Have you seen the movie 50 First Dates?

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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”.

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My heart sunk the day I heard “she’s a danger to the community” – it still stings to think about. I would constantly think about my abusers and how they’ve contributed and even gotten away with it all while I’m in here, away from my babies.

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I’ve had to relearn to want to forgive. No longer because I’m being forced to, but because I want to heal.

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This is my first time in prison and longest time I’ve spent away from my kiddos. It’s like torture. My heart physically hurts.

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Battling thoughts that have haunted me: “Will they remember me? Will they still love me? Do they have good influences around them, are they happy and safe?

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I’ve had to turn my focus to positive thinking – put my words into action.

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Instead of fearing the worst, I’m doing all I can from where I am to prevent those terrifying thoughts.

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I couldn’t have gotten through this time without the strength and encouragement of many women I’ve served time with.

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We all look after each other and offer a listening ear or lend a shoulder.

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I want to thank the women and officers who have helped me get through this trialing time in my life.

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I will forever be grateful.

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May your kindness and thoughtfulness be returned to you 100-fold.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
October 2026
edition of About Time.
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
•
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
•
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
•
2 MIN READ
By Joeby

My name is Joeby – earlier this year I wrote about our gym equipment and our access to supplements. Since my return there has been no update or change at the centre.

ISSUE NO. 27
•
2 MIN READ

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