ISSUE NO. 11
June 2025
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Letters

Interrupted Connections

By
Lanie

Lanie writes from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Victoria.

Ire Photocreative via Unsplash

Dear About Time,

My name is Lanie and I am an inmate at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. For the past year or so, it’s been getting harder for mail to get through. I’ve been here for nine years and I’ve never had a problem with mail. I don’t understand – they already have the dogs go over it to see if it’s got contraband in it. They x-ray it too if need be. They want us to work on our mental health and stay connected to the outside world and to other people, but how can we do that if our mail gets stopped? I’m worried what else will stop – will we continue to be able to get books, watch TV or even dream?

I love this newspaper and enjoy reading it from front to back and back to front. I really enjoy looking at the artworks. By the way, you published one of my artworks, Deep Ocean. Thank you for that. I am very proud of that artwork. I taught myself to do art as I was severely bullied and abused, mentally and physically, growing up and until this very day and I find it is a good escape for my mental health. It helps me cope with all the stuff that goes on here, in this place I’ve called home for the past nine years. I have a minimum of six years left to go and then hopefully I can leave this place behind me. I’m not sure where I will restart my life once I’m out, but I guess I still have time to sort that out.

Well, thank you and keep up the wonderful work.

Lanie.

Dear About Time,

My name is Lanie and I am an inmate at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. For the past year or so, it’s been getting harder for mail to get through. I’ve been here for nine years and I’ve never had a problem with mail. I don’t understand – they already have the dogs go over it to see if it’s got contraband in it. They x-ray it too if need be. They want us to work on our mental health and stay connected to the outside world and to other people, but how can we do that if our mail gets stopped? I’m worried what else will stop – will we continue to be able to get books, watch TV or even dream?

I love this newspaper and enjoy reading it from front to back and back to front. I really enjoy looking at the artworks. By the way, you published one of my artworks, Deep Ocean. Thank you for that. I am very proud of that artwork. I taught myself to do art as I was severely bullied and abused, mentally and physically, growing up and until this very day and I find it is a good escape for my mental health. It helps me cope with all the stuff that goes on here, in this place I’ve called home for the past nine years. I have a minimum of six years left to go and then hopefully I can leave this place behind me. I’m not sure where I will restart my life once I’m out, but I guess I still have time to sort that out.

Well, thank you and keep up the wonderful work.

Lanie.

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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