Hi there. First of all I would like to say what an awesome magazine – keep up the good work. My name is Matthew from Wellington NSW. I’m an Aboriginal inmate currently incarcerated in NSW.

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I’m currently doing my parole of one year eight months with charges to be sentenced on awaiting sentence. I will be looking at five-plus years inside a jail cell again if things don’t go my way.

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I have done around 12 to 12½ years in jail since turning 18. I’m now 35 years of age with four beautiful kids. I would say I am somewhat institutionalised even though I hate to say that – it’s like a second home to me. It’s sad to see the younger generation come in and out as well as first timers doing time. Some people come back in because they get fed three times a day, a hot shower and a roof over their head with minimal to no bills to pay.

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I love to help guide the younger lads or first timers to do their time easily.

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My best jail advice is: don’t get involved in the jail politics or in other people’s business, show respect to get respect and do your own jail.

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To help distract yourself from doing it hard or missing your family and the outside, start training, do exercises. Walk around your yard/wing or play cards, do sport, have a yarn to the boys and get to know them better. Or even get a job in jail if possible (that depends on jail and class).

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So there it is – that’s my best advice to anyone that comes to jail, and I’m sure a lot of people would agree with my advice. It’s straight out and honest. And also – don’t do drugs. Stay clean, stay healthy.

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I grew up in Wellington, NSW at Nanima Mission/Reserve to a family of four. Nanima is situated 7 kilometres out of town. Growing up times were tough. I grew up around drugs and alcohol and domestic violence. I watched my best mate – my dad – take his last breaths in hospital at the age of 13. My whole world turned upside down. I started using drugs and alcohol, in and out of boys’ homes and jail, in and out of the court system.

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I’m currently clean from drugs, on the Buvidal program. It’s not until I came into my 30s that I looked at things differently in life. I have wasted so much time in and out of jail, letting my kids down.

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No matter how bad your upbringing or life may seem, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Take it from me – come seek help and recognise you need help and have a problem before it’s too late and you spend the majority of your life locked up.

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You have to be mentally, physically, emotionally strong to survive in jail. As they say, only the strongest will survive. Jail is not for the faint hearted.

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Most of all, I regret not being there 100 per cent for my mother and kids. This will hopefully be my last time in jail. I just want to lead a positive, healthy, lawful life without crime or drugs.

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I have written three poems that are true and honest. Hope you enjoy my poems and my story. If it helps just one person with my thoughts and story, I have done my job. It feels really good to help people through these times and to help them stay out of jail and not do head noise.