ISSUE NO. 3
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September 2024
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Letters

My Time in Here Will Not Define Me

By
Storm

Storm writes from Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison (MHWP) in Tasmania. She sent us several poems and a song, which we hope to publish in coming editions.

'Forest Sky' by Mimo, $160, #5733, 60cm x 98cm, acrylic on canvas, available to purchase at https://www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/boom-gate-gallery

12 months into being remanded in custody. I’m still yet to be sentenced – hence I can’t see the end at all. I’m trying hard to make something of my time here, writing A LOT, doing heaps of artwork, studying at uni, doing literally ALL the therapy available to me here and any other short courses I can get into. I had a clean record before this but could get anywhere from 2-9 years for my major charge.

I’m trying to advocate for change within this flawed system and have been using my lived experience to write to many external entities about the state of affairs in here. Often that means my time is made somewhat harder. But

I only hope that in the future other inmates feel confident that they too have a voice and that their time is made easier.

I plan to continue with uni inside and outside and pursue a Law degree so I’m more able to try to implement positive changes for people incarcerated and to advocate for myself and others.

I hope to not let my time here define me, but to make good use of this time to better myself as well as the system which keeps me here.

I urge everyone to do the same. Stay on the up and up, no matter how hard it gets, no matter how long you’re here – make it count for something and do better in the future — for yourself, your family and for your community around you.

Love + respect.

From Storm.

12 months into being remanded in custody. I’m still yet to be sentenced – hence I can’t see the end at all. I’m trying hard to make something of my time here, writing A LOT, doing heaps of artwork, studying at uni, doing literally ALL the therapy available to me here and any other short courses I can get into. I had a clean record before this but could get anywhere from 2-9 years for my major charge.

I’m trying to advocate for change within this flawed system and have been using my lived experience to write to many external entities about the state of affairs in here. Often that means my time is made somewhat harder. But

I only hope that in the future other inmates feel confident that they too have a voice and that their time is made easier.

I plan to continue with uni inside and outside and pursue a Law degree so I’m more able to try to implement positive changes for people incarcerated and to advocate for myself and others.

I hope to not let my time here define me, but to make good use of this time to better myself as well as the system which keeps me here.

I urge everyone to do the same. Stay on the up and up, no matter how hard it gets, no matter how long you’re here – make it count for something and do better in the future — for yourself, your family and for your community around you.

Love + respect.

From Storm.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
September 2024
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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