ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025
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Letters

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

By
Adrielle

Adrielle writes from a prison in QLD.

Hello, About Time,

My name is Adrielle, but everyone calls me Bubbles, which I am – the original Aboriginal, the one and only.

I am writing to you about my one and only older sister, Alithea. RIP. It’s been 2 months since I lost you.

I can’t believe it. It’s nasty out there. I don’t know why someone would take you away from your one and only son. You had the biggest smile with all your beautiful teeth, and, when you were going through your ups and downs, you still had that beautiful smile on your loving face.

I’ve got to say, no one has had it harder than you, my sista.

For someone who had no one to be by her side, and for a strong Black woman who lived on the streets, you would always help anyone and everyone out.

You would even give them your T-shirt off your back.

RIP Alithea. It’s not going to be the same, my sista.

Love from your baby sista,

Adrielle

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

A dearest friend and sister, rest in peace.

I think about you every day and every evening, and, when we all go to sleep in the dreamtime, your spirit travels in the summer breeze or will be right there in the autumn leaves.

You’re in the stars up above, watching over – forever our dove.

You chose to go and spread your wings and spread your love; you always were enough.

We will miss you beyond words. See you in the dreamtime, our rainbow serp.

We will hear you when all the birds chirp.

You’re our eagle in the skies, dancing forever.

We will miss those beautiful brown eyes, and your perfect smile will never be forgotten – a smile so soft like cotton.

Now rest easy as your soul and spirit travel country roads, red dirt and gravel, sunsets and ocean waves, and all those paths you’ve paved.

You helped others; their broken souls you saved.

Now we’ll let you sleep. Your memories are what we all will forever keep.

A moment of silence as we all weep, forever in God’s hands.

Rest in peace.

Hello, About Time,

My name is Adrielle, but everyone calls me Bubbles, which I am – the original Aboriginal, the one and only.

I am writing to you about my one and only older sister, Alithea. RIP. It’s been 2 months since I lost you.

I can’t believe it. It’s nasty out there. I don’t know why someone would take you away from your one and only son. You had the biggest smile with all your beautiful teeth, and, when you were going through your ups and downs, you still had that beautiful smile on your loving face.

I’ve got to say, no one has had it harder than you, my sista.

For someone who had no one to be by her side, and for a strong Black woman who lived on the streets, you would always help anyone and everyone out.

You would even give them your T-shirt off your back.

RIP Alithea. It’s not going to be the same, my sista.

Love from your baby sista,

Adrielle

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

A dearest friend and sister, rest in peace.

I think about you every day and every evening, and, when we all go to sleep in the dreamtime, your spirit travels in the summer breeze or will be right there in the autumn leaves.

You’re in the stars up above, watching over – forever our dove.

You chose to go and spread your wings and spread your love; you always were enough.

We will miss you beyond words. See you in the dreamtime, our rainbow serp.

We will hear you when all the birds chirp.

You’re our eagle in the skies, dancing forever.

We will miss those beautiful brown eyes, and your perfect smile will never be forgotten – a smile so soft like cotton.

Now rest easy as your soul and spirit travel country roads, red dirt and gravel, sunsets and ocean waves, and all those paths you’ve paved.

You helped others; their broken souls you saved.

Now we’ll let you sleep. Your memories are what we all will forever keep.

A moment of silence as we all weep, forever in God’s hands.

Rest in peace.

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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