My name is Delphine. I’m a proud Aboriginal woman. I heard about About Time from a friend I’ve known for a very long time. I just want to share my story about how I was saved by faith.
My last release was in August 2023. Before my release, on the 3rd of June 2023, I lost my mother to lung cancer. That day my world, my heart, felt empty. A part of me went with her. What hurt the most was I couldn’t attend my mother’s funeral because of the cost of funds to get me home to say my last goodbye. That hurt me not saying my last goodbye and not giving her one more last kiss. On my release I got home, went up to the cemetery to see my mother’s grave.
Being out and getting to spend time with my two kids who are both adults – 21 and 19 – at that time. It was the best loving time I had with both of them in a very long time. My 19-year-old daughter went back to where she lived in Rockhampton. A few months went by, and my son stayed back home for good.
On the 11th November 2023, I got a phone call no mother should get – to be told your baby girl has passed away in a car accident. My world was turned upside down. I was numb. I felt like someone reached into my chest and ripped out my heart and threw it to hungry vultures to feed on. It turned stone cold, and I couldn’t feel the blood pumping to my heart. My heart felt lifeless. So one of my cousins asked me if I would like to live with her until I got back on my feet.
I was angry. I started having a few beers once a fortnight. It started turning into every day, from beer to top shelf stuff. I didn’t care how much money I was spending on grog. It was helping me to heal with the loss of my mother and daughter.
It was time to lay my baby girl to rest. That day, seeing my baby girl go down really hit home. My baby was really gone.
My drinking had gotten worse to the point I not only needed grog. I needed drugs. I also wanted to be high. I didn’t care if I was going to fall deep back into drugs where I would be awake for days on end.
My cousin got me something, and it came in the mail. It was a big banner of my daughter, and the theme was Bloods and Crips with all different coloured bandanas doing west side symbols. I cried and thanked my cousin for the love and support she had given me through the last few weeks after putting my baby girl to rest. But waking up to seeing that banner and seeing her smile had made me realise that my mother and daughter are no longer in pain. They are in a better place, and I should focus on getting back on my feet and getting back to good health, without drugs and alcohol.
But I couldn’t stop drinking. I stopped using drugs because I started back at my old job. But I was still drinking until now, coming back to prison because I took all my anger out on my son. Now it ended me back in prison to start all over again.
That’s when I reached out and asked the Lord to take my hand and heart and make me whole again.
I’m waiting to be sentenced. In the meantime I’ve applied for rehab. I’m connected back with my son. I took back my power with the help and blessing of the Lord. I’m ready to tackle my problem and take control of my life again by walking in faith. If the Lord Jesus believes in me, I should also believe in myself. Just know, having faith can save you – like it did with me.
My name is Delphine. I’m a proud Aboriginal woman. I heard about About Time from a friend I’ve known for a very long time. I just want to share my story about how I was saved by faith.
My last release was in August 2023. Before my release, on the 3rd of June 2023, I lost my mother to lung cancer. That day my world, my heart, felt empty. A part of me went with her. What hurt the most was I couldn’t attend my mother’s funeral because of the cost of funds to get me home to say my last goodbye. That hurt me not saying my last goodbye and not giving her one more last kiss. On my release I got home, went up to the cemetery to see my mother’s grave.
Being out and getting to spend time with my two kids who are both adults – 21 and 19 – at that time. It was the best loving time I had with both of them in a very long time. My 19-year-old daughter went back to where she lived in Rockhampton. A few months went by, and my son stayed back home for good.
On the 11th November 2023, I got a phone call no mother should get – to be told your baby girl has passed away in a car accident. My world was turned upside down. I was numb. I felt like someone reached into my chest and ripped out my heart and threw it to hungry vultures to feed on. It turned stone cold, and I couldn’t feel the blood pumping to my heart. My heart felt lifeless. So one of my cousins asked me if I would like to live with her until I got back on my feet.
I was angry. I started having a few beers once a fortnight. It started turning into every day, from beer to top shelf stuff. I didn’t care how much money I was spending on grog. It was helping me to heal with the loss of my mother and daughter.
It was time to lay my baby girl to rest. That day, seeing my baby girl go down really hit home. My baby was really gone.
My drinking had gotten worse to the point I not only needed grog. I needed drugs. I also wanted to be high. I didn’t care if I was going to fall deep back into drugs where I would be awake for days on end.
My cousin got me something, and it came in the mail. It was a big banner of my daughter, and the theme was Bloods and Crips with all different coloured bandanas doing west side symbols. I cried and thanked my cousin for the love and support she had given me through the last few weeks after putting my baby girl to rest. But waking up to seeing that banner and seeing her smile had made me realise that my mother and daughter are no longer in pain. They are in a better place, and I should focus on getting back on my feet and getting back to good health, without drugs and alcohol.
But I couldn’t stop drinking. I stopped using drugs because I started back at my old job. But I was still drinking until now, coming back to prison because I took all my anger out on my son. Now it ended me back in prison to start all over again.
That’s when I reached out and asked the Lord to take my hand and heart and make me whole again.
I’m waiting to be sentenced. In the meantime I’ve applied for rehab. I’m connected back with my son. I took back my power with the help and blessing of the Lord. I’m ready to tackle my problem and take control of my life again by walking in faith. If the Lord Jesus believes in me, I should also believe in myself. Just know, having faith can save you – like it did with me.
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GROW is a community-based national organisation that works on mental wellbeing using a 12-step program of personal growth, mutual help and support. It operates through weekly peer support groups.
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