A New Life
"I am from a professional background, had a good education and was running my own business. I lost everything due to alcoholism, my business, house, car and all my friends. While waiting for two years to be charged by the police, I did something about my alcoholism. I went to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and as a result went through my recovery process."
I was released from Dhurringile Prison on 3 October 2003, after serving eighteen months for charges relating to fraud.
My crime was related to the use of alcohol. My life became totally unmanageable due to alcohol. The disease of alcoholism meant that I was unable to control my use of alcohol. I was powerless over alcohol. My outward unmanageability led me to my crime.
I am from a professional background, had a good education and was running my own business. I lost everything due to alcoholism, my business, house, car and all my friends. While waiting for two years to be charged by the police, I did something about my alcoholism. I went to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and as a result went through my recovery process.
During my time in prison I did a lot of searching, my journey took me to Christianity. The assistance of the Anglican chaplain at Loddon prison, was very helpful on a spiritual and a psychological level. I completed the "Christianity Explained" program conducted by the Chaplain and became a Christian. I went to the church services and took part in the regular Bible study groups while in prison. It was not easy following my newfound faith in prison. Often, church services were cancelled for operational reasons such as sufficient prison officers not being available to supervise the services.
Since I came out of prison I have gone to a couple of Uniting Church services and a few Anglican services. I have found that St. Jude's Anglican Church in Carlton conducts the type of service that I am comfortable attending and hope to attend their service on a regular basis. I took a big step in becoming a Christian. I was born as a Muslim, attended a Catholic school and was an agnostic for a number of years.
While in prison I started to study for my Bachelor of Arts and completed eight units (one year EFT) through distance education from Griffith University in Queensland. I also started a short course in Drug and Alcohol through the Salvation Army Bridge Program. I used my eighteen months in prison in a very productive manner.
Now, nearly four months out of prison, I have recently obtained part-time employment, continuing my Bachelor of Arts and the Drug and Alcohol course and with the help of Jesus (my high power) I am continuing with my AA program. My goal is to be able to work in the Drug and Alcohol area, so that I can make a contribution to assist alcoholics and drug addicts to recover from their disease. I also hope to help Prison Fellowship in an administration role this year.
Finally, I would like to thank Prison Fellowship and Peter Hall (Council Vice-Chairman, Prison Fellowship Victoria) for all their assistance and friendship. Prison Fellowship is making a great contribution in assisting prisoners and their families (largely unrecognized). They also play a major role in providing rehabilitation programs for prisoners like the Lives in Transition program at Barwon Prison. There is clear evidence that prisoners who have gone through programs like Lives in Transition are less likely to re-offend and go back to prison.
Ahmad
My crime was related to the use of alcohol. My life became totally unmanageable due to alcohol. The disease of alcoholism meant that I was unable to control my use of alcohol. I was powerless over alcohol. My outward unmanageability led me to my crime.
I am from a professional background, had a good education and was running my own business. I lost everything due to alcoholism, my business, house, car and all my friends. While waiting for two years to be charged by the police, I did something about my alcoholism. I went to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and as a result went through my recovery process.
During my time in prison I did a lot of searching, my journey took me to Christianity. The assistance of the Anglican chaplain at Loddon prison, was very helpful on a spiritual and a psychological level. I completed the "Christianity Explained" program conducted by the Chaplain and became a Christian. I went to the church services and took part in the regular Bible study groups while in prison. It was not easy following my newfound faith in prison. Often, church services were cancelled for operational reasons such as sufficient prison officers not being available to supervise the services.
Since I came out of prison I have gone to a couple of Uniting Church services and a few Anglican services. I have found that St. Jude's Anglican Church in Carlton conducts the type of service that I am comfortable attending and hope to attend their service on a regular basis. I took a big step in becoming a Christian. I was born as a Muslim, attended a Catholic school and was an agnostic for a number of years.
While in prison I started to study for my Bachelor of Arts and completed eight units (one year EFT) through distance education from Griffith University in Queensland. I also started a short course in Drug and Alcohol through the Salvation Army Bridge Program. I used my eighteen months in prison in a very productive manner.
Now, nearly four months out of prison, I have recently obtained part-time employment, continuing my Bachelor of Arts and the Drug and Alcohol course and with the help of Jesus (my high power) I am continuing with my AA program. My goal is to be able to work in the Drug and Alcohol area, so that I can make a contribution to assist alcoholics and drug addicts to recover from their disease. I also hope to help Prison Fellowship in an administration role this year.
Finally, I would like to thank Prison Fellowship and Peter Hall (Council Vice-Chairman, Prison Fellowship Victoria) for all their assistance and friendship. Prison Fellowship is making a great contribution in assisting prisoners and their families (largely unrecognized). They also play a major role in providing rehabilitation programs for prisoners like the Lives in Transition program at Barwon Prison. There is clear evidence that prisoners who have gone through programs like Lives in Transition are less likely to re-offend and go back to prison.
Ahmad
Last modified
2005-09-09 08:45 AM