Aunty Barb’s 'peace and love' book project continues to change lives

When Aunty Barbara (Barb) Nicholson steps into Junee Jail, as she’s done more than 300 times over many years, a kind of calm comes over the place.

Aunty Barb, a proud Wadi Wadi Elder, is credited with changing lives, even saving lives, in what is one of our nation’s harshest environments.

Now in her 90s, the 2024 Wollongong Citizen of the Year shows no sign of slowing down, her energy obvious at the recent launch of her 14th volume of stories and poems from the inmates at Junee Jail.

Aunty Barb dedicates the book, Dreaming Inside - Voices from Junee Correctional Centre, to “the sacred memory of all those warriors who fell on the battlefield of colonisation”.

In this National Reconciliation Week, The Illawarra Flame pays tribute to Aunty Barb, a strong and respected leader, a champion for her people, and a tireless advocate for underdogs – black and white. She makes our city, state and nation a better place.

How does she keep going?

In her book’s introduction, Aunty Barb answers the burning question, at a time when she should probably be putting her feet up and enjoying her senior years, how and why does she keep going?

“When this program began 15 years ago it was only intended to be a one-off desktop publication, never to be repeated. Yet here we are in volume 14, with volume 15 in the pipeline, and I scratch my head in awe. How did this happen?

“When we see the impact, the value this program has on the inmate writers, on their friends and their families, we have to ask ourselves; how can we stop? Truth is, I don’t know how to stop,” Aunty Barb wrote.

“The inmate writers make it very clear they want these books to last forever, how can we stop? No pressure then. So, I keep on going, and every year I tell myself ‘this might be the last one’. I want the writers and readers of these works to understand that all things come to an end eventually and one day this program may do just that.”

In the meantime, Aunty Barb is mentoring, inspiring, cajoling, caring and publishing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners who, for whatever reason, find themselves in trouble, in custody.

Stepping into prison

At her book launch, Aunty Barb said she was often asked: “What happens when you step foot in prison?”

“Well, I take a big breath and think, 'OK, what are we going to get today?' We get a hell of a lot of fun. They’re all eager. We sit them down and get to know them and then we get down to the business of writing.

“One of the good things that happens at Junee, we’re a breath of fresh air. We are aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters; we’re family and we are the conduit to the outside world. We bring news from the outside world. We are the mother confessors.

“It’s like a green haven, a haven of peace in this steel and concrete environment. Everyone we engage with is totally and utterly unjudged. It is their sacred space. We don’t want to talk about their crimes. They understand we come with love and peace, and they respond accordingly.”

A chance to belong

Former inmate Barbara Brennan told the 100-strong crowd: “To be in one of Aunty Barb’s books is to belong. I’m lucky enough to be a part of those books. So, thanks to Aunty Barb for all the beautiful work you do for all of us.

“I told Aunty Barb I was from the Illawarra and when I got out I wanted to see her straight away. Aunty Barb was the power for me to belong somewhere. I went to university and started an advocacy group for First Nations women across NSW."

Lesley Marks, who works at Junee Prison as an Aboriginal mentor, told Aunty Barb at the launch: “You underestimate the influence of the project and the program.

“You provide a culturally safe space and the boys look forward to you coming. You give them a place to start healing.”

Giving inmates a voice

Josh Mestre is an Aboriginal Practice Officer at Cobham Youth Justice Centre at Penrith, where Aunty Barb compiled her first volume of writings by young offenders.

“Thanks for not turning your back on those young people in custody,” Josh told Aunty Barb. “We all need to carry them and hold them.

“You give them an opportunity for conversation, and you’ve given them a voice.”

Aunty Barb described it as “a joy to witness their excitement when the group applaud a reading of a completed poem or short piece of prose".

"I see pride swell on their faces. I see eagerness to continue writing take hold and wish we could have more time with these literary aspirants.

“We are not just visiting as teachers, we are Aunties and Uncles, surrogate families, conduits to cultural knowledges, safe havens. Even if we are with them for only a brief period of time, our presence there provides them with cultural sustenance and has a lasting value to these young residents behind the razor wire. We wish them well.”

'A beautiful request'

In a very special moment at the launch, Aunty Barb introduced Aunty Pam Honeysett who had travelled from Wagga Wagga for the event.

While compiling content for her latest book, Aunty Barb heard from Aunty Pam, who asked if she would include a poem written by her brother.

“Terry passed away shortly after being released from custody last year," Aunty Barb said. “The poem was read by the prison chaplain at Terry’s funeral. Aunty Pam has given us permission to publish the poem under Terry’s name.

“Well, of course, we will publish that poem. It is included in this volume. There will never be a time when we don’t agree to such a beautiful request.”

Aunty Barb’s daughter, Charlie, read Terry’s poem at the launch.

‘Behind the 8 Ball’ by Terry Honeysett

It started with just one shot
But ended up being a lot
When I started it was fun
Then all the crap and stuff begun
I got myself deep in debt
And done some things I regret.
I owed my dealer some serious money
I could not pay this was not funny.
So I made a choice to do a job
Started to steal, take and rob.
I ended up doing a B&E
And I got caught, someone seen me.
Now I’m in jail, locked in a cell,
Look where it bought me right here to hell.
I know there is hope, even for me
They will let me out one day and I’ll be free.
But I need to write these things on my heart
To stay away from ice and make a new start
I need to straighten up my life
And stay out of strife.
I need the understanding, strength and love
I can only get from God above.

Aunty Barb's many books in the Ngana Barangarai (Black Wallaby) project are available via the South Coast Writers Centre shop.