22 December 1979

Dear Sis

I know I said I wouldn’t write but I just wanted to let you know how good I’m going and to say Merry Christmas.  I can’t believe I’ve been here for eight months already. I didn’t tell you before but I had a bit of an accident when I first got here. One of the tractors overturned. I was fine though. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to make sure you stayed out of trouble. I know how you can get when you worry. I’m honestly fine now

The work’s hard but I reckon you could hack it here. It’s real good, being outside in the fields and with the animals. It will do you good after being locked up so long.

Hopefully you are sticking to the plan and keeping out of trouble.  Imagine being out in a couple of years. It’d be just like old times, just you and me. Us Doyles eh?

Sorry I can’t come and visit anytime soon. It’s hard to get time off and I just wanna save as much as I can for our own place. When you do see me, you won’t recognise me. I’m stronger now and they’re feeding me so well that I’m not a skinny little kid anymore. Oh and the sun’s made all me freckles join up too. It’s the nearest I’ll ever get to a tan!

Well, I better get to bed now, it’s always an early start in the morning.

Look after yourself Franky, see you soon

Your brother,

Gazza

1 January 1980

Dear Gazza

I bet you weren’t betting on getting a reply, were you? Truth is, I’ve been learning how to and read and write since I last saw you.  I think you already knew I couldn’t but you’re too much of a sweet kid to ask outright and I was always too pig headed to tell you. There’s a woman in here, Karen who used to be a school teacher. She’s been helping me. It looks like I might even get our sooner if I do well at my studying. 18 months they reckon.  As long as you don’t expect anything too fancy we can write to each other to pass the time until I get out. Sounds like you are really making a go of it kid. You always was a bright spark. Not like me, eh?