16th April 2024
The fifth Gadigal Ginko took place on the eve on International Haiku Poetry Day. Nine poets gathered outside the Art Gallery of New South Wales, in front of the new building: Gavin Austin, Gwen Bitti, Subha Goonaratne, Marilyn Humbert, Margaret Mahony, Alison Miller, Leanne Mumford, Jan O’Loughlin and Tom Staudt.
As usual, after brief introductions, we dispersed in various directions to each conduct an individual ginko. When we regrouped to share, we heard draft poems inspired by natural beauty in the Royal Botanical Gardens, people relaxing in the parklands of The Domain, the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance and the walk out to Mrs Macquarie’s Point/Yurong.
We were pleased to note that our gathering coincided with the announcement of new names, in the Sydney Language, for the Art Gallery’s two buildings – Naala Badu ‘seeing waters’ for the new northern building and Naala Nura ‘seeing country’ for the southern 19th century sandstone building with its 20th century wing. It seemed apt that, on a Gadigal Ginko, we did in fact have the opportunity to see ‘country’ and to see ‘waters’ in the beautiful location on the harbour and just a few minutes from the city’s skyscrapers and bustle.
There were reminders to submit by 30th April to the next Echidna Tracks, which Gavin Austin will be co-editing together with Simon Hanson, and to look out for the release of the programme for Haiku Down Under 2024.
Leanne Mumford
Convenor, Gadigal Ginko
Australian Haiku Society 