Leanne Mumford

Report on Gadigal Ginkō, Spring 2026

Four poets met on Wednesday morning, 21st October, 2026 at Milsons Point station: Carol Reynolds, Vanessa Proctor, Nick O’Connor and myself. While waiting outside the station for everyone to arrive, a woman approached and asked if we were with the sketch group. I replied that we are haiku poets who sketch with words.

Featured Haiku from Windfall 5 & 6

We continue our series from Windfall: Australian Haiku, an annual Australian print journal edited by Beverley George and published by Peter Macrow’s Blue Giraffe Press between 2013 and 2022 (ISSN 1839-5449). The pair of haiku I’ve selected to feature this time are linked by the similar dramatic action of fracturing and splintering.

Featured Haiku from Windfall 4 & 9

We continue our series from Windfall: Australian Haiku, an annual Australian print journal edited by Beverley George and published by Peter Macrow’s Blue Giraffe Press between 2013 and 2022 (ISSN 1839-5449). The pair of poems I have selected to showcase this time involve birds, smoke and wind.

Featured Haiku from Windfall 1 & 6

Welcome to a new series of featured haiku. This series draws from the journal Windfall: Australian Haiku, which was an annual print journal edited by Beverley George and published by Peter Macrow’s Blue Giraffe Press between 2013 and 2022 (ISSN 1839-5449).

Upcoming Gadigal Ginkō for Sydney poets: Wednesday 21st October

The next Gadigal Ginkō will take place on Wednesday 21st October, 2026 from 10am. For this spring gathering I’m hoping the weather will allow us to explore a garden at Lavender Bay, across the harbour from Gadigal land. There will be a Plan B in case of unsuitable weather. To join with other Sydney haiku poets for this event, please register by 19th October via the form on my Gadigal Ginko page. There you’ll find an outline of what’s involved in the ginkō, as well as links to reports of previous ginkō.

Leanne Mumford
Convenor, Gadigal Ginkō

AHS Spring Equinox 2026 Haiku String

This string has now closed.

The Australian Haiku Society welcomes contributions from haiku poets worldwide to the Spring Equinox Haiku String.

We are holding the Haiku String from the day of the Southern Hemisphere Spring Equinox, which occurs in Australia this year on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The String will remain open for contributions until Wednesday, September 30, 2026 to accommodate international poets who may wish to take part. Contributions may be made on the website during these dates only.

AHS Haiku Reading Event at the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival

24th August, 2026

On a blue sky day, seven haiku poets gathered at the Auburn Botanic Gardens to perform at the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival. Readers were Gabby Higgins, Colleen Keating, Leanne Mumford, Nick O’Connor, Vanessa Proctor, Carol Reynolds and Pauline Trennery. The Australian Haiku Society has been reading at the festival since 2018.

Results of the ‘Spring Flowers’ contest, 24 August 2026

A big thank you to everyone who entered the Australian Haiku Society’s “Spring Flowers” haiku contest in August. This was the first time we conducted a contest to correspond with the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival. The contest was open to haiku poets around Australia and attracted 54 entries, with all states and the ACT represented (ACT: 3, NSW: 23, QLD: 5, SA: 2, TAS: 6, VIC:11, WA: 4). Poets who entered were a mix of established and less experienced poets, including at least nine children – seven from one school and two siblings.