News

Cloudcatcher’ Ginko no. 17

Cloudcatchers’ Ginko No.17 Autumn

22 April 2010
Victoria Park, Alstonville

A ginko in a rainforest is always a little bit different, with added emphasis on the aural stimuli. So many bird calls we can’t identify and fascinating tiny creatures that even some of the more experienced naturalists have never seen before. Shy pademelons cross our path from time to time. Add to that the clean fresh intake of breath, and the stillness of mind amidst all the forest noises. We ponder on the knowledge that this is truly pristine habitat.

The venue is a well-preserved remnant of rainforest in the Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a few kilometres out of Alstonville in Northern New South Wales. Occasional showers came and went, but did not interfere with our enthusiasm. Discussion persisted as we lunched together afterwards at the House With No Steps, and continues still as haiku re-worked from the day are workshopped in a Round Robin.

If you are in the area, we would be glad to welcome you to participate in our winter ginko. Contact Quendryth Young:quendrythyoung@bigpond.com

Quendryth Young
Cloudcatchers Coordinator

Haiku News from Tasmania (five items)

Lyn Reeves has a number of her haiku featured in a new exhibition of paintings by Desiree Fitzgibbon. Codex – opens at Handmark Gallery, Salamanca Place, Hobart on 23 April and runs until 19 May. Lyn will read her haiku at the opening.

The Haiku Journey – A joyful life-long practice of mindfulness and attention,with Ron Moss
Learn the ancient Japanese art of writing haiku, then walk in the tranquil surrounds of the Botanical Gardens to develop your inspiration. Conclude with a stunning slideshow presentation of haiga, haiku blended with artwork. This workshop is suitable for people new to writing as well as experienced writers.

Continue reading “Haiku News from Tasmania (five items)”

10 April 2010

The Bindii group met at the Box Factory in Regent St Adelaide on Saturday 10 April, with nine members and one visitor present.

Alex Ask gave us a workshop on how to write haiga. Alex won the second prize in the Salisbury Council haiga competition in 2009. Thank you Alex for a very professionally presented workshop with lots of examples of haiga and also written material explaining the origin of the form and how to approach writing and designing a good haiga. Alex plans a PowerPoint presentation of some of his work at the June meeting of Bindii. The meeting concluded with lunch. Members were invited to participate in the barbeque held by the Community Centre

Bindii April Ginko in Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Nine Bindii members met at the kiosk near the lake in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens at 11 am on 2 April for a ginko led by Margaret Fensom. On such a beautiful autumn day there was plenty to experience and participants immersed themselves in this beautiful place for an hour of walking or quiet contemplation before returning for the kiosk for lunch.

We were fortunate to secure a table right near the lake edge and had duck and crested pigeon visitors to entertain us.

Continue reading “Bindii April Ginko in Adelaide Botanic Gardens”

Autumn Meeting of the Red Dragonflies (akatombo)

The autumn meeting of the Red Dragonflies was held on Saturday, 13th March atBarbara Fisher’s home in Mosman. Vanessa Proctor led members Beverley George,Lesley Walter, Cynthia Rowe, Dawn Bruce and Barbara Fisher in a stimulatingseries of haiku exercises. One particularly challenging exercise was to write an autumnhaiku without using the word ‘autumn’, while anonymous contributions to the haikubowl provoked the usual interest and hilarity.

Vanessa also presented everyone with an attractively produced chap-book of haiku selected from work inspired by the group’s ginko at Pearl Beach last December.

Barbara Fisher

GINKO ON THE YARRA

Date: Friday, 26 February 2010

Time: 11:00 – 14:00
Location: Fairfield Boathouse

Description Meet at the Fairfield Boathouse at 10.45am.

We will walk around and write haiku, share them with each other and then workshop them to try to make them better.

Bring some food to contribute to a picnic lunch.

Cost: $15/$10.

Inquiries: 0430 298 345 – Myron.

two palm trees
lean toward each other –
Valentine’s Day

Myron Lysenko

Cloudcatchers’ Summer Ginko No.16

Cloudcatchers’ Summer Ginko No.16

held at Torakina Park, Brunswick Heads
on Thursday 4 February 2010

How fortunate we were to number among our participants at the summer ginko two of Australia’s leading haiku poets. Janice Bostok and John Bird took their places along with eleven others at the venue where it all started, as we headed into our fifth year. We have a special affection for this glorious spot at the mouth of the Brunswick River, and, in spite of having visited the site together eight times previously, the haiku were fresh and innovative. On one occasion John picked up on a haiku written by Leonie Bingham, saw its potential to be converted to a tanka, and threw it to Janice, who did this immediately and with aplomb. We lunched together afterwards at our favourite beachside cafe, and the good times went on and on. And they continue still, as we exchange our re-worked haiku in the current Round Robin. The autumn ginko is to be held in a rainforest in April. All haiku poets are welcome. Contact Quendryth Young at quendrythyoung@bigpond.com

Quendryth Young
(Convenor)