afternoon breeze
sudden pink
of galahs
Katherine Samuelowicz
News
Members’ News, August 2021
Tribute to Katherine Samuelowicz
Australian and international haiku poets were saddened this week to hear of the passing of Brisbane poet, Katherine Samuelowicz. Katherine, a talented and free-thinking poet whose haiku, tanka and other poetry was published widely, leaves a huge legacy for Australian haiku, particularly in her role as editor of one of Australian haiku’s most well-known and long running journals, paper wasp (1994-2016).
Katherine’s association with paper wasp began in the early 90’s as a founding member of the paper wasp group which she led for a number of years. From the very first issue of the journal in 1994-95 – a collection of erotic haiku – a feature of Katherine’s editorship was a willingness to engage fresh voices. Many of us are beneficiaries of this attitude, with paper wasp unearthing a generation of Australian as well as international haiku poets.
Katherine was a great supporter of the Australian Haiku Society, serving in its early years as Secretary in 2003-2004. She was a co-editor, along with Janice Bostok and Vanessa Proctor, of the Second Australian Haiku Anthology (2006) and the Third Australian Haiku Anthology (2011) along with Jacqui Murray. In 2013, she also co-edited an anthology of Australian and New Zealand haiku.
Katherine was widely regarded as a generous and compassionate person who enjoyed the company of fellow poets. Her role as a full-time delegate to the 4th Haiku Pacific Rim Conference in 2009 was just one example of this.
Katherine is a significant voice in Australian haiku which deserves to be recognised. Some of Katherine’s publishing details can be found here. The Committee of the Australian Haiku Society wishes to acknowledge her contribution to Australian haiku and express our sincere condolences to Katherine’s family and loved ones.
another glass of wine
twilight carrying
the world away
……..Katherine Samuelowicz
Cloudcatchers Winter Ginko # 62
Virtual Ginko (in our own homes/environs)
Thursday 12th August 2021
As we were in lockdown on the Northern Rivers of NSW, the majority of members, loathe to cancel the ginko altogether, chose to participate in another virtual gathering. As Quendryth had some personal family issues at this time, Robbie Braithwaite stepped forward to organise and conduct the proceedings.
Nine of us, from seven different locations, thought of everybody else taking part at 9.30 am, and proceeded to maintain silence, to observe and write for at least an hour. Once again we experienced the camaraderie of another virtual ginko.
Fringe Myrtles Haiku Meeting, July 2021
After a brief frolic in the sun, the Fringe Myrtles were back in lockdown courtesy of the wildfire Delta variant that is spreading like….well, wildfire.
In attendance, we had Janet Howie, Robyn Cairns, Liv Saint-James, Louise Hopewell, Marisa Fazio, Rob Scott, Madhuri Pillai, Jennifer Sutherland and Michael Dylan Welch, who squeezed us into his busy schedule from Seattle.
Bombora Gathering, July 2021
Our small Bombora group was very lucky to get together the last week in July, just beating another COVID lockdown by a few days.
Once again our venue was indoors; a meeting in the park had been suggested, but a spate of chilly Brisbane weather put paid to that idea – maybe in September. So Dawn, Yvonne, Melody, Suzie and Noela all met in Gayle’s lounge again, with Gayle’s husband Peter providing welcome coffees. Gayle has had us on our toes with some very different monthly challenges –
Australian Haiku Society 