Ginko gatherings in Sydney
The next Gadigal Ginkō will take place on Saturday 20th June, 2026 from 10am. For this winter gathering we will meet at the State Library, which will provide options for both indoor and outdoor ginkō. To join with other Sydney haiku poets for this event, please register 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 Ginko
With possible severe storms forecast, in the end only two poets gathered at Barangaroo on Wednesday morning 18th March. Remarkably, despite the heavy cloud, the rain held off for the whole time. The headland reserve was quiet, with few people about, so there was ample scope for contemplative walking.
Penny set off on the middle path through the naturalised scrub and woodland, while I followed the rocky foreshore. The Barangaroo headland may have been artificially created, but it is slowly re-wilding.
We found inspiration among the weathering sandstone blocks undergoing colonisation by shellfish, lichens and moss, in the grasses, trees, and shrubs, some of which were flowering, from a couple of darters and the ubiquitous noisy miners, and the general activity of the harbour.
At the end of the ginkō we sat in a café on one of the old finger wharves nearby exchanging draft poems and discussing the value of workshopping with diverse poets.
Leanne Mumford
Convenor, Gadigal Ginkō
The next Gadigal Ginko will take place on Wednesday 18th March, 2026 from 10am at Barangaroo. Please see the Gadigal Ginko webpage for further details and to register.
As previously announced, the Illawong Haiku Group invites other Sydney poets to join them at the Hurstville Museum and Gallery on Tuesday, 24th March from 10.30 am to 12.00 midday for a writing session based on the current ‘Snakes & Mirrors’ exhibition.
Three poets met on a cold and rainy afternoon: Nick O’Connor, Gabby Higgins and myself. Fortunately, the rain let up for most of our ginkō time exploring along the harbour foreshore of Pirrama Park in Pyrmont. A café at the adjacent finger wharf provided shelter and refreshments while we shared draft poems, and discussed aspects of haiku craft and ways to connect with other poets. Despite the dull conditions, our poems had a surprising amount of colour, as well as – unsurprisingly – some common observations, from differing angles. It is always interesting to discover how others experience a particular situation.
Continue reading “Report on Gadigal Ginko, Winter 2025”As previously posted, the next Gadigal Ginko in Sydney is happening on Tuesday 19th August, from 1.30pm, in Pyrmont. If you would like to participate, please visit my Gadigal Ginko web page to register by 16th August.
Leanne Mumford
Convenor, Gadigal Ginko
The next Gadigal Ginko in Sydney will take place on Tuesday 19th August, 2025, at Pirrama Park, Pyrmont, from 1.30pm. Contemporary haiku poets of all levels of experience are invited to join the gathering. To register and receive details of the exact meeting point and arrangements, please visit the Gadigal Ginko web page.
Leanne Mumford
Convenor, Gadigal Ginko
Nine poets gathered on a cool autumn morning at Sydney Park in St Peters. Two were participating for the first time. After brief introductions, we dispersed to all corners of the park to each undertake our individual ginko.
Continue reading “Report on Gadigal Ginko, Autumn 2025”The next Gadigal Ginko in Sydney will take place on Saturday 31st May 2025, at Sydney Park, St Peters, from 10am. Contemporary haiku poets of all levels of experience are invited to join the gathering. To register and receive details of the exact meeting point and arrangements, please visit the Gadigal Ginko web page.
Leanne Mumford
Convenor, Gadigal Ginko
Australian Haiku Society 