Illawong Haiku Group – Australian Haiku Society

Conclusion of Illawong Haiku Group

The Illawong Haiku Group began as an aspiration 9 years ago to establish a haiku group in the southern area of Sydney. I have been Group Convenor since the beginning until now. We had an open door policy and some people came and went while others stayed. I am grateful to those who stayed. Since our last meeting I expressed my wish to relinquish my position due to changing circumstances. Following further consultation with members it was decided to disband and continue to enjoy our mutual love of haiku in a different way.

Illawong Haiku Group at Hurstville Museum & Gallery, March 2026

Carol Reynolds, Margaret Mahony, Alison Miller and Ros Pitt, together with our welcome guest, Nicholas O’Connor, gathered on Tuesday 24th March at Hurstville Museum & Gallery to use the current exhibition to encourage ideas for our writing.

‘Snakes and Mirrors’ by Petrina Hicks is a collection of large-scale photographs inspired by the use of mythology, fables and art history. The experience certainly opened up plenty of discussion, the results of which will no doubt appear on a website or in a publication somewhere in the future.

I highly recommend other groups use such community facilities, which not only provide public awareness of haiku poetry but are useful as alternatives to outdoor ginko when the weather is not always kind.

Carol Reynolds

Two upcoming events for Sydney poets 18th & 24th March

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.

Illawong Haiku Group Summer Meeting

3 March 2026

Due to an unfavourable weather forecast, Ros Pitt, Pat Meredith, Rita Potente, Kathleen Ann, Alison Miller and Margaret Mahony met at Margaret’s home in Sutherland, with apologies from Carol Reynolds, who was unwell.

ILLAWONG HAIKU GROUP INVITATION

Illawong Haiku Group would like to extend an invitation to other haiku writers located in Sydney to join them at Hurstville Museum and Gallery on Tuesday, 24th March from 10.30 am to 12.00 midday.

Illawong Haiku Group Summer Meeting 2025

AHS sincerely apologises for the late posting of this report, which was provided prior to Christmas 2025.

Our final meeting for the year was held on Tuesday, 2nd December, at Carol Reynolds’s home in Bangor. As is often the case in the weeks leading up to Christmas, it is difficult to juggle the many and various events that arise. Ros Pitt, Margaret Mahony, Carol Reynolds and Alison Miller attended, but unfortunately Patricia Meredith, Kathleen Ann and Rita Potente were unable to join us.

Meet and Greet event in Kogarah

On Wednesday 15th October, Carol Reynolds and Margaret Mahony from Illawong Haiku Group participated in a Meet and Greet event at the Clive James Library at Kogarah. The event was initiated by Vickey Foggin, Team Leader Library Programs at Georges River Council to highlight Rivers Writers, a liaison of writing groups operating within the Georges River region.

Illawong Haiku Group Spring ginko

To meet outdoors or not to meet outdoors, that was the question on the morning of our Spring ginko. It was officially the first day of Spring, and after some early dark clouds it seems Nature decided perhaps it was time to make the switch after a cold and wet Winter.