Members – Australian Haiku Society

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.

Reminder – ‘Spring Flowers’ contest closing 17th August

Australian poets are reminded that the ‘Spring Flowers’ themed haiku contest is closing soon. You’ll need to submit your poem by 5pm AEST on Monday 17th August. See the previous post for further details of the contest and the entry form you’ll need to use.

Members’ Achievements

Following the publication of Members’ News for August, we’ve had members notify us of some proud achievements.

Award winner: Haiku Society of America Rengay Award 2026

Ron Moss and Paula Sears were awarded second place in the Haiku Society of America 2026 Rengay Award in Honour of Garry Gay.

It’s worth following the link to see the award winning rengay and Garry Gay and Renee Owen’s list of ingredients for exemplary rengay.

Winner 2026 #Femkumag’s Marlene Mountain Memorial Contest

Robyn Cairns was thrilled and honoured to be awarded joint first place in the 2026 #Femkumag Marlene Mountain Memorial Contest with her haiku:

adapting to deep fake ocean the last blue whale

The Femkumag Marlene Mountain Memorial Contest winners are featured in Issue 42.

News from the west

Rose van Son facilitated a haiku workshop, at the invitation of the Perth City Library, on 4 July, 2026. Twenty three excited people attended this 2.5 hour workshop. Rose van Son – Haiku, In love with Basho workshop. Many of the attendees had not written haiku before but were interested in the form.

Rose has four haiku published in The Wednesday Poem section of the Fremantle Shipping News, 24 July, 2026.

‘Spring Flowers’ Haiku Contest for Australian Poets now closed

In the lead up to the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival at Auburn Botanic Gardens, the Australian Haiku Society is running a haiku contest with the theme of ‘Spring Flowers’. We invite Australian poets to submit one haiku on this theme using the form below. Submissions closed at 5pm AEST on Monday 17th August.

Members’ News August 2026

Welcome to the August Members’ News, our fourth issue for 2026, which touches on the Japanese concept of Ma, discusses recent and upcoming activities, and reports on our successful mentorship trial.

Members’ News June 2026

Welcome to the third issue of Australian Haiku Society Members’ News for 2026. In this edition Leanne reflects on dogs and other animals as subjects of haiku, there are links to a review of The Routledge Global Haiku Reader and to the latest Fringe Myrtles Report in which Rob Scott discusses Grant Caldwell’s presentation of fueki ryūko.

Members’ News April 2026

Welcome to the second issue of the Australian Haiku Society’s Members’ News for 2026. This edition focuses on two upcoming events, and includes notices for two journal submission opportunities, plus contest success news. Read on for details.

Members’ News – February 2026

Welcome to the first issue of Members’ News for 2026. We wish all readers a creatively satisfying year of haiku and related forms.