Members – Page 2 – Australian Haiku Society

WA Paperbark celebrates World Haiku Day 17th April 2025

Realising World Haiku Day was suddenly upon us, an event was organised to celebrate. A group of thirteen interested haiku writers gathered at the Maylands Library, Western Australia, and presented three of their favourite haiku and an explanation why the haiku were loved. Discussions followed.

Members’ News – May 2025

President’s Message

Learning of the passing of a fellow haiku poet always brings sadness, but often there are also happy memories of favourite poems they’ve penned, encouragement they’ve offered or their generous service to the haiku community. So it is for many who knew Cynthia Rowe, as attested by the recently posted tributes.

Submissions for Catchment 4 due by 21st May

A big thank you goes out to all AHS members who have already offered contributions to the fourth edition of Catchment – Poetry of Place!

With submissions set to close on 21st May 2025, other Australian poets are encouraged to send in new work which shows a sense of location.

Haiku @ The Oaks

On a sunny Canberra autumn Thursday 13th March, a smaller group of haiku poets than usual met for lunch and discussions under the trees at The Oaks Brasserie, Yarralumla. Around the table were Hazel Hall, Kathy Kituai, Greg Piko and Marietta McGregor. Glenys Ferguson and Jan Dobb were unable to attend and their enthusiastic participation was missed this time. Talk at first turned to poetry in general, with reminiscences about first moments of reading work to an audience, sometimes many years ago in individuals’ writing lives, and the feelings engendered on those occasions.

Portarlington Haiku Society celebrates International Haiku Poetry Day

Members of the Portarlington Haiku Society celebrated International Haiku Poetry Day by hanging their ‘serviette haiku’ along a wire fence leading into town from the pier, capturing the attention of those arriving from Melbourne on the daily ferry. The group met at a local cafe for lunch before securing their prepared material serviettes with staples along the fence line.
The PHS continue to run their own monthly kukai, the results published in a regular newsletter, ‘Wingspan’.

AHS 2025 Autumn Equinox Kukai Results

On International Haiku Poetry Day I’m pleased to announce the five winners of our 2025 Autumn Equinox Kukai with the theme of ‘Autumn Flowers’. Thanks to all the participants and congratulations to the winners!

In Memoriam – Cynthia Rowe

It is my sad duty to inform the Australian and worldwide haiku community of the death of Cynthia Rowe on 6th April at the age of 86. Cynthia succeeded Beverley George to the position of President of the Australian Haiku Society in 2011, and served until Vanessa Proctor took over in 2016. Cynthia was also the editor of the Haiku Xpressions section of FreeXpresSion Magazine for many years. AHS will be publishing a full tribute in recognition of Cynthia’s many contributions to the haiku community. For the time being, with the family’s permission, we would like to let everyone know about the two memorial services that have been organised to honour and celebrate Cynthia’s life.
– In Sydney at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Darling Point on 23rd April 2025 at 12.00pm
– In Melbourne at St John’s Anglican Church, Toorak on 30th April 2025 at 11.00am
There will be a celebration of life held after each service.
Leanne Mumford
President, Australian Haiku Society

Cloudcatchers GINKO No. 76

Summer, February

Cloudcatchers Ginko No. 76 was held in Pop Denison Park, Ballina and as a Virtual Ginko. Norma Watts and Laurel Astle were at the park, while Angela Smith, Vivien Royston, Quendryth Young, and Robyn Braithwaite participated virtually.