Category: Society Announcements

Rare Opportunity

Have ever you benefitted from the support and encouragement of other haiku poets, perhaps when you were new to haiku? Would you like to pay some of that kindness forward while connecting with many other poets and helping to shape the future of the Australian Haiku Society offers? What is this rare opportunity?

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Thank you, Alison

The Australian Haiku Society Executive Committee would like to thank Alison Rogers for her hard work as Secretary from April 2024 until recently. Unfortunately, for personal reasons she had to relinquish this role before the end of her term. No doubt many haiku group leaders and others in the Australian and broader haiku communities are similarly grateful for her volunteer service and would join us in wishing Alison all the best for the future.

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


From the new President

Haiku’s origins are social. The ‘hokku’ provided the starting point of collaborative linked poetry known as ‘renga’. While our haiku often arise from moments of solo observation and quiet reflection, writing of haiku also flourishes through interaction with other poets, whether reading or hearing their work, engaging in workshopping by giving and receiving constructive criticism, or discussing poems and techniques. International Haiku Poetry Day on 17th April encourages connection with fellow haiku poets, from simply sharing our enjoyment of the form to allowing ourselves to be challenged to experiment with different approaches. I know that many poets have planned activities to mark the occasion in various ways, whether on the day or close to it.

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Reminder – call for volunteers to join the AHS Committee

The call for Expressions of Interest in joining the AHS Committee in various roles is closing soon – on Monday 26th February. This is a great opportunity to help steer the society in the future, so if you are an Australian haiku poet with something to contribute – enthusiasm, time, experience, skills or ideas – please consider volunteering for a role. See the earlier post for more details, and contact the Secretary with any queries via the Contact Secretary form.