Category: Cloudcatchers

Cloudcatchers’ Ginko #37

Cloudcatchers’ Autumn Ginko 2015

The wild, wild weather at the end of April caused the postponement of our autumn ginko. However, two weeks later, on 14 May, atmospheric conditions were superb as we explored a new venue. Thursday Plantation (a tea tree plantation) is situated on the outskirts of Ballina and features the plantation itself, a maze and a rainforest remnant. We had been warned of an abundance of mosquitos, but a slight chill in the air kept them at bay, and the notices Beware of Snakes did not concern us.

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Cloudcatchers Ginko No.36

Ginko No.36 (summer)

Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head NSW
Thursday 29 January 2015

Cloudcatchers gathered at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head, for a summer ginko on Thursday 29 January. This venue is north of Ballina, with the surf on one side of the road, and the tea-tree-girdled fresh water lake on the other.

One of our members had researched further into the history, so we learnt of the original ownership of this land as that of the Jali people of the Bundjalung Nation, and somehow this added to our respect for all those who have trodden these sands and marvelled over the centuries at the spiritual sanctity of this place, with its special regard to ‘women’s business’.

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Cloudcatchers’ Ginko No. 35

Ginko No. 35 (spring)

Victoria Park, Alstonville

Date: Thursday, 30 October 2014

It was such a glorious day for our spring ginko, which felt more like summer, complete with the hum of a few mossies and March Flies. The rainforest was as alluring as ever, and in spite of the fact that it is the sixth time the Cloudcatchers have visited this venue since 2008, we managed to experience many fresh and different images.

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Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival – 2014 Haiku Invitational

Hearty congratulations to Helen Davison for having achieved the highest distinction in her category – Best International Haiku in the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival – 2014 Haiku Invitational, with her haiku

bridge crossing . . .
the full moon sprinkled with
cherry blossoms

 

Judge’s comment:

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Cloudcatchers’ Ginko No.34

The thirty-fourth ginko of the Cloudcatchers was held on Thursday 31 July 2014 at the site where it all began in December 2005; Torakina Park at Brunswick Heads. It was the mid-winter ginko, but a strange weather pattern had us absorbing the ambience of this beachside location in gloriously warming winter sunshine.

The beach was dotted with dads and toddlers, who featured strongly in many haiku. John Bird noted one of the little ones wading off in the direction of New Zealand. There were ample bush turkeys to challenge little boys, and in spite of excited young voices there was the usual abundance of birdsong in the surrounding tuckeroos and banksias. Recently published haiku were shared before the silence, which was followed by the round-table reading and workshopping of first drafts. Ten Cloudcatchers participated, and we continued the camaraderie at The Bruns (hotel) over lunch together. The Winter Round Robin is currently under way.

Quendryth Young

Cloudcatchers’ Ginko No.33

Ginko No.33 (autumn) held at Meldrum Park, Ballina, 10 April 2014

The sun was out, the tide was out and the blue soldier crabs were out in abundance. The Cloudcatchers’ autumn ginko was held on Thursday 10 April at Meldrum Park, in Ballina, on the banks of North Creek, which empties into the Richmond River just before its mouth.

Crows, ibis, butcherbirds and a flock of swallows also featured in the haiku, along with the grand Norfolk Island Pines, and their ‘tu-tu’ skirts of grasses, and young mangroves at the high-tide mark. The sound of a power tool grounded us in our urban setting. The winter ginko will be held on Thursday 31 July, at Torakina Park, Brunswick Heads.

Quendryth Young

Cloudcatchers’ Ginko No. 32 (summer)

Bulwinkel Park, Alstonville NSW

Date: Thursday 30 January 2014

Bulwinkel Park, named after an early settler, is cradled between the old highway to Lismore and the suburban sprawl of Alstonville. Here there is a gentle creek, well-known as being the site of numerous platypus sightings, even to this day.

One of our number had the thrill of such a glimpse for three minutes, until a wee head appeared and the dark form beneath the creek waters was seen to belong to a turtle. An eel was recorded in a haiku also, as were numerous birds, a wabi/sabi old barbeque, and various species of flora. Eight poets gathered to welcome into their midst the president of the Australian Haiku Society and her husband, Cynthia and Bruce Rowe, both of whom participated in the ginko, and went on to join us for lunch and in the subsequent email Round Robin. Such a pleasant day! The autumn ginko will be held on Thursday 10 April, at a site in Ballina to be confirmed.

Quendryth Young

Cloudcatchers’ Ginko No. 29

Ginko No. 29 (autumn)

Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head, NSW
Date: Thursday 9 May 2013

After so many ginko full of rain, sun beamed on the Autumn gathering of the Cloudcatchers on 9 May – until the last half hour.

Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head, a fresh water lake a stone’s throw from the ocean, glistened through the paperbark and banksia. A dozen species of birdlife animated the scene, and a few swimmers braved the cold dark tea-tree-stained waters, crossing wakes with those of cruising teal. After sharing our first drafts of haiku around a large picnic table we moved on to the Lennox Hotel for lunch together. The usual post-ginko email Round Robin is currently under way. The Winter ginko is scheduled for Thursday 8 August. Enquiries to Quendryth Young: quendrythyoung@bigpond.com

Quendryth Young