Martina Taeker has sent notification that she is stepping down from her role as Regional Representative - South Australia.
On behalf of the Australian Haiku Society, may I thank Martina for the contribution she has made, and continues to make, to the understanding of Japanese poetry genres in Australia with her inspiring workshops, gallery events and her lively participation in the annual Salisbury Festival. Thanks, Martina, and all the best with your many endeavours

I am delighted to welcome Lynette Arden as the new regional representative for South Australia. Lynette leads the recently formed Bindi haiku group, participated in the 4th Haiku Pacific Rim Conference at Terrigal in September 2009, and intends visiting Japan with other haiku poets 'In the Footsteps of Basho" later this year. Lynette is a long term contributing member of the Kensington and Norwood Writers Group and is encouraging and supportive of other writers.
Welcome, Lynette

Posted by Beverley George at 07:05 AM | Permalink

The autumn meeting of the Red Dragonflies was held on Saturday, 13th March at
Barbara Fisher’s home in Mosman. Vanessa Proctor led members Beverley George,
Lesley Walter, Cynthia Rowe, Dawn Bruce and Barbara Fisher in a stimulating
series of haiku exercises. One particularly challenging exercise was to write an autumn
haiku without using the word ‘autumn’, while anonymous contributions to the haiku
bowl provoked the usual interest and hilarity.

Vanessa also presented everyone with an attractively produced chap-book of haiku
selected from work inspired by the group’s ginko at Pearl Beach last December.

Barbara Fisher

Posted by Beverley George at 07:00 AM | Permalink

Closing date: 31st October 2010

First Prize
NZ$200

Second and Third Place prizes of NZ$50 each

Judge: Richard von Sturmer

Send entries to:

The Kokako Tanka Competition,
Patricia Prime, co-editor
42 Flanshaw Road
Te Atatu South
Auckland 8
New Zealand

Please make cheques out to Kokako
Overseas entrants may send cash at their own risk

Conditions of entry

1.Tanka must be previously unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.
2.Entry fee is NZ$2 per tanka or 3 for NZ$5; for overseas entries, US$1 per tanka, or 4 for US$3. Any number of entries.
3.Send two copies of each tanka, or group of tanka, with your name and address on one copy only.
4.Winning tanka, highly commended and commended entries will be published in Kokako 14 (April 2011).
5.Winners will be notified by mail or email.
6.Any theme is acceptable.

Any queries, email: [email protected]

Posted by Graham Nunn at 11:06 PM | Permalink

Notes From the Gean, Issue #4 is now on-line.

http://www.geantree.com/indexsub.html

Many thanks to all of our wonderful contributors. You will notice that we now have added a haibun section, edited by Ray Rasmussen.

I look forward to reading your haiku submissions for Issue #5, which will be published on June 1st.

Please check the submissions page of 'Notes From the Gean' for changes to the submissions policy.

'Gean' now has an 'open submissions' policy. You may submit work at any time. However, please note that work received after the 30th of March will not be considered for the June issue, but held over for the following issue.

Lorin Ford, haiku editor - Notes From the Gean

Posted by Graham Nunn at 10:45 PM | Permalink

Bowerbird Tanka Workshop #4
held at 'Wirraminna' Pearl Beach, NSW
February 27th 2010

Nineteen Bowerbirds, including three presenters, gathered at Beverley George's tranquil home, hoping to take away with them some inspiration and technical tips for writing better tanka.
Not a single bird returned home disappointed.

Amelia Fielden spoke about the tricky question of punctuation, sharing her views and style. She also included a valuable exercise which involved punctuating a number of tanka to improve them.

Kathy Kituai's presentation, 'Write Below the Surface' prompted a lively discussion on a tanka written by Izumi Shikibu and an excellent exercise on listening to our own and other peoples' poems.

Guest speaker, Mandy Austin, a director of The Japanese Saturday School, gave an interesting overview of 'Living in two cultures'. She discussed Japanese traditions, demonstrated the setting up of a tea ceremony and passed around items that ranged from practical towel holders to exquisite pottery all with tanka written on them.
Julie Thorndyke, speaking about 'The Magic of the Five Lines', not only illuminated the magic and allure of tanka but also gave each participant a comprehensive, illustrated handout of her presentation. Just what a bowerbird loves.
During the lunch break we had the pleasure of a champagne toast for Australian tanka and also for Beverley's enchanting new book 'the Preposterous Frog'.

A most satisfying day for all.

Catherine Smith

Posted by Graham Nunn at 10:44 PM | Permalink