80 haiku poets who attended the presentation of papers at the 4th Haiku Pacific Rim Conference at Terrigal, NSW, Australia, in September 2009, were privileged to hear a presentation by Cyril titled "Haiku 45 South" in which he gave a brief history of the genre in New Zealand and showcased poems by a number of highly regarded New Zealand poets.

The biographical note provided by Cyril for Wind Over Water : an anthology of haiku and tanka by delegates of the Fourth Haiku Pacific Rim Conference edited by Dawn Bruce and Greg Piko, reads:

'Cyril Childs became intrigued with haiku while in Matsuyama for ten months 1989-90. Intrigue soon led to enthusiasm and passion. Cyril edited the 1993 and 1998 New Zealand haiku anthologies; co-edited (with Joanna Preston) a 2002 anthology of haiku and haibun by Christchurch writers; and has judged several haiku competitions.'

His own poems, chosen by Cyril, for inclusion in the Wind Over Water anthology are:

no name
for its colour
tea-table rose

full white moon
touching . . . not touching
the top of the hill

amidst mountains
she pauses to admire
violets

(These poems were first published in Modern Haiku XXV:1; Frogpond XVI:2; Frogpond XXIII:1, respectively)
It was my personal pleasure and privilege to meet Cyril childs at Haiku Aotearoa 2008; and at 4HPR 2009.
Condolences to Christine and to each of Cyril's family and friends.

Beverley George
Convenor: 4th Haiku Pacific Rim Conference September 2009
President: Australian Haiku Society 2006-2010

Tributes can be sent to http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/haikunews/haikuhappenings