Irene Ruth 1923 - 2010
Irene Ruth loved poetry. She was an early member of NZPS, and served on the committee 1983-84. She was a member of the Windrift Haiku Group, initially as a loyal attending member, and for the last three years as a corresponding member from Napier. Her haiku were published in Kokako, Valley Micropress, and the taste of nashi.
Irene compiled Bridging Time, a collection of her poems, including haiku, for her family. I was honoured to read this loving book with its haiku awareness of the seasons of life. She belonged to other writing groups, the U3A Shakespeare Group, took an active interest in peace and social justice issues, and loved opera. Irene died, after a long time of challenged health, on June 17, with her family around her. Her funeral at the Stokes Valley Catholic Church, a rich, warm occasion with humour and honesty, was led by her first daughter, Annie. Several speakers referred to Irene's love of life - and her delight in fine clothes. 'A scarf for every season', quipped her granddaughter Hana.
Irene's quiet, thoughtful and gracious contribution will be remembered.
Nola Borrell
Convenor, Windrift
The NZPS is sorry to hear of the death of one of its former patrons, Ruth Dallas, on 18th March 2008: "Ruth Dallas, an award-winning Dunedin poet and children's author, known for her intense evocation of place in the southern South Island, died at Glamis Hospital in the city yesterday, aged 88.
"Born in Invercargill she shifted to Dunedin in 1954. She became Burns Fellow at the University of Otago in 1968, gained an honorary doctorate from the university in 1978, and was made a CBE in 1989." (Otago Daily Times)
Ruth was the winner of the New Zealand Poetry Society's first international haiku competition in 1996 (judged by Alan Wells), with:
Catching the rainbow
On a floating thread . . .
A new-born spider
Hone Tuwhare
Along with everyone else, The New Zealand Poetry Society mourns the loss of one of New Zealand's greats: Hone Tuwhare died on Wednesday 15th January 2008. TVNZ on demand has a 14 minute tribute to Hone, including a reading in Dunedin, at http://tvnzondemand.co.nz/content/review/ondemand_video_skin?tab=&sb=date-descending&e=review_hone_tuwhare#ep_review_hone_tuwhare
(Thanks to The Big Idea for this information.)
Bernard Gadd
It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Bernard Gadd, a prolific and talented poet, teacher, publisher and writer, on December 11th 2007. Bernie was an enthusiastic and valued member of the New Zealand Poetry Society committee, and a great promoter of New Zealand poetry. He has a memorial page in the HaikuNewZ section of this website. You can also read Michael O'Leary's Dominion Post obituary at http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4382134a24437.html
Meg Campbell
The New Zealand Poetry Society notes with sadness the death of poet Meg Campbell, wife of Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, on Saturday 17th November 2007. This is a great loss to the poetry community of New Zealand. Meg and Alistair are past patrons of the New Zealand Poetry Society.
