Capalaba State College Quandamooka Cup
The Capalaba State College Quandamooka Cup, with its four pillars of academic, arts, sports, and community, provides a well-rounded approach to fostering school culture by encouraging students to engage in various aspects of school life:
- The Academic pillar encourages students to strive for excellence in their studies, promoting intellectual curiosity and a commitment to learning.
- The Arts pillar fosters creativity and expression, allowing students to explore their talents in ways that build confidence and cultural understanding.
- The Sports pillar promotes physical health and teamwork, teaching students the importance of perseverance, discipline, and cooperation.
- The Community pillar helps students develop empathy and social responsibility by encouraging participation in volunteer and service activities, reinforcing the values of respect and inclusivity.
Why 'CSC Quandamooka Cup'?
The College’s inaugural First Nations Captain (2025), Ataya Munro, in collaboration with the House Coordinator and Deputy Principals, led the initiative to rename the House Cup to the CSC Quandamooka Cup.
This decision was made to honour the traditional lands on which Capalaba State College resides and to acknowledge the cultural significance of the surrounding Quandamooka Islands.
The renaming of the House Cup to the CSC Quandamooka Cup reflects a commitment to recognising and celebrating the heritage, history, and cultural identity of the First Nations people.
The collaboration between Ataya Munro, the House Coordinator, and the Deputy Principals serves as a meaningful step towards fostering respect and understanding of the traditional custodians of the land.
The information below was written by Ataya as part of her role as inaugural First Nations Captain.
Canaipa - Place of Spears
Represented by an Ironbark Spear/Digging Stick
John ‘Tinker’ Campbell was one of the earliest major land owners growing sugar and building a saltworks at Canaipa Point in 1865.
In 1878 there was 30 kilns on Russell Island operated by Aboriginal People collecting coral for lime.
The Island was named Russell Island in the 1840's after Lord John Russell, the secretary of state of the colonies. In the 20th Century fruit growing became the main industry along with oysterying.
Canaipa Point was commonly used as a crossing place for Aboriginal people across each island.
Coochiemudlo - Red Dirt
Represented by Red Dirt
On 19th July, 1799, Matthew Flinders landed on Coochiemudlo Island in his research for a navigable river in the south part of Moreton Bay.
The first white settler on the island were Hnery and his son, Norman Wright who lived in a permanent campsite under the cotton tree on the South-East corner of the Island.
During World War II the MM-B43 water transport company were stationed on Coochiemudlo to train for their role in moving personnel around the coastline of New Guinea.
Moorgumpin - Place of Sand Hills
Represented by a Yellow Boomerang
Captain Cook made the first recorded European sighting of Moreton Island in 1770. The northern end of Mulgumpin became the main passage to Brisbane in 1857, convicts built Queensland's first lighthouse from local sandstone at cape Moreton.
As the Brisbane settlement grew, shiping activity increased, which led to many shipwrecks and mush loss of life at sea. Graves of some of those who perished remain on the island today. Sandmining exploration began on the Island in 1947. After successul lobbying, the mining leases ended in 1992.
Teerk Roo Ra - Place of Many Shells
Represented by Blue Shells
Before European settlement, Peel Island was known to the local Quandamooka Poeple as Teerk Roo Ra and was primarily used for cerimonial purposes.
The Island served as a Brisbane quarantine station in the mid-19th century. At the start of the 20th century it was used as an asylum for vagrants and then a sisal farm. Inmates would harvest the sisal and make ropes.
Between 1907 and 1959 the island was a leper colony. Hundreds of people who contracted the disease were sent to the island for what was, essentially, a life sentence.
In 2007 the Island was declared Teerk Ro Ra National and Conversation Park.