Craigslea State High School Archives

Craigslea High in Chermside Elevates Volleyball with New Multi-Million Dollar Volleyball Centre

Photo Credit: Craigslea State High School

Did you know that Craigslea State High School is now home to a multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art Volleyball Centre of Excellence? The Chermside West school has one of the longest running volleyball programs in QLD through its top-ranking Craigslea Volleyball Academy.

The state-of-the-art Volleyball Centre of Excellence, which officially opened in February 2025, replaces the school’s previous 50-year-old venue. This significant improvement was made possible by an $18-million investment from the State.

The opening ceremony saw Principal Mick Leigh, alongside The Honourable Tim Mander MP, Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and The Honourable John-Paul Langbroek MP, Minister for Education and the Arts, celebrate the new centre.

A Legacy of Excellence

*Photo Credit:* *Craigslea State High School*

The Craigslea Volleyball Academy (CVA), founded in 1988 by Randel Robertson, has a long-standing reputation as one of Australia’s top volleyball schools. A key annual event for the academy is the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup (AVSC), where athletes compete against the best schools nationally.

Craigslea has consistently been Queensland’s most successful school at this event, being the only Queensland school to attend all 36 cups and winning the overall ‘National Champion’ title in 1989. The CVA currently holds a state ranking of 1st and a national ranking of 2nd.

Modern Facilities for Future Champions

The newly opened Volleyball and Community Sports Centre enhances the success of the Volleyball Academy. It features two competition-standard indoor courts and two Olympic-size beach courts. These modern facilities offer improved spectator seating and a mezzanine viewing area.

*Photo Credit:* *Craigslea State High School/ Instagram*

Students say the new centre allows players to execute the game properly, addressing previous limitations such as low roofs and lack of space behind the service line. Fixed cameras in the venue will allow for game analysis, helping players work on technique and reach a higher level.

Principal Mick Leigh stated that the school now has an Olympic-standard stadium suitable for a champion school, acknowledging that the school has one of the longest-running volleyball programs in the nation.

Craig Marshall, National High-Performance Manager for Volleyball Australia, noted that the facility will boost participation in the sport, particularly in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Games, and enable higher-level tactical and technical development for athletes.

Developing Athletes and Individuals

*Photo Credit:* *Craigslea State High School*

The CVA program extends beyond just volleyball skills, focusing on personal development. Preparing for the AVSC provides students with opportunities to develop essential personal, interpersonal, and life skills through teamwork. The program teaches students to handle both the excitement of success and the disappointment of defeat, creating lasting memories and friendships.

The academy provides athletes with opportunities to play both beach and indoor volleyball at state and national levels. It maintains strong connections with community partners, including Norths Volleyball Club, Volleyball Queensland, Queensland Pirates, Volleyball Australia, and the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Emerging Talent Program.

Program Structure and Achievements

Students wishing to join the CVA program must complete an online application detailing their sporting experience and participate in a trial afternoon. The program currently has around 230 players, supported by 15 teaching staff and over 20 alumni coaches. All CVA curriculum staff are qualified as Level 3 ‘Elite Coach’. Students in the program are expected to maintain high achievement and suitable behaviour across all subjects and attend extra-curricular sessions and tournaments.

CVA has a proud history of success, having been the Queensland Champion School every year from 2008 to 2023. Its alumni include three past students who represented Australia in the 2000 Olympics, one at the 2014 Youth Olympics, and two who became international beach volleyball coaches. Over 60 students have achieved national selection, and more than 200 have represented the state.

The academy has also secured eight National Schools Open Honours Division titles, including a rare three-peat for the Open Girls in 2012, 2013, and 2014, along with six National Schools Junior Honours Division titles. Many alumni continue their association with the school, returning as coaches and support staff.

Published Date 26-May-2025

Craigslea SHS in Chermside West Invites Generations Back for 50th-Year Celebration

In the early 1970s, a new school quietly took root in the leafy streets of Chermside West. Since then, Craigslea State High School has remained a steady presence in the lives of thousands. It became a place where friendships were made, lessons were learned and the odd lunchtime drama unfolded on the oval.

Now, 50 years on, the school is inviting everyone who walked its halls, and those who cheered from the sidelines, to come back and celebrate the legacy they helped shape.

A Full Circle Moment

On Saturday, 7 June 2025, the school grounds will once again fill with laughter and shared memories, this time for a different reason. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Craigslea SHS will hold a free community showcase that welcomes alumni, families and locals to revisit the past and see what’s changed. Classrooms will be open for guided tours, the stage will come alive with student performances and food trucks will line the grounds offering fuel for the walk down memory lane. The official welcome is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in the school hall.

In a symbolic gesture, a time capsule buried years ago will be unearthed. A new capsule filled with today’s stories, artefacts and inside jokes will take its place for the next generation to discover it.

The Dinner That Feels Like a Reunion

As the sun sets, the celebration will shift to Kedron Wavell RSL, where former students and staff are invited to an evening gala dinner. From 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the event promises conversation, reconnection and a few “remember when” moments.

Tickets are available until 27 May 2025, and organisers are urging people to reach out to old classmates, even if it’s been decades since they last spoke.

GET TICKETS

Alice Long, a long-time volunteer with the P&C Association, said the school’s unusual name often trips people up. Craigslea SHS isn’t in a suburb called Craigslea, but in Chermside West, just behind Westfield Chermside. That detail has become more relevant than ever as the team tries to reach alumni who may have moved away, changed email addresses or simply lost touch.

Where Are They Now?

As part of Craigslea State High School’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, the school has been spotlighting standout alumni through a series of “Where are they now?” features on social media. One such graduate is Matt Moorcroft, a proud member of the Class of 2006, who has come full circle by returning to Craigslea as a teacher.

Matt rejoined the school in 2015, inspired by the “fantastic teachers” who guided him through his own education. Now a Highly Accomplished Teacher, he teaches Mathematics and plays a key role in Craigslea’s extracurricular life, including the annual ski trip to Queenstown, New Zealand, and coaching in the Craigslea Volleyball Academy.

Reflecting on his school days, Matt recalls formative experiences:

“I still have fond memories of Mr Randall Robertson’s Year 8 camp, Senior PE with Mr Bruce Mann, and the snow trip to Perisher with Ms Janelle Schloss and Ms Kay Braiden,” he said.

He also fondly remembers simpler pleasures, like:

“Eating a pie on a bread roll from the tuckshop at lunch and washing it down with a can of Coke and a Mars Bar from the vending machines in the hall.”

When asked what advice he’d give to current students, Matt said:

“Follow your passions and interests. If you do that, like me, you will find a path that is both enjoyable and rewarding.”

Matt’s story is one of many examples of how Craigslea’s nurturing environment and strong sense of community have shaped the lives of its students. As the school marks five decades of education, stories like his are a powerful reminder of the school’s lasting legacy.

Keeping the Spirit Alive

To support fundraising efforts, an online raffle is running until 7:00 p.m. on the day of the event, featuring over $3,500 in prizes. There’s also a commemorative yearbook: a 130-page keepsake filled with photos, stories and the milestones that defined each decade.

Organisers hope the day isn’t just about looking back, but also about building connections that carry forward. Whether you were part of the Class of ’75 or dropped off a student last week, the message is the same: come along, be part of it, and remember what made Craigslea special in the first place.

Published 26-May-2025

Chermside Kindy Fights for Play Area Amidst Controversy Over $18-M Expansion of Nearby School

In a classic David v. Goliath scenario, a small Chermside kindy finds itself embroiled in a battle to protect its play area against the $18-million expansion project of a local high school.

C&K West Chermside Pre Prep, the community kindergarten at the centre of the dispute, boasts a natural play area complete with chickens, beehives, and compost bins. However, the proposed three-story building, part of the high school’s expansion, is set to be erected just meters away from the kindergarten’s fence.

This has ignited a back-and-forth dispute between the kindergarten, various government departments, and the construction arm of the government, QBuild.

The director of C&K West Chermside Pre Prep, Robyn Whittaker, has been leading the charge in advocating for design changes that would mitigate the impact of the planned expansion. She is concerned about the noise, dust, and overall disruption that the year-long construction could bring to the kindergarten’s peaceful environment.

Ms Whittaker emphasized the kindergarten’s focus on natural play and sustainability, expressing concern that the expansion would replace trees and grass with buildings, disrupting the children’s outlook and experiences.

One of the key points of contention revolves around the buffer zone between the new building and the kindergarten. While residents on the opposite side of the building are set to have a 9-meter buffer, the kindergarten would only have a 3-meter buffer. Ms Whittaker has questioned why both sides can’t have a 6-meter buffer, highlighting the inconsistency and raising concerns about the impact of noise and disturbance on the children during school hours.

Craigslea SHS multipurpose sports hall — Photo Credit: QueenslandGovernment

Additionally, the Chermside kindergarten has expressed concerns about the footpath’s location, which would lead high school students past the kindergarten. Worries about inappropriate behavior like swearing or vaping have prompted the request for the footpath to be moved to the other side of the building.

While Ms Whittaker clarified that the kindergarten is not opposed to the high school’s development, she stressed the need for consideration of their unique needs. She highlighted that the families of the 44 children attending the kindergarten should also be given due consideration, especially in comparison to the three households on the opposite side of the building.

The dispute has led to communication with QBuild, with an email from a QBuild manager suggesting potential alternatives to address some of the kindergarten’s concerns.

The email indicated that the current location of the building cannot be changed but expressed a willingness to explore options for alternative access to minimize interactions between high school students and kindergarten children. The email also mentioned a review of landscaping opportunities to enhance privacy and screening between the two facilities.

The new building project is a collaborative effort between the Department of Education and the Department of Tourism, Innovation, and Sport.

The proposal for the multipurpose sports hall at Craigslea State High School originates from a commitment made by Bart Mellish MP during an election campaign.

“This upcoming facility is set to firmly establish Craigslea as a premier institution for volleyball in Queensland, thereby transforming the northern region into a pivotal hub for the advancement of volleyball,” Mr Mellish said. “I am eagerly anticipating witnessing some of the current students from Craigslea making their mark in the 2032 Olympic teams.”

Published 29-Aug-2023