Recreational Holidays

Learning The Culture and Values OF The Sunshine Coast

The Glass House Mountains are a curious group of volcanic crags rising up from the coastal plain about 20km north of Caboolture. Aboriginal legend talks of these rocky peaks as belonging to a family of Mountain Spirits. The Story is called The Weeping Mountain and his Wayward Son.

The Mountain Spirits are presided over by Tibrogargan (364m) who is the father of all tribes, and his wife Beerwah (556m). They had several offspring of whom Coonowrin (377m) was the eldest. His siblings include Tunbubudla(the twins: 293m and 312m), Coochin(235m), Ngungun(253m), Tibberoowuccum (200m) Miketeebumulgrai (199m) and Elimbah (129m)

One day Tibrogargan was looking out towards the coast when he noticed the sea level rising. Anticipating a flood, he became fearful for Beerwah who was close to the water. But he was also concerned about his children and would not be able to save them all. So Tibrogargan called to his eldest son Coonowrin to help his mother. As Tibrogargan gathered his younger children he looked behind him to see if Coonowrin and Beerwah were safe, but to dismay Coonowrin had fled and left his mother unassisted.In a blinding rage, Tibrogargan picked up his club and struck Coonowrin dislocating his neck.

When the flood went down, the family could go back home. When his siblings saw his crooked neck, Coonowrins felt ashamed from their teasing. He went to his father to ask for his forgiveness. His father wept large tears of despair, asking why he didn’t help his own mother. The son responded that she was bigger than them all and should have been able to take care of herself. What he did not know what that she was very pregnant. The siblings all began to weep, forming many streams reaching to the sea.

The law of the tribe said that he could not forgive his son’s disgrace, so he had to forsake him forever. Even now, Tibrogargan faces outwards to the sea while his son still hangs his crooked neck, crying. And Beerwah, is still pregnant.

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