12th November 2022 – In Wagga’s Past – 25 and 50 Years ago.

Compiled from the Daily Advertiser

by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society

25 Years Ago

• Wagga RSL Club has appointed Andrew Bell as its new secretary-manager.

• Governor-General, Sir William Deane congratulated Province Leader of the Little Company of Mary, Sister Jennifer Barrow, as he unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the official opening of stage six of Calvary Hospital’s redevelopment program.

• Brother and sister paper-delivery team Emile, 14, and Robert Raward, 16, who work for the Central Wagga Newsagency are pictured in the Daily Advertiser enjoying a golf day at Wagga’s Pitch and Putt golf course organised by the Daily Advertiser and newsagents for Wagga’s paper boys and girls.

• Shirley Cooper – Bride and Formal is holding a closing down sale and will cease to trade on 30^th November 1997.

• Two Year 8 Mount Austin High School students, Jessica Barnard and Elizabeth Oa received an award for a project which involved designing an environmentally sustainable method of restricting urban salinity.

• South Wagga Lions Club president, Peter Lloyd accepted the Albert Palm Memorial Award recognising South Wagga Lions Club as the best club in Lions District 201N4.

• Wagga Bishop, William Brennan, blessed the new Mary Potter chapel at the Overdale retreat centre.

• Local members of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party are demanding to know why Pauline Hanson cancelled plans to attend a rally in Wagga.

• Olga Seaman won a return flight to Sydney for two with Hazelton airlines and two nights’ accommodation in the Wagga Mutual Credit Union Lucky Door prize promotion.

• Mardi Doherty, Cassie Coates, Fiona Crouch, and Maree Tomlinson were among those attending the Mount Erin Year 10 Class of 1987 reunion at the Riverina Australian Football Club.

• The proposed $2.5 million upgrade of the Townhouse Motor Inn has been put on hold with a downturn in the economy and the length of time taken by Wagga City Council to approve the development cited as reasons for the delay.

• Kmart staff members, Toni Anderson, Robyn McInerney, Chris Devries, Moya Gnezdiloff and Fay Wall are pictured in the Daily Advertiser with a huge cake to celebrate Kmart Wagga’s 18^th birthday.

• Alliance Francaise de Wagga Wagga is celebrating its 25^th anniversary in Wagga.

• The Wollundry Cottage, Wagga’s only non-profit occasional childcare centre will close next month.

• The Smith Family and Kmart Wagga launched two Christmas appeals, a Christmas Cash Appeal, and the Wishing Tree Toy Appeal.

50 Years Ago

• Most Wagga primary schools will participate in “Learn to swim” classes this summer organised by the Department of Education.

• Arthur Geale and Jan Salmon are pictured with new safety signs for Wagga bathing beach which will be patrolled this season.

• Wagga Commerce Permanent Building Society last month approved home loans worth more than $650,000, an all-time record for society.

• Wagga Primary School student, Stuart Harding achieved the remarkable performance of taking seven wickets with seven balls in the first over of a cricket match against Turvey Park.

• Stephen Grant and Greg Brentnall have been named joint winners of the Sportsman of the Year Award at St Michael’s Regional High school. They are pictured in the Daily Advertiser with St Michael’s sports master Mr Graham Kennedy.

• Wagga City Council has introduced three days a week selling at Wagga saleyards as a necessary response to huge stock pressures which have packed the yards for the past month.

• The Wagga School of Arts Players production of “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” won the major award of the NSW arts Council Drama Festival for 1972.

• Mr and Mrs J A Schwartz of 28 Halloran Street are celebrating their Diamond Wedding anniversary.

• Pupils of the Yvonne O’Connor School of Dancing received outstanding results in the Highland exams held recently by the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.

• Wagga City Council’s accounting section is to be equipped with two electronic data processing machines at an estimated cost of up to $80,000.

• Jenny Smith and Peter McCoullough representing Wagga Rotaract Club presented Mr H Waymouth and Mr J Dillon from Waratah Industries sheltered workshop with a cheque for $244.

• Superintendent of Parks, Mr Tom Wood has been asked to obtain costs for a leaf sweeping and gathering machine for use in the city gardens during the autumn.

• Mr F A C Fearne was elected president of the Wagga Commercial Club replacing Mr P R Smyth who did not seek re-election. Mr W W Blake and Mr P Engelbrecht were elected as vice presidents.

• Ivan Rose, Debbie Braines, Sid Bennett, and Jenny Smith were among about 60 people who attended a wine tasting organised by the Wagga Rotaract Club in the wine cellar of the Tourist Hotel.

• Wagga Leagues Club has another fabulous Prawn Night this week with 400 tickets available for just $2 each.

• Wagga Public School has their annual school fete in the school grounds starting at 6 pm on Friday evening.

Membership of the Wagga Wagga and District Historical Society is open to anyone with an interest in the local and regional history of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.  For more information about us and information on how to join our Society visit our website at https://www.wwdhs.org.au/about-us/members