Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- Athol Street celebration initiator, Brian MacDonald and over 40 houses are preparing for this year’s Athol Street Christmas displays.
- Wendy Ritchie and her daughter, Yasmin were among those attending Carols by Candlelight at the Victory Memorial Gardens.
- Fred Loneragan was presented with life membership of the Wagga Cycling Club by President Pat Robertson.
- Wagga’s new Forum Six Cinema Complex opened.
- Popular Sturt Public School principal, Lawrie Maher is retiring after a career which began in 1956.
- Barry Swansborough, Barry Chaplin, and Tony Elphick received plaques recognising 25 years of dedicated service to Wagga City Council.
- Bishop of Wagga, William Brennan has returned to Australia after accompanying Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Bishop Carlos Belo to the presentation of his award in Oslo, Norway.
- Wagga City Council’s Finance Committee is recommending actions to resolve a projected Council deficit of $473,000.
- A surge of customers converged on the Wagga Marketplace for the opening of the new food court which included Wendy’s Stockman’s Café, Anatolia Kebabs, Sunflowers Salad and Sandwich Bar, Won Ton Express and Coffee Break.
- Wagga City Council is providing free immunisation for Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Hib-Meningitis.
- Regular racegoers, Johnny Blake, Bill Kalis and Garry McCarron who between them have been going to the races for 150 years are pictured in the Daily Advertiser attending this week’s Wagga race meeting.
- The 1st Turvey Park Brownie Guides visited the Base Hospital children’s ward to distribute decorative soaps and candy canes.
- Spotlight and The Gallery were named as joint winners of the best window display competition held as part of the River to Rail Christmas celebrations.
- A cache of heroin was hidden in the underpants of a five-year-old child when police carried out a drug raid near Forest Hill.
- Young Wagga athletes, Lee Cox, Andrew O’Neill, Sonya Bradley, and Anna Cunnington have returned to Wagga after winning medals at the Pan Pacific Games in Perth.
- Phone Jamie for Christmas lunch bookings at Bagleys on the corner of Forsyth and Peter Streets.
- Wagga and District Cricket Association chairman of selectors, Trevor Howard made serious allegations regarding representative selection procedures at Riverina and Northern Riverina level.
50 Years Ago
- Allan Hayes has been appointed as North Wagga coach following on from Greg Hardie, coach for the last three seasons.
- Wagga ratepayers will pay 4.86% more next year with Wagga City Council estimates providing for an expenditure of $1,478,021.
- The State and Commonwealth Governments’ Unemployment Relief scheme has allowed Wagga City Council to employ 40 men who have been out of work.
- Newly ordained Church of England minister, Reverend Bob James is the new curate of the South Wagga Parish.
- Two former chairmen of the Southern Riverina County Council, Cecil Toy and Robert Brunskill were presented with certificates of service by current chairman, Aub Loch.
- Kurrajong Special School committee president, Mr W L Hurd announced plans for a substantial sheltered workshop in Chaston Street.
- Father Christmas left Huthwaites to visit elderly people including Miss Catherine O’Brien at the Home of Compassion.
- Calvary Hospital Fete secretary, Mrs J O’Halloran presented a cheque for $4954.52 to Sister Ignatius at Calvary.
- Prominent Wagga man, John Nesbitt, 49, described by many as “quiet and unassuming” died suddenly at his Kooringal home.
- Wagga telephone exchange has been gaily decorated with many of the telephonists needing to provide their usual friendly service on Christmas Day.
- Edmondsons is advertising 12 oz Big Sister Plum Puddings for 27 cents, K R Darling Downs Shoulder Ham, 4lb for $3.75 and Big Sister Christmas Cakes, 3lb for $1.44.
- A severe thunderstorm, two inches of torrential rain and wind gusts reaching 46 knots lashed Wagga for more than three hours.
- The Wagga Senior Citizens choral choir visited the Haven to entertain nursing home patients.
- County Clerk, Mr J Colquhoun, announced that SRCC water charges would not increase next year.
- Jim Harmon and Tom Hilton representing Wagga Leagues Club made a presentation of “Christmas Cheer” to The Haven, which was accepted by supervisor, Mrs H Marks.
- Edmondsons are advertising Holeproof Jiffies priced from $1.99 as something extra to add to Christmas gifts.
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
